DHL Express will invest over SR100 million ($26.6 million) for infrastructure developments across Saudi Arabia as part of its regional expansion plans, a company official said on Thursday.

The strategic growth includes the rapid expansion of service points, with the opening of more than 15 new branches, before the end of the year, DHL Express country manager KSA, Nour Suliman noted.

He said that there would be a positive impact on all of DHL’s operations and that the company was responding quickly to the growing numbers and diverse needs of its customers, as well as the growth in the country’s economy.

“Like so many business sectors we are seeing rapid and healthy growth and it is our commitment to this country to provide our customers with greater access to our services through the best branch locations, the highest possible standard of customer service, the most efficient world-class logistics infrastructure, additional service points, increased fleet, extended pick up times, reduced transit times, and time definite delivery,” he said.

“While we have been operating in The Kingdom since 1976, this investment is the first step in our current strategic expansion plan that reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing leadership position in economic development in the GCC and Middle East region. The opening of the new branches will strengthen the relationships we have with our customers,” he added.

The new branches will be rolled out in important population centres across The Kingdom in the coming eight months with exact locations to be announced in the near future. 

“We will reach over 50 branches Kingdom-wide by the end of the year, which will boost customer service both in terms of numbers of locations and quality of service”, added Suliman. 

“We will also be implementing a recruitment drive and be seeking the best talent among the local population to service this new expansion,” Suliman added.

DHL Express indicated that other developments in the future will include investment in technology, transport and logistics equipment, and further infrastructure.

These strategic plans reflect the market's needs and the dynamism of DHL Express in taking timely moves to capitalize on emerging market trends, he said.-TradeArabia News Service