Lumpur (0.1 percent); Manila (-2.6 per- cent); and Tokyo Narita (-3.5 percent). “Asia Pacific is a wide and diverse region, so it covers fast-growing mar- kets such as China and India, but also more mature markets such as Japan and Korea,” says Smyth. “Given the large amount of cargo already carried by Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese airlines, slower growth among these countries has a major dampening effect on the overall Asia Pacific total,” he adds. He also points to other broad trends in global trade that are impacting Asian volumes, including the increased competitiveness of container shipping in terms of time as well as price, the dominance of services in GDP growth for many countries, and the move in manufacturing toward smaller, lighter products.
“Each of these has an impact on the overall freight ton kilometers carried,” Smyth concludes. Pakistan Primed For Logistics Improvements P akistan’s Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has become a cheerleader for supply chain efficiency, calling it a key to increasing the country’s eco- nomic competitiveness. Speaking at a June meeting of high-level govern- ment and private-sector officials, the Prime Minister outlined the country’s National Trade Corridor (NTC) plan aimed at improving all aspects of its logistics network. Pakistan’s plan to modernize railways
and highways, construct new roads, and simplify customs procedures and pro- cesses at ports, airports, and borders has reduced cargo clearance times, Aziz reported. In addition, NTC has helped Pakistan speed the movement of goods throughout the region. The country hopes the contin- ued revamping of its logistics network will lead to greater economic stability, eventually helping to increase foreign investment in Pakistan. During the cur- rent financial year, Pakistan garnered a record $6 billion in foreign investment. The country’s pro-logistics stance is also earning kudos from major trans- portation companies operating within Pakistan, such as Port World Logistics and KGL Transportation Company. Both companies support the NTC pro- gram, saying it will help promote trade and business in Pakistan. ■
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