SWISS forwarding giant Kuehne + Nagel's has opened a new distribution and logistics centre inside Cartagena's Contecar port that took 12 months to build, in a bid to expand its contract logistics business in Colombia.

    The new facility provides 10,000 square metres of warehouse space and 11,000 pallet positions at full capacity. It is said to comply with the strictest security and environmental requirements and is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, a company statement said.

    The new site offers the option to enlarge the warehouse space to 20,000 square metres in a next construction phase, and will serve as regional hub for the group in South America.

    Contecar, a 90-hectare private port facility located near the harbour entrance and industrial zone, is currently being upgraded for the handling of 12,000-TEU ships by 2013 ahead of the completion of the expansion of the Panama Canal in 2014.

    "Our operations in combination with the port's efficiency will strongly support Cartagena's vision of becoming an important global logistics hub by providing integrated logistics solutions as well as delivering cutting-edge logistics engineering, technology and management," said Kuehne + Nagel chairman Karl Gernandt.

(source:http://www.shippingonline.cn/news/newsList.asp?classname=News)