Seko Logistics and Air & Ground World Transport (AGWorld) have signed a strategic partnership agreement to create new cross-border growth opportunities for shippers doing business between Asia and the US. The deal is described as taking place in a business climate where global trade disputes accelerate demand for broader geographic supply chain solutions.
Working together, Seko and AGWorld will offer clients a “unique platform of services to develop new trade relationships, leveraging AGWorld’s network of offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Taipei, Shenzhen, Guangzhou Manila and Ho Chi Minh City among other locations, plus Seko Logistics’ 120+ branches in 40 countries”.
Clients based in Asia or buying goods from suppliers in the region will gain immediate access to Seko’s 60-branch network across North America, as well as its award-winning demand chain solutions, including Last Mile across the United States, White Glove, Omni-Channel Logistics, Cross Border Parcel Consolidations and Domestic Expedite.
The partnership between the two companies is timed to give customers greater access to countries that are rapidly increasing their importance in global supply chains as businesses look for new sales and supply channels.
Seko Logistics president & CEO James Gagne said: “We are excited to be partnering with AGWorld. We see this as a long-term relationship with outstanding potential to broaden our growth in the US, Asia and Europe. Both companies have a great deal to offer each other and our respective clients.
“Seko customers will gain from greater access to the Southeast Asia market with AG World’s significant air freight tonnage and scalable capacity platform, while AGWorld clients in the high-tech, retail, manufacturing, healthcare and other industries can plug into our coast-to-coast US network and Seko’s proven value-added 3PL and forwarding expertise, cross-border parcel platform with Section 321 and Type 86 express clearance capabilities and portfolio of services bundled with its award-winning technology.”
The new partnership supports Seko’s programme to accelerate its growth by creating the right types of strategic partnerships and undertaking acquisitions to enhance its technology, network and service capabilities.
In 2018, Seko also established a similar strategic partnership with Hermes Germany, one of the largest players on the European parcel and two-man-handling market and a provider of supply chain solutions.
Commenting on the partnership, chief operating officer of AGWorld, Shirley Yeung, commented: “This partnership will provide numerous benefits to our clients who have grown with us as their global freight forwarding partner.
“They will now have access to Seko’s focused service offerings in Omni-Channel Logistics, White Glove and other value-added services and locations to complement our best-in-class freight forwarding services. Additionally, we’re excited to offer our scope of services to Seko’s clients and locations with focus on airfreight forwarding into the US from Asia.”
Chief commercial officer at Seko Logistics, Terry Unrein, added: “The timing of our partnership is not only very significant to us but, most importantly, to our customers who can now expedite their growth in 2020 and beyond using our enhanced value-added forwarding solutions.
“We will now be able to offer additional services for our North American and European clients across more markets in Asia, allowing us both to leverage our complementary airfreight solutions bundled with our global omni-channel logistics network and white glove services.”