Chinese logistics firm on growth drive after city swoop
A MAJOR Chinese logistics company is planning further investment in the North West after buying a Manchester freight management firm.
Globelink China Logistics has bought CBI Global Freight Management as a key part of its plan to expand in the UK.
Globelink has also signed a three-year lease on an office suite at the World Freight Terminal at Manchester Airport for its new UK headquarters, which the company moved in to on Monday.
A sales office will be opened in central Manchester in the coming months, while a smaller branch office will be set up in London.
Nigel Sleigh, managing director of CBI Global Freight Management, said:”The acquisition of our company by one of the world’s foremost logistics companies will not only ensure we can continue to maintain our growth in the Far East and also worldwide due to Globelink China’s extensive agency network.
“Make no mistake, Manchester has been chosen over London by Globelink because of the unrivalled logistical opportunities afforded by Manchester Airport.
Mr Sleigh said the two companies had known each other for five years, and struck a strategic partnership in 2009 ahead of the formal acquisition.
“The impact of this deal cannot be exaggerated. The purchasing power and contacts of Globelink provided during our strategic partnership of 2009 has already seen our business grow 110%. Becoming the company’s UK HQ is an unrivalled opportunity to further this growth,” he added
CBI Global Freight Management will now rebrand to Uni Logistics.
Manchester’s inward investment agency MIDAS – which five months ago launched a paper called China Working Links to help deals such as this get off the ground -advised both parties during the negotiations.
Angie Robinson, chief executive of MIDAS, said: “China is a huge and growing world economic force and to have Globelink China Logistics choose Manchester as its UK base is a vote of confidence in our region’s business and unrivalled transport links and infrastructure.”
