New state-of-the-art premises for TNT in Bahrain

The move is clearly allied to a massive surge of business for the Dutch-owned integrator in Bahrain. Business has grown 50 per cent since David Scott took over as country General Manager in 2003 and the company has just notched its best financial year in a decade.

TNT moved to its new purpose-built facility several months ago in partnership with leading businessman Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, and Global Logististics Services, the company which built and owns the facility.
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Scott said: "It was the vision of Sheikh Hamad, GLS's Executive Director, to provide the Bahrain economy with a duty free zone similar to other GCC countries which led TNT to invest and support the stage one development.

"With the amazing success of the initial move, TNT has already confirmed its intention to become a major stakeholder in the second stage of the development and further expand its Bahrain operations."

Scott said that the entire Bahrain economy will benefit from the vision and investment made by Sheikh Hamad and his partners.

"TNT is delighted to be associated with such a bold venture. The new building has enabled the entire business to be located together which brings many advantages, but one of the main ones is the team-based culture," according to Scott.

Scott said this was in line with TNT's unstinting policy of Bahrainisation which is running at above 90 per cent which is "significantly higher" than other transport-related businesses on the Island.

Bahrain is one of the most important stations in TNT's Middle East network, particularly due to its key role in TNT's hugely successful Economy Express line-haul trucking network. Many consignments for Saudi Arabia are trucked from Bahrain across the causeway.

The new facility for Bahrain is part of a sweeping regional investment by TNT, according to Gulf and Saudi Arabia General Manager, Mark Pell.

TNT is also investing in new facilities throughout the GCC states to improve customer service. TNT has just moved into new premises in Dubai and a new depot will open shortly in Kuwait.

"It's a major investment by the company, further illustrating our unswerving commitment to the market in the GCC states," said Pell.