The city of Chongqing in western China, resting at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jailing rivers, anchors one end of a potentially massive new economic zone. At the other end is Chengdu, with several smaller cities in between the two. In 2000, a campaign called “Develop the West” was announced in Chongqing, with the goal to make it the business hub in western China.
That vision has come sharply into focus with the opening of the first 1.2 million square feet of the Goodman Chongqing Airport Logistics Park, part of a US$400 million investment in western China by Australia-based developer and property manager the Goodman Group.
Customers of the new logistics center include three integrated logistics companies: Best Logistics Technology Co., Ltd., which provides logistics services for corporations, communities and e-business in China; privately-owned Shanghai Yunda Express Co., Ltd., which provides domestic air courier services; and Nikkon Logistics, an international Japanese logistics company.
One of the reasons for the investments being made into logistics facilities in China is the increase in online shopping, which requires modern logistics hubs to deal with the massive numbers of parcels moving through China.
“There is a surging demand for and a lack of supply of quality transport and prime logistics space in Chongqing, propelled by the city’s robust economic growth,” said Philip Pearce, Goodman’s managing director, greater China . “We look forward to further expansion in this region.”
The project, which will total eight warehouses with an estimated value of US$130 million, is the company’s first development in Chongqing, Pearce said, and the flagship development in western China, where it sees growing demand for prime logistics space. The facility is close to the Chongqing Jiangbei Airport, with connectivity to the Chongqing-Chengdu economic corridor and downtown Chongqing.
As the crow flies, Chongqing and Chengdu are only 166 miles apart, but there are many links in between and surrounding the area. High-speed rail will eventually tie Chengdu with Leshan, which, along with Mianyang, are already thriving Chinese cities.
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