15 / 03 / 2023
Photo: Shutterstock
Dubai-based maritime giant DP World is delving further into end-to-end supply chain operations with plans to develop a new air cargo logistics hub in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
The new facility is being created through an agreement between DP World and the Punta Cana Free Trade Zone (PCFTZ), a company of Grupo Puntacana.
The hub is set to include a new logistics centre and infrastructure platforms capable of supporting multimodal air, land and sea cargo.
Operations are expected to commence in the second quarter of 2023.
The logistics centre will harness DP World’s Dominican Republic multimodal cargo management and logistics experience, as well as the high connectivity of the Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) to global distribution centres.
DP World began operations in the Dominican Republic in 2003 at its port facility at the Punta Caucedo peninsula, a strategic location for the redistribution of cargo to the Caribbean, US, Central America and South America.
Additionally, the agreement will see the deployment of a regional commerce strategy to attract a greater volume of re-export and import cargo to and from major global commercial, industrial, technology and agricultural markets.
The project also aims to generate greater investments in logistics services, increasing demand for logistics-related labour and triggering growth and diversification in the economy of the Dominican Republic.
“This new air cargo logistics centre with Punta Cana Free Trade Zone allows us to expand the range of services we can provide to our increasingly diverse customer base and help boost the country’s competitiveness. The facility will place the Dominican Republic on the world map as an air cargo hub for an increasingly broad range of products from around the region,” said Morten Johansen, chief executive of DP World’s operation in the Dominican Republic.
“Our objective is to form alliances to increase connectivity in the nation and across the region. The more connectivity we can generate, whether by air or sea, the more attractive the Dominican Republic becomes for manufacturing and logistics companies in the Americas and beyond,” added Johansen.
Frank Elías Rainieri, chairman and founder of Grupo Puntacana, stated: “This new air hub venture allows us to leverage the expanding transportation infrastructure of Punta Cana and accelerate the Dominican Republic’s transformation into the most important logistics hub in the region.
“Both DP World and Punta Cana International Airport are regional leaders in the airport, maritime and logistics sectors, and this project will be a unique opportunity to boost the economic and social progress of the Dominican Republic.”
DP World specialises in cargo logistics, port terminal operations, maritime services and free trade zones.
With an investment of approximately $200m, the PCFTZ will host cargo logistics operations and offices for the development of the Punta Cana Hub for innovation and development of fintech companies, including an experienced company dedicated to aircraft maintenance and repair (MRO).
Several shipping companies have invested in air cargo in recent years.
AP Moller Maersk launched its air cargo business in April last year.
Rival shipping lines CMA CGM and MSC also launched air cargo ventures last year.
