粤港澳大湾区：推动物流发展
一家高瞻远瞩的香港物流公司已作好准备，把握粤港澳大湾区发展规划带来的商机。
毫无疑问，粤港澳大湾区拥有庞大的生产潜力，不过，要是没有适当的技术、知识和基础设施，将产品配送到国内或海外市场，这些生产能力就会失去价值。
谈到产品配送，这正是物流公司用武之地，而德玛国际物流(香港)有限公司就是业界的佼佼者之一。1965年，德玛国际在加拿大蒙特利尔成立，当时是一家报关代理，其后公司规模和业务范围不断扩大，目前已在12个国家及地区雇用超过1,200名员工，提供货物管理和供应链服务。
香港和中国内地是德玛主要的增长市场，该公司在两地直接及间接雇用了300多名员工。德玛国际物流(香港)有限公司常务董事李俊杰表示，粤港澳大湾区发展规划可为该公司广泛的中国业务提供助力。 大湾区发展规划旨在将广东省9个主要城市与香港和澳门两个特别行政区紧密联系起来，创建一个经济区域，成为中国下一阶段经济发展的重要组成部分。大湾区覆盖范围的境内生产总值合共达1.5万亿美元。
大湾区：网络延伸带来增长机会
李俊杰是香港人，曾在新西兰留学和工作14年，2004年回港。他认为，应紧紧抓住大湾区的机遇拓展业务。他说：「对我们来说，大湾区是我们现有网络的延伸部分。
「我们是一家综合物流和供应链公司。很多物流公司在传统上都专注货运，把货物从A点运送到B点。然而，我们是全方位营运，致力为生产和价值链增加价值。 「为此，我不只是谈论货运方面的问题。每个人都这样做，就没有新的收益来源。要获利就得向上游和下游发展。这就是我们其中一个独特之处。」
香港位置得天独厚
李俊杰指出，香港地理位置优越，可在多方面支持大湾区的发展。虽然香港只有很少或几乎没有制造活动，但是在金融和会计方面却举足轻重，何况本港还有备受尊重的普通法制度，又与外国市场建立了密切的联系，以及具备国际视野。
李俊杰说：「由于这里的航班选择多，我们约有70%的空运货物是从香港发货。香港是一个非常成熟的航空枢纽，让我们几乎可以全年无休地营运。在中国内地，我们在时间上仍有一些限制，尽管这些限制或许会越来越少。」
李俊杰表示，广州、深圳和澳门各机场正迎头赶上，香港应加倍努力，以保持竞争优势。他补充说，港珠澳大桥建成通车，有助产品运往香港，特别是来自广东西部地区的货物。 海运方面，他称赞香港货柜码头经营商组成联盟，共同进行推广工作，但与内地相比，本港处理费较高仍是一大问题。
一站式物流服务
德玛提供完善的国际空运和海运货运代理服务、线上线下整合配送服务、仓储和快递服务，最近并在其传统的核心物流业务之外，新增另一重要支柱，即顾问与谘询部，以配合海外客户在香港设立机构的倾向和需要。
李俊杰对该公司的新谘询服务表示乐观。他说：「我希望这个部门成为新的支柱，与物流业务的其他部门相辅相成。较小的经营商或许规模不够大，无法提供像我们那样的谘询服务。这就像是把两种小而精的业务合而为一。」
他补充说，香港以言论自由和熟悉国际贸易着称。他指出：「我们有非常好的法律和金融制度，与西方国家有许多联系交流。对于中国内地法律，许多外国公司会感到不自在或不理解。」
李俊杰认为，通过大湾区发展规划，香港可以成为区内的枢纽，帮助外地公司分阶段进入中国内地市场。他说：「这就是我们在2018年年底设立顾问与谘询部的原因。许多打算在中国内地销售产品的公司可能会先在香港成立公司，以香港作为测试产品的市场，办妥专利、商标等事宜后才进入内地市场。
「这是我们向许多国际公司提供的商业建议之一。这些公司有服装企业、时装零售商、电子产品商、食品饮料商等，他们都认为香港是外商进入中国内地的平台。这项业务有助我们发展核心物流业务。若客户愿意，我们可以提供统包服务。」
德玛香港的新业务部门可以从一开始就抓住客户和合作伙伴，实际上为传统物流服务创造需求，例如空运和海运，同时让客户按其商业伙伴的需要，在香港和中国内地建立不同程度的线上线下业务。
李俊杰表示，该公司的谘询部门还可以帮助商业伙伴在香港设立实体业务，并物色秘书和法律服务，以便新公司可以处理商标等问题。他说：「我们有专业合作伙伴协助提供这些服务。
「香港还有自由港的优势，办起事来不麻烦。如果公司将产品送到中国内地的保税仓库，仍要办理海关文件，过程复杂。在香港没有这种限制。」
贸易战不会永远持续
中美正在进行贸易战，最近商界的忧虑已经浮现，李俊杰说德玛一些客户开始注意内地以外的生产基地。这些发展可能对该公司有利，正如李俊杰解释：「这种情况也可以变成好事。协助客户把厂房、生产线搬往其他市场，这类业务可能会多起来，换言之这创造了一种新的物流需求，不一定是负面的东西。
「我相信贸易战会引发一些问题，但只不过是小波折，迟早我们都会继续前进。贸易战不会持续10年。许多美国消费者还没有感受到压力，但他们将会感受到。中国不是只与美国贸易。贸易战可能促使中国向其他国家购买货品，从而创造其他商机。」
李俊杰还认为，中国正在改变，而以香港为主要支柱的大湾区发展规划，也可以把握这些根本性变革带来的机遇。他说：「中国正不断改变。过去30年，中国的经济是出口主导。由于中国的中产阶层不断壮大，未来30年中国经济将是进口主导。内地人喜欢进口货并非新闻。如果消费者能买得起外国制造的产品，他们就会选择买外国货。」 他认为，这使香港有机会成为进口产品进入内地的跳板。德玛表示，这些结构性变化为香港以至大湾区带来许多商机。
寻找合适人才是个挑战
李俊杰承认，找到合适的人才来做合适的工作相当困难：「大湾区人口达7,000万，但我们能否找到合适的人员来做合适的工作是一个挑战，不论是找到人才还是留住人才。」
在内地招聘人手困难，与年轻一代喜欢转工有关。李俊杰说：「如果另一份工作的月薪多200元人民币，他们就会跳槽。这种情况很普遍，不仅是在大湾区。市场上有很多很好的工作，但物流业的吸引力却不大，所以我们要花很大气力去找优秀的员工。这是行业的结构性问题。」 尽管如此，德玛已开始利用大湾区市场，在广州设立数据中心，因为当地人通晓粤语，可协助香港的后勤工作。大湾区城市的工资较低，文化相通，使这项计划很有吸引力。
一带一路、大湾区与智慧城市
「一带一路」倡议绝对可以与大湾区产生协同效应。李俊杰认为这项倡议有助于打开澳大拉西亚、中东和欧洲市场。过去主要向美国出口的公司，现已开始寻找新市场。
李俊杰认为中国内地与澳洲的自由贸易协定有助创造新业务，而香港最近也与澳洲签订自由贸易协定。内地租金较低，劳动力充足，一些律师和会计师事务所正把后勤业务迁往内地。
李俊杰还认为，大湾区发展规划若要成功，关键在于发展智慧思维，包括城市规划、交通基建、人工智能，以及利用数据促进生产和物流业务，将中国经济实力最强地区的产品推向市场。
李俊杰说：「最重要的是，中国在这些事情上处于领先地位。由于重工业连带环境问题已转移到华北，大湾区正在成为更健康、更宜居的工作环境。」
德玛认为，大湾区在改善铁路、公路和航运基建方面取得重大进展，物流业务更方便及有利可图。李俊杰说：「例如，从中国西部运送货物不再那么麻烦。与过去相比，要与潜在商业伙伴面对面交流，现在也方便得多，这点我们都知道非常重要。 「物流是香港的主要支柱产业之一。当然香港存在土地供应短缺和劳工成本高等问题。可是，大湾区让我们能够以相对较少的投资扩大在中国内地的业务规模。」
The Greater Bay Area: Boosting Logistical Expansion
How a smart thinking Hong Kong logistics company is leveraging the GBA initiative
The massive production potential of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) is in little doubt, but without the skill, know-how and infrastructure required to get products to market, whether domestic or overseas, production capacity is rendered worthless.
This is where logistics firms like Delmar International (Hong Kong) Ltd comes in. Established as Delmar International Inc, a Canadian customs broker in Montreal, Canada in 1965, the company has grown in size and scope. Today it employs more than 1,200 people in 12 countries and regions, offering cargo management and supply chain services.
A key and growing part of that business is in Hong Kong and mainland China, where the company employs upwards of 300 staff directly and indirectly. For Delmar Managing Director, Jackie Lee, the company’s extensive presence across the Chinese land mass will be boosted by the GBA Initiative.
The GBA aims to closely link nine major provincial cities in Guangdong province with the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions (SARs) to create an economic zone which will form a key component in the next phase of China’s economic development. The area covered by the initiative has a combined gross domestic product of US$1.5 trillion.
Greater Bay Area: An Extension to Growth
Lee is a Hong Kong native who spent 14 years studying and working in New Zealand, before returning to his hometown in 2004. He regards the GBA as an opportunity that aims to take with both hands to grow existing business. He said: “To us, the Greater Bay Area is an extension to our already established network.
“We are a fully integrated logistics and supply chain company. Traditionally, a lot of logistics companies focus purely on freight, from point A to point B, however, we are full spectrum operation; we look to add value to the production and value chain. “In this respect, I am not just talking about the freight side of things – everyone is doing that – there is no new money in that. We need to move upstream, and downstream in order to capitalise. This is part of our uniqueness.”
Hong Kong: Unique Location
Lee believes that Hong Kong is a unique location with much to offer in terms of the development of the GBA. Despite the fact that there is little or no manufacturing in the SAR, the city is key in terms of financing and accounting, not to mention the city’s respected common law legal system and well-established links to foreign markets, as well as its international outlook.
Lee said: “About 70% of our air freight shipments are dispatched from Hong Kong because of the range of carrier choice. It’s a very mature air flight hub system where we are literally able to operate on a 24/7 basis. In mainland China, we still have some time limitations, although I believe those limitations are getting smaller and smaller.”
Lee said Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Macau airports are catching up, meaning Hong Kong should continue upping its game to ensure keeping its competitive edge. He adds that the completion of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will help products reach Hong Kong, in particular from the western side of the Guangdong region. On the sea freight front, he also praised a move by the operators of Hong Kong container terminals to come together to promote themselves, but said that more expensive handling charges compared to the mainland remained an issue.
A One-Stop Logistics Shop
Delmar offers a mature international air and sea freight forwarding service, online and offline distribution services, warehousing, courier operations and has just added a new and crucial new pillar to its traditional core logistics operation, namely, an advisory and consultancy division. This was introduced because overseas customers are more comfortable setting up in Hong Kong than in the mainland.
Lee was optimistic about his company’s new consultancy offering, saying: “I expect this part of our business will be a new pillar to complement the other arms of our logistic business. Smaller operators may not have the scale to provide what we are offering with our advisory services. It is like two smaller and agile operations coming together.”
He added that Hong Kong was renowned for freedom of speech and international trading know how, saying: “We have a very good legal and financial system with good ties to western countries rather than the Chinese law, which a lot of foreign companies are not comfortable with or do not comprehend.”
Lee believes through the GBA, Hong Kong can become a hub to help companies to move into China in stages. He said: “This is where our advisory and consultancy arm, which we set up at the end of last year [2018], comes in. A lot of companies who want to sell into China may want to set up a company in Hong Kong as a test market for their products to get patents and to get trademarks all sorted before they enter into the China market.
“This is one of the business initiatives that we are taking for a lot of international companies, including garment firms, fashion retailers, electronics, food and beverage related companies; they all see Hong Kong as a hub to get into China. It is a new layer to the business which helps develop the logistics core of our operations. A turnkey service if you like.”
Delmar’s new business arm allows it to capture clients and partners right from the outset, in effect creating their requirement for traditional logistics services, such as air and sea freight, as well as creating an online and offline presence in Hong Kong and China at whatever level their business partner requires.
Lee said that the company’s advisory arm can also help business partners set up a physical operation in Hong Kong, and source secretarial and legal services in the city so new companies can sort out issues such as trademarks. He said: “We have professional partners to help us in the provision of these services. “Hong Kong also has the advantage of being a free port, so there are no complications. If companies send their products into a bonded warehouse situation in mainland China, they still have to go through a complex process of customs documentation. In Hong Kong, we do not have that layer of restriction.”
Trade War Not for Ever
Of course, recent worries about the ongoing trade war between the US and China have surfaced and Lee says some of Delmar’s customers are starting to look at production bases beyond the mainland. This may be to the company’s advantage, as Lee explained, saying: “This scenario can also be turned on its head. We see a boost in the business of shipping their plant, production capabilities to other markets, which means it creates a new sector of demand for logistics. It needn’t be a negative thing.
“I believe the trade war will cause problems, but it will be a glitch, sooner or later we will all move on. The trade war will not be sustainable for a decade. A lot of US consumers are not feeling the pinch yet, but they will. China does not trade solely with the US. With the trade war, it may speed up China moving to buy from other countries, thus creates other opportunities.”
Lee also believes China is changing and the GBA Initiative – with Hong Kong as a key pillar – is well positioned to capitalise on such fundamental changes. He said: “China is changing. In the past three decades, the country’s economy has been primarily an export economy. The next three decades will be imports, thanks to the huge and growing middle class in China. It is not news that mainland people prefer imported products. If the consumer can afford foreign-made products, they would prefer to buy them.”
This, he believes gives Hong Kong the opportunity to be a very good jumping board for imported products to make their way into the mainland. Delmar describes the opportunities afforded to both Hong Kong and the wider GBA by these structural changes as “substantial”.
Finding the Right People
Lee admits that finding the right talent to do the right jobs is a considerable struggle, saying: “We have 70 million people in the GBA, but whether we can find the right people to do the right jobs is a big challenge, both in terms of finding the people and retaining them.”
It is even more difficult on the mainland, because the younger generation is very ‘jumpy’. Lee said: “If another job offers RMB200 more a month they will jump. This is universal, not just in the GBA. There are lots of glamorous jobs in the market, but the logistics industry is not seen as glamorous, so we struggle to get the top tier of the labour force. This is a structural issue for the industry.”
Despite this perception, Delmar has capitalised on the GBA market to create a data-centre in Guangzhou, where the locals speak perfect Cantonese, to assist with Hong Kong back office work. The comparatively lower salary and a much closer cultural link between GBA cities makes this initiative attractive.
Belt and Road, GBA and a Smart City Future
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) can definitely bring synergies in conjunction with the GBA. For example, Lee believes that it helps open up the Australasian, Middle Eastern and European markets. Companies that used to sell primarily to the US are looking for new markets.
Lee sees the China–Australia Free Trade Agreement as helping to facilitate new business, adding that Hong Kong has also recently signed a free trade agreement with Australia. Law and accounting firms are pushing their back office operations into the mainland due to cheaper rents and abundant labour force.
Lee also believes that at the heart of the success of the GBA Initiative must be the development of smart thinking. This includes city planning, transport infrastructure, artificial intelligence and the use of data to facilitate production and the logistical business of getting the products produced in China’s economic powerhouse areas to market.
Lee said: “The great thing is, China is at the leading edge in such matters. And due to a migration of heavy industry to the northern part of China, with all the environmental problems that entails, the GBA is becoming a healthier and more liveable working environment.”
Delmar believes that the huge strides made across the GBA to improve physical rail, road and shipping infrastructure have made the business of logistics much easier and more profitable. Lee said: “For instance, shipping goods from the western parts of China has become much less troublesome. It is also much easier to get to meet potential business partners face-to-face than it used to be, which we all know is very important. “Logistics is one of Hong Kong’s key pillar industries. But there are difficulties, such as land shortages and labour costs. However, the GBA will allow us to multiply the scale of what we do in China at a comparatively smaller investment.”
内容来自：
