DHL plans to invest more than US$ 90 million in the next several years into Japan to strengthen its leading position there, Deutsche Post chairman Klaus Zumwinkel said.

Among its plans is the expansion of its distribution centre at Osaka’s Kansai Airport, Zumwinkel said in Tokyo on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of DHL’s entry into Japan.

From 1999 to 2006, DHL invested about US$165 million in expanding its infrastructure in Japan, the world’s second-largest economy. From 2001 to 2006, it invested more than US$1.7 billion across the Asia-Pacific region.

DHL also said it plans to invest up to US$75 million over the next few years to expand its South Korean operations. The additional funding commitment will take its total investments in the nation to close to US$100 million since 2001.

"DHL’s growth plans and investments for the Korean market are very much in line with the South Korean government’s vision of establishing Incheon as a preferred logistics hub to serve the North Asia region," Zumwinkel said.

The investment, which includes the US$50 million already announced in November 2006, will be used to expand the current DHL Express facility at Incheon Airport, the company said.