FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp, announced that its delivery commitment time has been advanced by fi ve hours, to 1 pm, for all of its International Priority and International Economy shipments from anywhere in the world to Macau. Backed by a money-back guarantee, this enhancement enables FedEx to offer the earliest delivery time each business day in Macau of any express delivery company, it said.

In 2006, the value of imports into Macau reached US$4.6 billion, 45.1 per cent of this originating in mainland China, with the Western Pearl River Delta region accounting for the biggest amount.

Re-exports increased by 10.3 per cent to US$771 million. Re-exports to mainland China, which accounted for 45.7 per cent of the total reexports, grew by 2.2 per cent in 2006.

Strengthened by the establishment of the Zhuhai Free Trade Zone, the Hengqin and Lotus Bridge customs facilities and the Closer Economic PartPartnership Arrangement, crossborder activity is expected to gain further momentum, according to FedEx. Meanwhile, the new hotels and resorts with world-class convention and exhibition facilities that will open in Macau represent another pool of demand for international express services.