Nippon Express is stepping up its efforts to handle pharmaceuticals as it eyes to secure GDP certifications across its network in Southeast Asia and Japan.

Under a business plan highlighting the pharma industry as one of the top priorities, the Tokyo-based logistics company wants to develop a supply network that achieves “total optimisation of pharmaceutical logistics.”

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In Southeast Asia, the  company obtained goo d distribution practice (GDP) certifications for its facilities in Vietnam and Singapore.

Its Amata logistics centre in Vietnam has been certified for air/ocean cargo forwarding, road haulage and warehousing services effective 13 November, whilst its facility within the Changi Airport free trade zone in Singapore got its GDP certification on 30 October.

The company says it is the only Japanese logistics company with a facility within the Singapore airport’s bonded area. By improving its infrastructure and obtaining certification at key locations in Singapore and elsewhere, Nippon Express is poised to provide value-added air transport services to meet the various needs of customers in the pharmaceutical industry.

In Japan, it recently completed its Kyushu facility, with construction underway for pharma hubs in other parts of the country. Nippon Express plans to join Kansai airport’s KIX Pharma community as it eyes certification under IATA’s CEIV Pharma by end-2021.