Speaking at the event, Lufthansa Cargo chairman Carsten Spohr emphasised the major importance Lufthansa Cargo attached to the Tianjin Base. In his opening address he pointed out that Tianjin is one of the most prosperous business centres in North China.
Th e Chinese government has declared Tianjin to be the major cargo gateway hub in northern China as part of the 2,270 square kilometre Binhai New Area which has been identified by the Chinese central government as the next growth engine for China. The area is expected to match the economic growth achieved by Shanghai’s Pudong New Area, as well as South China’s Pearl River Delta area.
“We have great faith in the Tianjin base,” said Spohr. TAT – a joint venture between Lufthansa Cargo (46 per cent), Taiwanese investor, Hwa Hsia International Holding Ltd (49 per cent) and Tianjin International Logistics Joint Stock Co Ltd (5 per cent) – is currently operating with a workforce of 90 employees. The terminal is equipped with a warehouse capacity of more than 20,000 sqm.