There’s no doubt about it: When we hear the words “dynamic” and “growth,” we tend to think of Asia. And we might forget that the United States is still the world’s largest economy. The United States generates roughly one-fifth of global GDP and is the world’s largest market for imported goods. As an exporter, the United States ranks second in the world, only behind China. In other words: the United States still accounts for a large share of world trade.
And it represents something else, too: The United States is the birthplace of DHL. The entire express industry was invented here. In 1969, Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom and Robert Lynn (D, H and L) started a door-to-door express service between San Francisco and Honolulu. The “can-do spirit” of DHL and the commitment to “Excellence. Simply delivered” are part of our DNA.
Today, DHL is not just the market leader for international express services. It is also the No.1 provider of logistics services worldwide period. And the Americas region – North America and Latin America – is a key part of this success story. Last year, our company generated revenues of nearly €10 billion in the entire Americas region, and the trend continues to point upward. More than 70,000 employees in the region contributed to this success.
In the first half of June, I will be visiting various cities in the United States once again. I am already looking forward to talking with customers and agenda setters – and to meeting with DHL employees in the United States, a group that always makes me feel their pride in the DHL brand, their pioneering spirit and the first-class service that we offer to our customers.
The U.S. market and the Americas region: key components of our growth strategy
In the past two years alone, DHL has invested a total of nearly €500 million in the region. And the expansion is continuing: On June 13, we will put a new sorting center into operation at our express air hub in Cincinnati – an investment totaling nearly US$50 million. This hub expansion serves as a clear expression of our company’s commitment to the United States and the Americas region.
The 13th DHL Life Sciences & Healthcare Global Conference to be held in Miami on June 11-12 will be a welcome opportunity for intense discussions with our customers in this growth market. Here, we will talk with more than 400 representatives of the life sciences & healthcare industry during workshops and panel discussions about the latest market trends.
Each of us is helping fuel the e-commerce boom. The United States is the leader in this area, too. It is estimated that U.S. online retailing will hit a volume of about US$500 billion by 2020. As a lab for social media and new sales channels, the United States is the perfect place for a high-ranking discussion forum – a “Delphi dialogue” – regarding the future of e-commerce. I am really looking forward to hearing the theses expressed by the trend researchers whom we have invited to a panel discussion on June 13 in Columbus, Ohio.
Education and free trade: the foundation of our standard of living
The United States is a country that generates new ideas and provides momentum to others. The educational initiative Teach For All is such an idea. It began in 1990 as Teach For America and has evolved into a global umbrella organization in 26 countries that is committed to improved education and further educational equal opportunity. Deutsche Post DHL is one of the main sponsors, and I am excited about once again meeting Wendy Kopp, a co-founder of Teach For All, in New York. When we extend the partnership of Deutsche Post DHL and Teach For All for three more years, we will do so in the firm belief that education and a good upbringing are critically important: After all, globalization can achieve its full potential only if everyone can profit from the benefits of globalization. Making a contribution to this work is very important to me.
Global networks are a critical guarantee of growth and prosperity. As a result, it is essential that the planned transatlantic free-trade zone between the EU and the United States be created as quickly as possible. Deutsche Post DHL is a clear supporter of such an agreement. The huge new trade zone that would be created would give fresh momentum to world trade and create new opportunities for investment.
Innovation, growth, improved services, new opportunities – so much is in motion in the United States, the region and transatlantic trade. Reasons enough for me to look forward to my upcoming trip to the United States.