UPS Announces Strategic Alliance with AFL for India Expansion

UPS Jetair Express today announced a strategic alliance with AFL that will significantly expand accessibility to UPS services in India while providing export capabilities to AFL.

The alliance will take effect on Jan. 1, 2008, when all AFL WiZ Express Centres across the country will promote UPS’s international express delivery service to customers in India.

UPS Jetair Express will continue to operate as an international express delivery service provider connecting India with the global marketplace, while AFL will continue to function as a domestic service provider connecting businesses across India. The strategic alliance also allows AFL to pick up international export shipments on behalf of UPS destined for the more than 200 countries and territories that UPS serves. UPS access points for customers with international express delivery requirements will exponentially increase to more than 200 locations in India.

“Our strategic alliance with AFL comes out of our belief in the potential of the Indian market,” said Alan Gershenhorn, president of UPS International. “We have been exploring different options to expand our operations in India and concluded AFL offered the fastest route to expansion along with the most capabilities. UPS will continue to invest to be a top-tier player in India by continuing to execute options that benefit our customers. We’re excited about the decision to partner with AFL and look forward to a joint commitment towards building business and spreading the concept of synchronized commerce in India.”

Pirojshaw Sarkari, Managing Director, UPS Jetair Express said, “Covering over 5,000 postal codes, AFL enjoys a strong foothold in the domestic market in India. Our alliance with AFL will strategically strengthen both UPS and AFL capabilities in India. By combining strengths of both the organisations, we can provide customers increased access and a comprehensive range of services and solutions. As UPS celebrates its 100-year anniversary globally, this development marks a milestone in UPS’s commitment to growing business in India.”

Cyrus Guzder, Chairman and Managing Director, AFL Pvt. Ltd. said, “Our customers in India will benefit immensely from international express services that will be integrated with UPS’s synchronized world of commerce. The combined UPS and AFL service platform will provide Indian shippers with unparalleled service standards for express shipments to and from all their business destinations across the globe. Further, this alliance also will open up opportunities for our customers at over 200 locations across India to gain access to, and take advantage of, UPS’s time-definite delivery service. Our customers deserve to enjoy the benefits of cutting-edge technology, superior operational efficiency and a range of value added services in express deliveries, which will enhance their ability to compete globally.”

UPS, known for its service quality around the world, will provide training to all AFL sales staff to ensure that global service standards are maintained.

About AFL
Over the last 60 years, AFL has pioneered and led three different segments of the logistics industry. In 1945, AFL launched the air freight forwarding industry. AFL then pioneered the first international air express service in India in 1979. Since then it has been the leader in the express business for the last two and half decades. AFL launched Third Party Logistics in 1996. AFL introduced its domestic air express service in 2001, offering premium service standards to their customers. In each of these segments of the logistics industry, it has established benchmarks for others to follow. As an acknowledged leader in the logistics industry, AFL has strived to constantly innovate and deliver service solutions to its customers.

About UPS
UPS, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2007, is the world’s largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain services, offering an extensive range of options for synchronizing the movement of goods, information and funds. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., UPS serves more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. UPS’s stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (UPS) and the company can be found on the Web at UPS.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.