Fourcee India expands tank container operating business into Hong Kong

NEW entrant to the tank container industry in Hong Kong, Fourcee Asia Pte Ltd, aims to break new ground.


"The tank operating business is no different from any other business," managing director and Dutch national, Jaap Huigen tells HKSG Media in an interview at his Hong Kong office on 30 Robinson Road, Mid Levels. He argues that duplicating existing business concepts is unlikely to expand the company's market share in this day and age.


"Fourcee cannot be like everybody else in this business, lest you place yourself in a position that the only thing you are able to leverage on is price," he says. "Fourcee Asia is different from the word go!"


The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fourcee Infrastructure Equipment Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, India. Fourcee Asia, according to Mr Huigen, has been set up as the internationally operating arm of Fourcee, a market leader in the intermodal, bulk logistics, tank operating businesses in India, with rail freight logistics being at the forefront of its activities.


Mr Huigen, who until last October was the regional tank manager of GESeaCo Asia Pte Ltd in Singapore and has lived and worked in the Lion City for the past 24 years, says he has his work cut out for him at Fourcee Asia.


However "we do not exactly start from scratch," says Mr Huigen, "between those working here there is an 'experience pool' of about a century. We do not invent new wheels, and do not look at ourselves as an outfit that has to 'feel' its way forwards and go through a long period of teething problems.


"We continue from where we left off in the industry, meaning our entry level in the tank container operating business is technically that of a start-up, but Fourcee's management embodies all the requisite experience shippers come to expect from a seasoned tank operator.


Heading up the new bulk logistics department is Shawn Song, a seasoned hand in the tank container operating space. "Shawn knows the market and the market knows Shawn," he says.


Rather than position itself as a "lone voice in the wilderness," Mr Huigen said the company is focused on its core strength that has its roots in India. He points out the company enjoys a strong presence in this fast-growing emerging market, where its resources include its rail network, specialised tank depots, rail operator license, rakes (train sections carrying 90 tanks), connections and excellent rail track record with a broad cross section of the bulk logistics producing industries.


"Fourcee Asia is India centric and this pays dividend," says Mr Huigen. "Rail not only is much better than road in terms of efficiency, predictable transit times, it has a cost advantage over road of 30 per cent," he said. "This has been the main driver and the source of Fourcee India's success," he said.
(Source:http://www.schednet.com)