Shanghai: a. hartrodt takes additional specialists on board

"China's foreign trade is booming – and that reflects our business development," says Limin Wang, Managing Director at a. hartrodt Shanghai Logistics. Therefore, he plans to increase his staff by 10 percent in 2022, primarily in sales and customer service. Currently, the local company has 80 employees, 15 of them in the Wuhan branch. New hires are planned at both locations. In terms of gross domestic product, China was able to increase by 8.1 percent year-on-year in 2021, driven by strong exports. "a. hartrodt Shanghai Logistics is growing and undergoing digital transformation," reports Wang. New employees need appropriate know-how.

Role model: 25 years with the company

Wang is considered a role model at a. hartrodt in China because he has been working there for a quarter of a century. This makes him an exception not only within the freight forwarding company of all 253 employees in the People's Republic, but also in general considering the popular job hopping in the country. And his example is having an impact: "At a. hartrodt Shanghai Logistics, the average company loyalty is more than twelve years."

Pioneering work: A-license and free trade zone

Wang pioneered in 2007, when he obtained an A-license for the first Chinese subsidiary at the world's largest port location, Shanghai. "Since then, we have been fully operational and can offer customers the complete international service portfolio," he explains. The A-license also applies to the Chengdu, Ningbo and Wuhan branches. "Very important" is the associated NVOCC license (Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier), which allows a. hartrodt to make bookings in its own name with carriers on behalf of customers. In 2017, Wang founded a. hartrodt Shanghai Solutions in the Pudong Airport Free Trade Zone as the first warehouse subsidiary in a free trade zone for export-oriented business.

In mainland China, a. hartrodt also has A-licenses in Tianjin, Qingdao, Xiamen and Shenzhen. There are further branches in Suzhou, Foshan, Guangzhou, Beijing and Dalian. All Chinese companies are 100 percent owned by a. hartrodt.