Western Europe

Established in Hong Kong more than 20 years ago, On Time Express Ltd (OTEL) is a leading provider of freight forwarding and logistics services with a global presence. In 2014, OTEL set up a specialised eTotal team to handle small-sized parcels and develop e-commerce logistics solutions. Leveraging OTEL’s extensive logistics network, eTotal provides e-tailers with a comprehensive logistics solution that includes booking for air and sea freight shipping services, overseas warehousing, delivery by local post and localised pre- and after-sales services.  The services  are aimed at streamlining the order management process and reducing transportation time. 

eTotal has established close partnerships with leading e-commerce operators including Alibaba’s Cainiao Network. With the help of eTotal, in just one year, the shipping time of small-sized parcels travelling from China to Russia has been reduced from 30-45 days to 15-20 days, with some even arriving in 5-7 days. 

eTotal owns warehouses in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, and processes close to 100,000 parcels  (or 10 tonnes of goods) daily. The company offers air charter services during peak seasons. Apart from strengthening existing partnerships and optimising routes and services, eTotal also supports the Belt and Road Initiative by connecting more e-commerce platforms and sellers, and expanding into the Central Asian and European markets, in order to offer a more comprehensive logistics services package for cross-border e-tailers. The exponential growth of cross-border e-commerce business in recent years is dependent on modern cross-border logistics. The Belt and Road Initiative facilitates international trading and provides unlimited opportunities for the development of cross-border logistics and e-commerce.

With its strategic location at the heart of Asia, state-of-the-art infrastructure, advanced IT application and extensive land, sea and air transport networks, Hong Kong has long been a global logistics and supply chain hub and a gateway for Chinese mainland enterprises to explore Belt and Road opportunities.

An international logistics services provider based in Hong Kong, On Time Express Ltd (OTEL)’s  business includes air freight, sea freight, warehousing, delivery, supply management and supply chain consultancy. As the China-Europe Railway Express (CR Express) freight transportation service matures, OTEL’s rail services are also improving, providing a more convenient and environmentally-friendly logistics solution in addition to air and sea freight services to its clients. 

Launched in 2011, CR Express offers fast-track cargo rail transportation services between China and Europe. As a key to facilitating Belt and Road connectivity, CR Express has been renowned for its shorter lead time, high freight volume, convenience, safety and efficiency. CR Express now provides services to up to 10 Chinese mainland cities, including Chongqing, Zhengzhou, Chengdu, Wuhan, Suzhou, Yiwu, Hefei and Harbin. Its network has also expanded to major economic zones in 11 different countries, including Duisburg and Hamburg in Germany, Cherkessk and Chelyabinsk in Russia, Pardubice in Czech Republic, Warsaw, Łódź and Małaszewicze in Poland, Madrid in Spain, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, and Brest in Belarus.

In recent years, the number of returning trains has increased significantly and some of the routes started providing regular services including: Hamburg, Germany to Wuhan; Brest, Belarus to Suzhou; and Madrid, Spain to Yiwu. This presents a new logistics model for the import of European cargo and reduces operational costs for the cargo rail operator. The variety of freight shipped via CR Express has expanded from electronics such as mobile phones and computers to clothing, vehicles, auto parts, food, wine, coffee beans and wood. 

Working together with CR Express, OTEL provides a one-stop solution for FCL (full container load), LCL (less container load), customs clearance, trailer transport, warehousing, insurance, overseas door-to-door delivery and container return at different locations. OTEL has long-term storage agreements with warehouses at Chinese ports such as Zhengzhou, Chengdu, Wuhan, Suzhou, Yiwu and Xian. With overseas truck services covering Europe and the Middle Asia, onward truck transhipment is also provided in hub areas including Duisburg and Hamburg in Germany, Warsaw and Małaszewicze in Poland, and Brest in Belarus. International clients of OTEL ship items including clothing, auto parts, industrial products and electronics. As cross-border e-commerce business continues to flourish, OTEL has rolled out a tailored railway shipment solution to fulfil their e-commerce clients’ demand for direct, low quantity and high frequency transactions.

BillionGroup Technologies Ltd, an energy and environmental consultant in Hong Kong founded in 1991, has established an international presence through providing public and private sectors with a diversity of consultancy and implementation services related to energy conservation and pollution prevention.

The consultancy firm’s clientele spans different parts of the world, including Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, other parts of Asia, Europe, Africa and Americas. In 2012, it made its first foray into Bangladesh, a country covered by the Belt and Road Initiative, to oversee the operational efficiency of six local factories. Recently, BillionGroup entered into deals with the commercial sectors in the Asian-Pacific region. With the support of governments including that of Bangladesh, the Hong Kong company provides green consultancy services for a variety of development projects.

BillionGroup’s services in the on-going package scheme cover an extensive scope. Leveraging its expertise and the fruits of its research in innovative energy-saving solutions, led by founder and veteran engineer Ir Steve Wong, BillionGroup strives to help the public and private sectors of Belt and Road countries, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Thailand and Vietnam, to create a greener environment and higher operational efficiency.

The services provided by BillionGroup include the introduction of smart lighting to factories in Dhaka to achieve an estimated 95 percent cut in electricity costs, as well as an integrated airport baggage handling system, of which the cross-belt sorting technology can boost throughput by 300 percent. The system can also reduce energy costs by 33 percent and minimise the number of cases of mishandled luggage. There is also a waste-to-energy conversion scheme designed to convert 20,000 tons of urban waste to generate about 11,800 tons of organic fertilisers.

The projects are expected to help raise the living standard of people in Bangladesh and other Belt and Road countries, where energy infrastructure is insufficient and operational efficiency and environmental conservation are not always the priorities in urbanisation projects. BillionGroup’s leading role in the projects exemplifies how Hong Kong green consultants can make use of its substantial knowledge in ‒ and access to ‒ advanced technologies to help neighbouring countries along the Belt and Road routes move forward in the 21st century.