As businesses and consumers continue making their purchases – with some consumers purchasing more than usual – freight forwarders around the world are busy ensuring the safe and timely delivery of cargo via air, sea, and railway to different countries and cities. The Asia region promises huge growth opportunities in the logistics market, specifically freight forwarding with its population of nearly 5 billion. China itself has a population of 1.4 billion while other Asian countries, especially Southeast Asia has a growing number of populations that presents a good market for freight forwarders to tap into. Aidahar Asia is one such company with Kazakhstan roots that is taking the opportunity to spread its wings in Southeast Asia. Its Director, Aziz Zhanbakiyev is highly optimistic about the potential of the logistics market in the region.
Since the pandemic started in late 2019, Aidahar Asia realized that the impending global container shortage as lockdowns will affect the activities of manufacturing facilities, ports and airports, as well as storage and warehouses. The pandemic has also increased the sea freight rates between eight to 10 times more than in 2019 while the waiting hours of inland trucks at ports that are currently facing congestion have led to the increase in the prices of fuel and hour fees of truck drivers. Digital transformation will have a symbolic impact in the next five to seven years on many aspects of the industry particularly on transportation, technology and infrastructure, warehouse automation, customs, and consumer habits. The changes will also include the increasing demand for robotic warehouse solutions where it can offer more affordable storage prices and optimize the logistical process, as well as the demand for virtual employees who can work round-the-clock to offer the best freight forwarding services to any clients around the world. In terms of the products from Malaysia and Southeast Asia that are in demand in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, they include palm oil, latex, furniture, exotic fruits, medicine, organic oil products, lubricants, clothes and shoes.