A new state of the art cold store is being built in Vietnam, with a capacity of 18,000 pallets for perishable products.

A memorandum of agreement has been signed between Ho Chi Minh City-based Gemadept, Lauritzen Cool Logistics AB, of Stockholm, and Molenbergnatie NV (MBN), of Antwerp, establishing a joint venture to build a coldstore and establish a logistics service provider in Vietnam.

An area of more than three hectares has been acquired in Long Hau IP, to house the state-of-the-art 18,000 pallet coldstore, which will be able to operate at temperatures as low as -25°C and have delivery capacity for at least eight trucks at a time. This facility, VNCS (Viet Nam Cold Stores), will be operational by the third quarter of 2008, and will offer storage for a variety of perishable products.

All other supporting services, such as quality inspections, repacking and cross docking will also be offered. The logistics service company will provide services to both exporters and importers in Vietnam as well as abroad under the name LCL Viet Nam and will be part of the global LCL office network.

“By establishing our presence in Vietnam, LCL takes the first step in the strategy to become the leading expert in perishable logistics in this area of Asia,” said Ole Schack-Petersen, chief executive officer of LCL.

LCL provides door to door, multimodal, integrated logistics solutions and supports its local presence and knowhow with a worldwide network of offices and affiliated partners, said a statement. “LCL helps making the world a smaller place for customers and service providers alike.”

Gemadept (General Forwarding and Agency Corporation) was a state owned company established in 1990. In line with the Vietnamese government’s reform policy, in 1993 Gemadept became the first company to be privatised in Vietnam. It is now listed on the Stock Exchange of Vietnam and is now one of the leading companies in Vietnam shipping services.

Molenbergnatie offers storage capacity of over 350,000sqm in LIFFE/NYBOT approved warehouses.

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