France: Geodis chairwoman notes need for cohesive multimodal transport network

15.12.2016

France: Geodis chairwoman notes need for cohesive multimodal transport network
L'Usine Nouvelle, 15 Dec 2016, online:-
The chairwoman of the board at French transport and logistics firm Geodis, Marie-Christine Lombard, has noted a worrying decline in industrial production in the local market and has stated that although the country has many assets, there is a need to better sell these skills. She feels that French companies need to expand abroad and regarding logistics, there is a need to create a truly integrated multimodal transport network in order to make the country a leader in this field, especially at Charles de Gaulle Airport, where the executive believes that the platforms should be better connected with ports, roads and other airports. Lombard has added that e-commerce is a fundamental sector for Geodis and it records a growth of 10%-15% per year in this area, while it is also expanding logistics contracts in this area, as well as for its distribution and express business in France. The firm carries out 25% of home deliveries to end customers, which reflects its progress in the e-commerce market. The firm is also committed to its clean vehicle policy and invests around EUR 35mn (USD 39.31mn) in its fleet each year. Its vehicles are almost new and follow advances in environmental technologies. The firm also complies with the latest rules, such as the Euro 6 standard, and is working to optimise flows and loads n order to reduce empty runs, among other things. Lombard's three key ideas for France over 2017 are for the State to take a strategic approach in order to provide the country with the infrastructure it needs through long-term investments, as well as the development of a real service culture and a full reform the education sector with a focus on foreign languages and subjects such as digitisation.
©M-Brain
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