Bertschi Logistics (Zhangjiagang) Co Ltd in the Zhangjiagang Free Trade Zone. [Photo/zjgonline.com.cn]

An opening ceremony for Bertschi Logistics (Zhangjiagang) Co Ltd in the Zhangjiagang Free Trade Zone was held on July 6, marking the opening of the first integrated logistics base established by Bertschi Group in China.

Bertschi is a Swiss multinational logistics service provider founded in 1956 and specializing in the transportation of liquid and bulk products in the chemical industry. Bertschi Logistics (Zhangjiagang) Co Ltd has a total investment of $35 million and is expected to have an annual capacity of 238,000 metric tons in warehousing, 363,000 tons in yard operations, and 80,000 tons in bottling.

In his speech, Jan Arnet, CEO of Bertschi, said that the Zhangjiagang base represents the largest investment by the company in the past 60 years. It expands the service range from pure tank container transport to storage, repackaging, distribution, and many other value-added services. It enables the company to provide customers with efficient, flexible, and secure supply chain solutions tailored to their needs, he added.

Han Wei, Party secretary of Zhangjiagang, said that Bertschi's Zhangjiagang base will provide strong support for the group's expansion into the Chinese market as well as inject more momentum into the development of Zhangjiagang's logistics sector.

Sacha Bachmann, consul general of Switzerland in Shanghai, said Bertschi is a model of innovative Swiss family businesses and has been leading the way in sustainable logistics. He added that hundreds of Swiss companies are currently investing and establishing their presence in the Yangtze River Delta region.