BDP International (BDP), a leading, privately owned global logistics and transportation services company, has taken an equity position in Interflex, S.A., a member of its global network based in Cartagena, Colombia. The resulting joint venture will operate as BDP International Colombia under its current management team led by Enrico Benedetti.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pa., USA, BDP has earned a reputation for domain expertise in the chemical sector, and today serves 9 of the world's 10 largest chemical producers, as well as hundreds of others through a global network of wholly owned offices, joint ventures and affiliates in more than 120 countries. The company also has a growing footprint in the healthcare and medical devices, retail and consumer goods, project logistics and oil and gas sectors.

In addition to Colombia, BDP has offices and affiliates in 29 other Latin American and Caribbean countries, providing freight forwarding; warehousing and distribution; air, ground and sea transport; customs brokerage and country specific import documentation; assembly and packaging; logistics process analysis and administration; on-line information tools and systems applications; and global supply chain management.

'Our decision to bolster our presence in Colombia is based on a number of factors, not the least of which is the excellent relationship we have with our partner Interflex, which like BDP is family-owned,' said BDP Chief Venture Officer H. Timothy Bolte. 'Averaging 4.5% over the past decade, Colombia's economy grew 4% in 2012 and is projected to grow by up to 5% this year.

'Driving this growth are global demand for its oil, gas and coal and robust domestic consumer demand from a flourishing middle class, which has doubled in the past decade and is projected to double again over the next ten years,' said Bolte. 'Add to these dynamics the landmark Colombia / US 2012 Free Trade Agreement, the fact that exports have tripled over the past decade and Cartagena's emergence as a world-class trade hub in the Western Hemisphere, and it became imperative for us to be there.'

Interflex General Manager Benedetti said, 'We are delighted to be joining with BDP, extending our global reach, and giving us access to a wide range of support services and the latest logistics technology. More important than these operational benefits, however, is the alignment of our customer-centric corporate cultures, which are based on superior execution, enduring relationships and service solutions that reduce total landed cost. We're all looking forward to an even closer working relationship as a member the BDP family.'