DHL, the world's leading express and logistics company, welcomed Korean Ambassador Han Duk-Soo to its U.S. Express hub at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport on June 21st. The meeting for the Ambassador and local business leaders, hosted at the DHL facility, focused on opportunities for local businesses with the Korean market, including the benefits that a U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) could provide for the local and national economies.

'DHL values the importance of the US-Korea economic relationship and the significance of the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement, which will create new access to U.S. goods and services in Korea, one of the world's largest and most dynamic economies,' said James Min, Vice President of International Trade Affairs at DHL Express and a member of the Board of Advisors of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Directors of the Northern Kentucky International Trade Association.

According to the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Kentucky's exports to South Korea have grown dramatically over the past year to $130 million annually, up from $80 million a year ago.

Korea is the 7th largest trading partner with the U.S. in goods, with $83 billion in total (two way) goods traded during 2008. As a market leader in the Asia Pacific region, DHL has made significant investments in its operations in Korea to support this important trade lane. In 2009, DHL opened its $50 million state-of-the-art Gateway located within the free trade area of Incheon International Airport. This Gateway is a vital link for DHL's regional network, which is backed by an extensive Asia Air Network covering over 30 destinations utilizing over 500 commercial flights per day.

At the meeting, the Ambassador and his delegation also heard a presentation on DHL's state-of-the-art Cincinnati Hub. 'In the last year, DHL has invested approximately $50 million in this facility, which serves as the epicentre for DHL's U.S. operations.