DHL Is Adding Jobs in Vietnam: But Ohio In The U.S. Heartland Faces Economic Disaster

WILMINGTON, Ohio (TDB) -- Is this the Domino Theory in reverse? DHL's abrupt change in business strategy has 8,000 Ohio jobs in jeopardy. But the air-express package carrier is expanding in Vietnam, where it operates in a joint venture with the communist government. DHL-VNPT Express Ltd. is moving to operate the biggest fleet of delivery vehicles in Vietnam, according to Vietnam Business Finance, a trade publication:

"The joint venture will open new courier depots in Hai Phong City and Vung Tau in August 2008 after inaugurating a similar facility in Da Nang. A DHL service centre will also be up and running in Hanoi in December this year. Baxter said more investment would help expand network of DHL-VNPT Express Ltd. to connect the country key economic centres and to maintain annual strong growth in Vietnam, which has exceeded 20% over the past years."

Baxter is Tim Baxter, general manager of the joint venture. He described DHL's growth as coming from industrial areas surrounding the major cities. Wilmington in SW Ohio faces a crisis. DHL is pulling out of the city's cargo hub, an old Air Force base. More on Ohio's plight is here, where DHL's shift in business strategy is seen as ravaging the state.