FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

                                                                                                                                   

WORLD COURIER RUSSIA MEETS NATIONAL BROKERAGE REQUIREMENTS

 

MOSCOW, Russia, March 1, 2004World Courier Limited (Russia) is pleased to announce that it has met all new certification requirements issued by the Russian Federation’s State Customs Committee, and is now able to effect in-house customs clearance for imports and exports on behalf of its clients.

 

“This capability makes World Courier fully independent from third-party clearance agents and gives us complete control of all shipments coming into or going out of Russia,” says Wayne B. Heyland, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Stamford-based World Courier Group. “We can now offer a complete logistics solution for shipments that require official customs entries, which includes all commercial shipments as well as those subject to permits or licences, and can complete these clearances more quickly and effectively.”

 

This new certification process, which came into effect January 1, 2004, requires registrants to post security bonds in the amount of RUR 50 million (approx. US $1.75 million) against unpaid duties and taxes, and maintain insurance coverage of at least RUR 20 million (approx. US $700,000) from an approved insurance company. It is expected that only one-third of all Russian transportation companies that previously held brokerage licenses will be able to meet the strict new requirements for 2004.

 

“As Russia increasingly becomes an important hub for clinical trials and an emerging centre for the high-tech and automotive industries, our customs broker status here will be an invaluable asset to clients dealing in Russia,” says Mr. Heyland.

 

Incorporated in 1969, World Courier has set the benchmark for worldwide time-sensitive transportation. It remains the only specialist courier company with its own global network dedicated to treating every shipment on an individual, priority basis. Today, World Courier is the acknowledged leader in delivering customized solutions and value-added services in growth markets such as the bio-medical, automotive and high-tech industries. Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, World Courier maintains a comprehensive international network of over 130 wholly-owned ISO 9001-certified offices operating in 48 countries around the globe.

 

 

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Contacts

 

North America

Dennis Tselentis

Executive Vice President, Marketing and Sales

World Courier Inc.

1313 - 4th Avenue

New Hyde Park, NY, 11040

Telephone: (516) 354-2600

Toll-free: 1-800-231-7227

Fax: (516) 354-2713

E-mail: dtselentis@worldcourier.com

 

Europe, Middle East & Africa

Noël Foucart

Director, Sales and Marketing

World Courier Belgium N.V.

6 A Hermesstraat

B-1930 Zaventem

Belgium

Telephone: 32/2/712-5080

Fax: 32/2/712-5089

E-mail: nfoucart@worldcourier.be

 

Latin America

Carlos Jankowski

Regional Director, Latin America

World Courier Argentina S.A.

Avda. Corrientes 316 D, Piso 7

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Telephone: 54/1/4328-8300

Fax: 54/1/4328-5879

E-mail: jankowski@worldcourier.com.ar

 

Asia Pacific

Korhan Yalcinyuva

Regional Director, Asia Pacific

World Courier (Australia) Pty. Ltd.

Unit 1, 8 Lord Street

Botany N.S.W. 2019

Australia

Telephone: 61/2/8335 9100

Fax: 61/2/8335 9170

E-mail: kyalcinyuva@worldcourier.com.au