Maersk sees opportunities amid slower growth

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Europe

03:22

Although there will be soft growth in global economy as well as trade, Maersk Group, the world's largest container shipping company, sees opportunities in different fields, including China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and new technology trend of digitalization, Soren Skou, CEO of the group told CGTN in an interview on the sidelines of the China Development Forum held in Beijing on weekend.

The shipping industry has adjusted its capacity to match reducing demand, but the Copenhagen-headquartered company believed that “trade in the foreseeable future will continue to grow two to four percent,” he said.

As a company that sent the first ship to China in as early as 1924, today Maersk handles a fifth of all containers that move to and from China, playing an important role in facilitating trade related to China, Skou said.

Maersk has seen opportunities brought by the BRI for more investment and cooperation, he noted.

Digitalization is another focus of the company's strategy, he said, explaining that they are working to move the transaction online as the first step and the company will continue working on getting rid of the papers, significantly enhancing the opportunities for tracking and tracing goods.

Skou also noted that he believes there will be more measures as China vows further reform and opening-up--a message delivered from this year's CDF.