US courier major Federal Express (FedEx) has opened an independent liaison office in Mumbai, dealing a blow to its existing tie-up with Blue Dart Ltd.
Opened in March this year, the office has been set up by Fed Ex's Mauritian subsidiary, Federal Express (Mauritius). Blue Dart will not perform any role in the new office, which is located at Andheri in Mumbai.
Top sources confirmed the opening of the liaison office, but said full details of the office's role are being worked out. But there are plans to run air cargo services between Mumbai and the United States.
FedEx's move has upset Blue Dart as it comes just five months before the tie-up between the two expires (October 31, 1997, is the last date for the agreement to end).
Blue Dart management has expressed surprise internally over the move.
Meanwhile, six FedEx representatives are in Mumbai holding talks with Blue Dart management. Three have come from FedEx's London office and three are from Dubai. This is a follow-up to the meeting in London earlier this month with FedEx.
"We are yet to get a clear picture as to what emerged out of these discussions," a source said.
Despite repeated attempts, Blue Dart officials were not available for comment on the new development.
However, Blue Dart had denied in the past that its tie-up with FedEx was on the rocks.
In a recent statement to Business Standard, it had said that reports of a break-up are baseless.
