Logistics and Transport for Example Aston Investment Masters - Coursework Example

Aston Investment Masters (AIM) is a New York-based company with a long history of acquisitions and projects with much success. AIM has some experience investing in transportation projects primarily located in the United States (US). AIM projects that the company has invested in are The Port of Galveston Cruise Terminal Development and the New York Avenue Metro Station. AIM investments in the US have done well. The 2005 financial report sent to shareholders AIM reported positively for growth in stocks, returns on investments, and reported record returns per share or stock.

AIM desires a more global presence and wishes to enter the European Union (EU) transportation industry. AIM wants to extend brand loyalty to the EU by investing in future EU transportation projects. AIM requests a report showing what it would take to enter the EU transportation market and extend its brand into the global marketplace.

The purpose of desk research is to provide a foundation for building a qualitative and quantitative research project. Much needs to be done as far as information gathering is concerned. A study of the market sector that AIM desires to enter is required before any investment is done. Desk research helps define the parameters of the project.

Research at this level will include a study of the transport industry sector in the European Union and provide answers to questions AIM requests. Examination of the European Union Transport Industry. Currently, the European Union has a transport network that is in a major growth stage. The European Union’s transport network is quite possibly in a pattern of growth and development that is unsustainable. Problems that the European Union is facing are directly related to the transport networks' usage level. Pollution, high traffic, congestion, and constant growth strain the transport system. Fuel usage is up because congestion slows traffic and causes higher levels of fuel needed to get from point A to point B. Road Freight has increased substantially since barriers to trade were removed. Currently, road haulage carries “44% of all goods transported in the European Union” (Europa, page 2).