Transport and logistics sector of Latvia continues work with Chinese partners
Companies representing the Latvian transport and logistics sector spent the past week in Shanghai, China, host city of one of the largest exhibitions in Asia — Transport Logistic China. According to press center of the Freeport of Riga, negotiations were held with a wide range of representatives of the largest European and Asian logistics companies.
Within the framework of the exhibition, the meeting and discussions of the Coordinating Council on Trans-Siberian Transportation were held, in which Ansis Zeltiņš, CEO of the Freeport of Riga Authority, reported that the port was working on the development of shipments and the Latvian transit corridor in close cooperation with Latvijas dzelzceļš (Latvian Railway).
Zeltiņš highlighted: “Representatives of the Chinese Railway, Russian Railways, Kazakhstan National Railway and German Railway, as well as the Chinese cargo carrier Sinotrans and Russians TransContainer and Stenaline participated in the meeting. The list of participants does not need any comments, and the question as to why Latvia has to be represented is needless!”
He noted that during the meeting of the Coordinating Council, the plan to quadruple volumes of cargo shipments using the Trans-Siberian Railway had been repeatedly emphasised. “Under these circumstances, we have to use every opportunity to demonstrate our geographic advantages, the quality of services and our preparedness for getting involved in the East-West cargo transportation chain. The Coordinating Council on Trans-Siberian Transportation is a perfect platform for that”, added Zeltiņš.
Meanwhile, Gundars Ābols, SIA LDz Loģistika Chairman of the Board, together with representatives from the Port of Riga, the Port of Ventspils and from the Liepāja Special Economic Area, within the framework of their visit to Shanghai met with representatives of the Port of Ningbo Authority and entrepreneurs from Ningbo to discuss opportunities for cooperation in the field of logistics.
Representatives from Ningbo highlighted that Latvia was a potentially important partner due to its beneficial geographic location, good infrastructure and good transport and transit services. The entrepreneurs also appraised the advantages of Latvian taxes in Special Economic Areas.
The Latvian representatives offered using the Latvian cargo corridor for cargo transportation from Asia to Northern European countries and Great Britain, jointly developing beneficial logistic offers for companies and cargo owners from Northern Europe and the sector in general, as well as organising container shipments by railway on the Ningbo-Riga route.
The parties agreed that the Ningbo representatives would prepare an official message to the management to enable the Chinese party to consider Latvia’s offer.
