Czech and Polish officials visit the Port of Gdansk to promote trade between the countries
The Port of Gdansk reports that MPs from the Czech Republic, the Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, and the Pomeranian Governor visited the port. During the meeting, the transport potential and the handling capacity of Gdansk's port were presented in the context of trade between Poland and the Czech Republic.
The meeting between the representatives of the Port of Gdansk Authority and the delegates from the Czech Republic was held at the Port Master's Office at Port Polnocny. The Czech side was represented by Jaroslav Kubera, President of the Senate of the Czech Republic, Ivan Jestřáb, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Republic of Poland, and senators from the Czech Republic. Poland was represented, among others, by Marshal of the Senate Stanislaw Karczewski, Pomeranian Governor Dariusz Drelich, and Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the Czech Republic Barbara Cwioro. The delegates were received at the Port Marshal's Office by Slawomir Michalewski, Vice-President of Financial Affairs at the Port of Gdansk.
The visit began with a presentation of the potential and the handling capacity of the Port of Gdansk. The major focus of the discussion was the issue of transit between Gdansk and the Czech Republic.
"The efficient road and railway network in the country and numerous intercontinental links provide very good conditions for tightening business relations between the Port of Gdansk and the Czech Republic. The transport of goods via Gdansk is the least expensive option for the Czechs," says Slawomir Michalewski, Vice-President of Financial Affairs at the Port of Gdansk.
Compared to the previous years, the land transport connection between the Port of Gdansk and the Czech Republic has been shortened considerably. Gdansk's port provides direct intercontinental links with Asia and functions as a distribution hub for Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic Sea region. The New Silk Road project carried out by China will create additional opportunities for using Poland's very convenient location on the transit route from Asia to Scandinavian counties and the UK.
"The Czech Republic has huge export potential. Thanks to the purchasing power, we can increase our handling capacity. The flow of cargo exported from the Czech Republic by sea to non-EU countries constituted about 27% of the entire export in the previous years. For comparison, in Poland export was at the level of 38%. Shorter transit times between Gdansk and the Czech Republic and competitive prices compared to the ports of Western Europe make us the right business partner," explains Slawomir Michalewski.
During the meeting, the handling capacity of the DCT Gdansk container terminal was presented to the delegates. Ongoing investments carried out at the Port were also listed, including quay expansion, dredging of the fairway at the Inner Port, and the modernisation and expansion of the road and railway network. The representatives of the Czech Republic were impressed with the investments made with the use of EU funds.
The Czech Republic is a natural base for the Port of Gdansk and has considerable export potential. In the export structure, the EU countries constituted 84% (according to 2017 data). In China, export was at the level of about 1.3%, whereas in the USA - 2.1%. When it comes to import, the EU countries reached the level of 66%, China - 13%, and the USA - 2.4%.
Ample opportunities related to trade between Poland and the Czech Republic encourage the Port of Gdansk to take action aimed at providing the most efficient services possible to the Czech market.