Baltic States – CIS, Estonia, Forum, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Russia, Transport

15 bigger Estonian transport and logistics companies are represented in the Estonian stand at the TransRussia transit fair, including Tallinna Sadam (Port of Tallinn), Eesti Raudtee (Estonian Railways Co), Silport and others. Several smaller transit companies have their own fair stands too. It makes sense – here is where businessmen get new partners and contracts.

Estonian state-owned railway cargo company EVR Cargo board chairman Ahto Altjõe said that at the moment, EVR Cargo has two trains more a day travelling in the Russian direction than at the same time last year.

Tallinna Sadam board chairman Ain Kaljurand said that the company's latest bigger investments have been in the development of the container terminal. "True, it is sad on one hand but fortunate on the other hand that container transport is one of the few transport types that we have that have a clearly growing trend," he said.

Businessmen said that usually politics just interferes with business. Currently a lot is talked about sanctions against Russia over Ukraine. "Our position this time was that our government didn’t make major statements in connection with Ukraine or Russia that Latvians and Lithuanians made and that have caused a lot of feedback. We have behaved in a wise way this time," said AS Alekon board member Erkki Veisman.

Riigikogu transit and logistic support group chairman Deniss Boroditsh was also present at the fair and noted that relations with third states, be it Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, China or many others, are a very important political support for business and add credibility to partners. "That is why I am here, to show that our companies have political support too."