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International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics Thursday, 28.03.2024, 22:27

Augulis in Astana economic forum presents Latvia as partner in Eurasian supply chains

BC, Riga, 26.05.2016.Print version
Latvia at present is planning development of a new logistics park in Salaspils near Riga to link the Russian railway and European railway lines, Transport Minister Uldis Augulis (Greens/Farmers) reported at Astana Economic Forum on May 25th, cites LETA.

Photo: sam.gov.lv

He said that negotiations have been started with the potential cooperation partners. "As part of the Rail Baltica II European standard-gauge railway project implemented by the three Baltic states, we plan to develop a logistics center in Salaspils, 20 kilometers away from Riga. It will be a place to link 1,520 milimeter rails and 1,435 milimeter rails," he said, adding that Latvia has great advantage in this project. Chinese cargos coming from the east can later be shipped to the Baltic States, Scandinavia, reloaded on the European-standard rails and further shipped to the EU.

 

He reminded that Latvia sees itself as an active member of Eurasian supply chains, therefore it participates in multilateral cooperation formats and is looking for new cooperation partners.

The minister underscored Latvia’s favorable geographical location, being on the external border of the EU. He also said that successful development of the Eurasian transport corridor is one of the main preconditions to ensure economic growth in the whole Eurasian continent.

 

Latvia also praises the developing dialogue between the Central and Eastern European countries and China in a 16+1 format that has now become an important instrument in Europe-China multilateral cooperation. Also, Latvia is proud of the responsibility entrusted to the country of coordinating this cooperation in the logistics sector.

 

In 2016 Latvia will host the fifth summit of the heads of state in fall and also hosted the first transport ministers meeting on May 16-17.

 

Augulis said that Latvia with its well-developed transport infrastructure, three unfreezing ports and modern logistics and distribution centers might be interested for many countries and regions – Asia, Russia, the CIS countries, Western Europe, Northern Europe and the Black Sea region. The country’s geographic location is a natural bridge, connecting the East and the West, the North and the South.

 

"We have good experience with container trains, we are able to ensure efficient deliveries of Chinese products to Europe," the minister said.

 

The Latvian transport minister is on a working visit to Kazakhstan on May 24-25 to attend the Astana Economic Forum.






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