Brussels played host to the Global Gateway Investment Forum on January 29-30, 2024, dedicated to bolstering EU-Central Asia Transport Connectivity. The forum aimed at advancing the transformation of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) into a cutting-edge, competitive, and sustainable pathway linking Europe and Central Asia.
The Global Gateway Investors Forum for EU-Central Asia Transport Connectivity kicked off in Brussels, uniting stakeholders from governments, financing institutions, businesses, and civil society across Europe, Central Asia, and beyond. European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis announced a substantial commitment of €10 billion from European and international financial institutions to support sustainable transport connectivity in Central Asia. This initiative is particularly crucial in light of the urgency to establish reliable trade routes between Europe and Asia, avoiding transit through Russia, emphasized by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Yusen Logistics Co., Ltd., led by President Hiroyuki Okamoto, is actively participating in Korean Air’s Cargo SAF Program starting January 2024. This collaboration aims to boost the utilization of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) as part of Korean Air’s initiative to achieve net-zero emissions in the aviation industry. Launched in September 2023, the Cargo SAF Program involves cooperative efforts with shippers and forwarders, incorporating various measures such as governmental partnerships, engagement with fuel suppliers, and collaboration with aircraft manufacturers. In a strategic move to support sustainability objectives, Yusen Logistics has signed a contract with Korean Air for 2024, leveraging their “Yusen Book-and-Claim” service to assist customers in reaching their sustainability targets and fostering increased demand for SAF.
Antwerp port has successfully completed a three-year initiative to enhance its infrastructure, enabling it to accommodate container ships with a draft of 16 meters. This significant achievement positions Antwerp as the premier port of call for the world’s largest ships. The collaborative effort involved six meticulous test voyages, with the final trial featuring the MSC Raya on November 10, 2023. Today, MSC Aurora marks the first container ship to navigate Antwerp with a 16-meter draft under the regular admission policy, signifying the official implementation of this crucial advancement.
KTZ Express JSC successfully completed a road show in China, where productive negotiations took place with leading representatives of the transport and logistics industry, including CRIMT, China Logistics Group, Jiangsu International Rail Freight Express, Pinduoduo and Henan Zhongyu International Port Group. Agreements have been concluded on fruitful cooperation with CRIMT, Henan Zhongyu International Port Group and Pinduoduo, aimed at increasing cargo transportation through Kazakhstan, especially with a focus on TMTM, as well as beginning to integrate information systems to optimize logistics processes.
A recently launched container cargo line is now connecting four prominent European ports along the route Riga (Latvia) – Hull (Great Britain) – Rotterdam (Netherlands) – Helsinki (Finland). Managed by the Dutch company Samskip, the Samskip Multimodal B.V. container ship line operates two medium-sized container ships, BF Cartagena and Dornbusch, which make weekly stops at the Port of Riga. The berths at SIA “Rīgas Centrālais Termināls” (RCT), a terminal within the JSC “Riga Port” group, accommodate these Samskip vessels. In 2023, RCT witnessed a remarkable 2-fold increase in containerized cargo volume, with containers constituting nearly 50% of the terminal’s cargo portfolio.
The Port of Gdańsk, situated in the deep-water area next to the Ore Pier, has unveiled a unique investment opportunity as it opens a tender for the long-term lease of a nearly 24-hectare property. Unprecedented on a European scale, the site, with a valid building permit for an agricultural cargo handling terminal, is earmarked for grain handling development. Port of Gdańsk Authority seeks bids that diversify cargo groups and leverage the property’s strategic location within the port’s deepwater segment.
In Ankara, Türkiye, the Working Group and General Meeting of the “Trans-Caspian International Transport Route” (TITR) association convened on January 25-26, 2024. The meetings featured a comprehensive report highlighting the Association’s accomplishments in 2023, revealing a substantial increase in cargo volume, reaching 2.7 million tons—a notable 86% surge compared to 2022.
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Infrabel are set to receive a EUR 23 million grant from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for the revitalization of the Lillo Bridge. This financial support follows their application for European subsidies in September 2023, aimed at refurbishing the bridge and renewing the adjacent tracks. The European Commission’s announcement of the CEF grant underscores the strategic significance of the Lillo Bridge for facilitating seamless rail transport within the port area and the broader region.
The inaugural methanol-powered container ship, “Ane Mærsk,” was officially christened at a ceremony held at the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. Named after Ane Mærsk Mc-Kinney Uggla, the Chair of the A.P. Moller Foundation and A.P. Moller Holding, the vessel was christened by Ane’s eldest granddaughter, who broke a champagne bottle over the bow to mark the occasion.
