Jondari Kemularia, General Director of Marine Shipping and Forwarding LTD, noted that Georgia enjoys a high strategic position as a gateway to the Caucasus and Central Asia. It is a reliable transit corridor for the free movement of goods between the Caucasus and Europe, as well as between European countries and Central Asia. The Georgian transport economy is mainly transit-oriented.
Rashad Shakarov, Founder and CEO of Azerbaijan Maritime Engineering and Construction Group of Companies, emphasized that Azerbaijan is located in the heart of the Middle Corridor, which is an important part of the 11,000-kilometer China-Europe route. This route passes through the Caspian Sea and Azerbaijan, connecting directly with Europe. AMEC therefore seeks to locate its vessels in the Caspian Sea for transport from Kazakhstan to the port of Baku.
System solutions in the transport industry fundamentally change traditional approaches. Alina Zhizhina, Director of the International Relations and Marketing Department at SIGIS, is confident that an important element of such changes is real-time tracking, management of transport processes and logistics tasks. This allows customers to reduce transportation costs and improve overall company productivity.
Marc Hunziker, Head of Asset and Sales Coordination, Intermodal Product and Business Development at VTG Rail Europe GmbH, noted that current discussions revolve around the critical environmental and logistics challenges facing the transport sector, highlighting the need for comprehensive solutions that go beyond just reducing CO2 emissions . Participants highlight the importance of the regulatory framework in Europe and the wider social impact on future generations, emphasizing that environmental responsibility goes beyond emissions control.
Stephen Archer, CEO of Baltic Rail, said that after the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has experienced significant changes. First there was the conflict in Ukraine, followed by large-scale political movements on environmental issues aimed at creating a greener supply chain. Now we are faced with a crisis in the Red Sea. It’s also worth noting that artificial intelligence has become an important part of our lives, and many of us are still just beginning to adapt to these changes.
Tabea Klang, General Manager of DB Cargo Eurasia, discussed the topic of market changes and projects. DB Cargo Eurasia is a key player in the logistics sector, offering vital solutions for rail transport between China and Europe. Their services have become increasingly important due to various geopolitical events such as the Red Sea crisis and disruptions in the Suez Canal, which have threatened traditional supply chains. Demand for rail freight from China has increased over the past six to seven years, although it has fallen in 2023. However, recent crises have reaffirmed the importance of rail solutions, prompting more customers to seek long-term rail transport options.
Eric Mekenkamp, Principal Consultant at Buck Consultants International, introduced the boutique consulting firm, headquartered in the Netherlands with additional offices in Asia and the Americas, specializing in economic consulting with a focus on logistics. Despite its small size, the company boasts a diverse team of 75 experts in each office, with a wide range of skills and knowledge. Their core mission is to help clients optimize supply chains around the world by offering expertise in site selection, supply chain strategies and corporate real estate strategies.
In Zhejiang province, the management of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy NC JSC held a working meeting with the Jinhua City Hall. The parties discussed the development of logistics infrastructure and strengthening bilateral relations. The result of the meeting was the signing of a Memorandum on the joint development of terminal activities in Kazakhstan and China.
Imad Jenayeh, Senior Business Development Manager at CFL multimodal, provided an overview of the CFL Group structure in a European context and highlighted some of the solutions that improve workflows and competitiveness.
The Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan, Marat Karabaev, held a meeting in Astana with the Director General for International Cooperation of the European Commission, Henrik Hololei, and the Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kestutis Jankauskas.
