Business news

MINSK, 6 September (BelTA) – The volume of freight transported by rail between Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad Oblast went up by 13.4% in January-July, the press service of Belarusian Railways told BelTA.

According to the source, Belarusian Railways transported 5.8 million tonnes of freight to and from Kaliningrad Oblast in January-July 2017 or 113.4% as against the same period of 2016.

Belarusian Railways representatives noted that the transit transportation of oil and oil products, coal, and ferrous metals represents the bulk of the freight transported to and from Kaliningrad Oblast. In January-July 2017 Belarusian Railways transported 5.3 million tonnes of transit cargoes or 114.7% as against the same period of last year.

The development and modernization of railway infrastructure is a top priority for Belarusian Railways, stressed the press service. Work continues to increase the length of electrified railways in the Belarusian part of the ninth pan-European transport corridor between Baltic Sea countries and Black Sea countries. Belarusian Railways is also busy modernizing railroad instruments and devices, power supply systems, and automation solutions in addition to introducing innovative technologies to keep transport operations smooth. Belarusian Railways is about to finish the electrification of the section Molodechno-Gudogai-the state border.

These matters will be discussed during the ninth International Baltic Transport Forum, which will take place in Kaliningrad on 7-8 September. A Belarusian Railways delegation led by the enterprise’s First Deputy Head Igor Shilov will make participants of the forum familiar with the transport and logistics potential of Belarusian Railways for enabling freight transportation to and from Kaliningrad Oblast. Participants of the forum will also be informed about the enterprise’s marketing strategy, the advancement of mutually beneficial cooperation with interested parties, which transport cargoes by rail.

Meetings and negotiations are supposed to take place during the forum to discuss increasing freight transportation between Belarus and Kaliningrad Oblast, including the export of Belarusian construction cargoes to Kaliningrad Oblast. The Belarusian Railways delegation will discuss the matters relating to the organization of the Belarusian Transport Week in October 2017 and a roundtable session in Moscow in November. The two events will contribute to brighter development prospects of freight transportation and the enabling of mutually beneficial competitive conditions for freight transportation.