MINSK, 14 June (BelTA) – Hamburg is interested in advancing cooperation with Belarus in the sphere of logistics, BelTA learned from representatives of the Belarusian Transport and Communications Ministry after Deputy Transport and Communications Minister Andrei Ivanov met with a German delegation. The delegation was led by State Secretary of the Economy, Transport, and Innovation Ministry of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Torsten Sevecke.
Torsten Sevecke noted that the Hamburg port is the third largest port in Europe. The port has a well-developed railroad infrastructure – over 40% of the freights loaded and unloaded in the port of Hamburg use the rails.
Torsten Sevecke said: “Asia is an important region our port works with today. China to be exact. This is why Belarus plays a central role in enabling continental transportation between Europe and China. Hamburg is not only a major logistics hub but an important industrial center. We have a strong interest in Belarus from this point of view as well.” The German delegation expressed interest in taking part in implementing the Belt and Road initiative and in projects of the China-Belarus industrial park Great Stone.
Andrei Ivanov informed the German delegation about the implementation of major transport projects, including the construction of the second artificial runway in the Minsk National Airport, the electrification of the railway sections Gomel-Zhlobin-Osipovichi and Zhlobin-Kalinkovichi, preparations for the reconstruction of the M10 motorway, and other projects. The deputy transport and communications minister said that the work to develop the transport and logistics system proceeds in tight cooperation with colleagues from neighboring countries and taking into account the country’s integration into the Euro-Asian transport and logistics system.
During the meeting the Belarusian side was represented by the automobile, railway, and water transport departments and the international cooperation department. The German side was represented by transport companies. The sides discussed concrete avenues of interaction and expressed hope for the advancement of cooperation in transport and logistics.