International Transport Week in Odessa as an impact on the industry development

At the beginning of June 2015 in Odessa the International Transport Week, XIV Exhibition and Conference “Inter-TRANSPORT” successfully completed its work.

The Work of the Transport Week started with the forum "Implementation of global sourcing in the international traffic." "The main current problem that we face nowadays is the Ukrainian transportation system approach to the European standards of quality, speed, safety, transportation, and - the observance of the environmental norms", - noticed Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Andriy Pivovarsky during the opening ceremony.

In the framework of the International Transport Week there was the 16th session of the Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Lithuanian commission on trade-economic and scientific-technical cooperation. The Ukrainian delegation, headed by Minister of Infrastructure Andrey Pivovarsky, reached the important agreements with the delegation the Republic of Lithuania, headed by the Minister of Economy of the Republic of Lithuania Evaldas Gustas, in the field of transport, agriculture, energy, culture, health and cybersecurity. The parties expressed their common interest to further development of the container transportation using the "Viking" train. The readiness of Azerbaijan to join the project in the nearest future has been rated as a good outlook to attract freight traffic from Central Asian countries and China on the route of the TRACECA transport corridor. Participants of the meeting of the commission agreed to continue to work actively to promote the project of the "Viking" to Turkey, taking into account the two possible routes of transportation: by sea through the Black Sea and the Black Sea, by passing the territory of Romania and Bulgaria.

The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine on European Integration Oksana Reuter and the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Yuri Vaskov took part in the opening ceremony of the events. On behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure Oksana Reuter welcomed the participants of the exhibition-conference and wished all the delegates to have productive negotiations and get new profitable agreements. Yuri Vaskov wished the participants and guests to get new contacts, constructions of new facilities and the opening of promising projects in the transport sector.

The following political and branch leaders opened the Transport Week work and addressed the participants of the event: Mr. Philippe Burghelle-Vernet, The Support Group for Ukraine, European Commission, Mr. Mircea Ciopraga, Secretary General of the Permanent Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Commission TRACEKA, Chairman of the State Enterprise "Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority" Andrey Amelina, Director General of FIATA Marco Sorzhetti , Chairman of Federation of Employers In Transportation Orest Klympush, executive director of the International Association of Ports of the Black and Azov Seas (BASPA) Georgy Tokman, president of the Association of the Ports of Ukraine "UKRPORT" Yuriy Kruk, Advisor of the President of JSC "Plaske" Vasiliy Zubkov.
Coordination of the events is provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine and Odessa Regional State Administration.

The Exhibition&Conference is held under the support and active participation of the leading industry professional associations and unions: International Association of the Black Sea and Azov Ports (BASPA), Association of the Ports of Ukraine “UkrPort”, Association of Container Lines of Ukraine, Federation of Employers in Transportation of Ukraine, the Black Sea International Ship Owners’ Association (BINSA), Association “Transport Forwarding and Logistics Organizations of Ukraine “Ukrvneshtrans”.

Long-term and reliable partner of the International Transport Week - known in the industry freight forwarding company JSC "PLASKE" held the XIV-th International Freight Forwarders Day under the auspices of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), with the support of the Association of forwarding, transport, logistics and services (CLECAT), the Organization for Cooperation of Railways (OSJD), the Ukrainian National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce, the Association of Freight Forwarding Organizations of Ukraine "UKRZOVNISHTRANS." This event was dedicated to the prospects of intelligent transportation system development, issues of implementation, technologies and vocational training and became a platform for interesting and constructive discussion, giving an excellent opportunity for the conference participants to arrange new business contracts to share experience gained and jointly implement new projects.

This year 80 companies from 13 countries (Ukraine. Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Poland, UK, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Lithuania and Estonia) took part in the Exhibition “Inter-TRANSPORT”.

EU representatives took an active part in the work of the Conference and Exhibition. The EU Project Stand, the support of the Ukraine transport strategy implementation was the focus of interests of the event guests and participants.

At the “Inter-TRANSPORT” Exhibition exposition there were traditionally presented the leading ports of Ukraine who carried out active negotiations. Among them there were Ilyichevsk, Yuzhniy, Mariupol, Kherson, specialised sea port “Oktyabrsk”. The complex for transshipment of liquid food located at the deep water port of Dnepro-Bougsky NE “Terminal-Ukrpischesbytsyryo LLC” introduced its accomplishments to the visitors of the exhibition.

One could get acquainted with the new achievements in the sphere of cargo handling equipment at the stands of companies: Konecranes Ukraine, Alekon Holding AS, KRANUNION (Ardelt, Koks) (Germany), YUZHTEKHSERVICE, NOVOKRAMATORSKY MASHINOSTROITELNY ZAVOD, SRZ, MHM–Ukraine (Official representative of NEUERO in CIS and a member of the Ukrainian Association of Secondary Metals), Trans Service KTT, Universal Service – Ukraine, Krankomplekt Plant. For the first time LLC «Trading House «Armada LTD» took part at the exhibition as the official distributor of the company LIEBHERR in Ukraine. SKT PORT Ltd. traditionally presented mobile shiploaders produced by Samson M-H Ltd (UK).

Railway enterprises. Traditionally Ukrainian RAILROADS “UKRZALIZTNITSA” and Ukrainian transport and logistics centre “LISKI” actively worked at the exposition – leading enterprises in the sphere of rail multimodal transportations. ZEPPELIN POWER SYSTEMS GMB H & Co.KG represented its activities in the areas of modernization of locomotives and diesel trains and on the construction of new locomotives at the Conference.

For the first time the exhibition industry experts could get acquainted with the representatives of the group of companies of the Austrian Holding «First-DDSG Logistics Holding GmbH», which has its own fleet of 250 vessels for the transportation of general, bulk, heavy, cubature of cargo and petroleum products. There was an opportunity to attend the stand of the leading Shipping Company – Ukrferry.
Section shipbuilding was represented by DAMEN Shipyards Gorinchem, well-known Ukrainian ports as a reliable supplier of port auxiliary fleet.

Traditionally at the Exhibition there was represented the topic of “Marine Hydraulic Engineering” which is being actively developed under the support and active participation of the Register of Shipping of Ukraine and Odessa National Maritime University. At the exposition there were represented the following leading enterprises of the branch: Jan De Nul n.v. (Belgium), Boskalis Ukraine, ChernomorNIIproekt, Dragflow S.r.l. (Italy), "Initial" (representing HSP Hoesch Spundwand und Profil GmbH), Uniprom and Tensar International Ltd (UK). For the first time company «Tencate Geosynthetics» (Netherlands) (represented by Uniprom), has acquainted experts and hydraulic engineers with the unique technologies encapsulated soil use in hydraulic engineering.

SE "GOSGIDROGRAFIYA" presented at the exposition the materials on navigation and hydrographic support of navigation.

The most authoritative higher educational establishments and research institutes of Ukraine in the sphere of transport and shipping such as Southern Scientific Centre of the Transport Academy of Ukraine; State Research and Development Institute of the Merchant Marine of Ukraine, Odessa National Maritime University, Odessa National Maritime Academy; Odessa state Academy on Building and Architecture; Maritime and Entrepreneurship Institute; Dnipropetrovsk National University of Railway Transport named after Academician V. Lazaryan have made their contribution to the Exhibition work and Events Program.

Logistics Infrastructure of Grain Market “Agro-LOGISTICS”. The constant participant of the exhibition IM.AG.IN. SOLUTIONS SRL BONFANTI (the leading producer of grain dryers for all types of companies) presented its activities in the central part of the exposition. For the first time company "Variant Agro Stroy" presented equipment for elevators, pig and dairy farms. A silo sample placed at the company stand attracted specialists’ attention. At the booth of the State Enterprise "GRAIN CAPITAL" a new and unique method for handling grain in the ports was demonstrated. At the booth of Factory of elevator equipment "Sokol" it was presented the latest achievements in the production of equipment for drying and storing grain. For the first time Company "START-UP" introduced at the Event the conveyor equipment and components for the food industry, as well as a detailed account of their activities at the workshop.

Weighing and packaging of loose and liquid products equipment was introduced SPE "Mekhanotron" - the leading enterprise in weighing sphere. Representatives of the company "ART SOFT were actively working with the guests of the exhibition. The booth of "TECO-Trade", a leading systems integrator of GPS-monitoring in Ukraine got great interest from the visitors and exhibitors.

While the Exhibition was working there were registered more than 1000 visitors – specialists from 27 countries (Austria, Azerbaidgan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Hungary, Germany, Greece, Georgia, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Korea, Lithuania, Moldavia, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Syria, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, France, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Estonia). Among them there are 67 % of CEO and managers of the high level, 17% of technical specialists and 16% of researcher.

At the XIVth International Conference “Transport Network of the Black Sea Region: Complex of Communications Between Europe, Asia and Other Continents” the most lively discussions were caused by the following reports: “Potentials of the Danube navigation in integrated transport corridor Rhine – Danube” (Pjotr S. Suvorov, Deputy Director-General for Development of the Danube Navigation, Secretariat of the Danube Commission); "Black Sea network formation - a permanent challenge" (Dr. Franz J. Goetz, President, STEPPinternational- Strategic Education, Planning & Policy); “Innovative Projects Scientific Support” (Mr. Alexander Yatsenko, Deputy Director, State Research and Development Institute of the Merchant Marine of Ukraine); “Highly Efficient Equipment and Ecological Safety – Important Aspects of the Modern Grain Marine Terminals” (Mr. Dmitriy Dgulinskiy, Deputy Director on Manufacturing, “Zernovaya Stolitsa”).

All together there were presented 27 reports. More than 150 Conference Delegates took part in the plenary and specialised sessions on the Conference.

During the V International Seminar on International Trade and Logistic Facilitation the following issues were discussed: progress in the implementation of the Port Community System in the Odessa region and perspectives for further development of a maritime or multimodal transport Single Window; the readiness of Ukraine to implement the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and further development of a national trade and logistics facilitation strategy; public private partnership in the development of Single Window and port infrastructures.

The International Black and Azov Seas Ports Association Council (BASPA) and Ilyichevsk Sea Port held the Investment Forum dedicated to the further expansion and development of public-private partnerships.

Traditionally the Association of Ports of Ukraine "UKRPORT" held the specialized committees “On Planning, Construction, Technical Maintenance of Hydro-technical, Coastal and Engineering Constructions”, in which the current state of technology and the hydraulic engineering in the seaports of Ukraine were discussed, problems of dredging, technologies and materials for piers reconstruction, innovative solutions for the port construction.

Due to the variety of versatile business events the owners and CEOs of the leading enterprises actively worked at the Transport Week.

Representatives of the State Enterprise "Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority" and the Container Lines Association of Ukraine (CLAU) underlined the view that the adoption of urgent and effective measures to reform the transport sector in Ukraine will increase its economic efficiency and competitiveness, improve the position in the global and European transport infrastructure. This conclusion they reached during the round table "Strategy of development of container transport in Ukraine - 2015". The government representatives, experts of the linear, container business, freight forwarders, professional associations and transport community participated in the discussion.

Odessa National Maritime University, Ukrainian Ports Association “UKRPORT” and Southern Scientific Centre of the Transport Academy of Ukraine held jointly with the VIIth International Scientific and Practical Conference “Modern Ports – Problems and their Solutions” the meeting of the Ukrainian Ports Association “UKRPORT” Committee “On Technology, Mechanization and Information Technology”. A big attention was paid to the problems of transport specialists’ training and skills development, issues of technical policy and technology work of ports and terminals, organizational and economic problems of development of port services market, legal support of business and port security.

Odessa National Maritime University held Round table discussion: “The Future Specialist Formula: Business and Education in the Maritime Branch”. As a result of the discussions there were highlighted the main areas of cooperation between educational and business structures in preparation of specialists for the marine industry: training and skills development, teaching staff specialized universities, business support and educational institutions at all possible levels, the establishment of joint projects for effective cooperation of the educational and business structures in the process of training, the outlook for the creation of clusters, technology parks and science and technology centers at universities.

Odessa State Academy of Building and Architecture celebrated the 85th anniversary and successfully carried out the Scientific and Practical Conference "Hydraulic engineering, irrigation and drainage, transport construction in the South of Ukraine" also dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Faculty of Hydrotechnical and Transport building. The main topics were the following: hydraulic engineering, prospects of development, innovations and investments, design, building and reconstruction of automobile roads and airports, water constructions, etc.

The CONFERENCE OF PERIPHERAL MARITIME REGIONS OF EUROPE (CPMR) organised a workshop entitled “Vasco Da Gama project for the Black Sea – CPMR meeting” that was held within the framework of International Transport Week and “Inter-TRANSPORT” Exhibition. This project aims at facilitating trans-national mobility in the field of maritime education in the Black Sea Basin, and proposes practical steps and arrangements. In this respect, the project contributes to increase the attractiveness of the sector, and reduce problems as youth unemployment and brain drain.

The most active participation in the preparation and work and development of the Exhibition and Conference was from the side of the information partners: journal “Ports of Ukraine”, weekly publication “Transport”, bulletin “Carrier”, magazine “Distribution and Logistics”, International Seaborne Market, Truck Expo, magazine “Forwarder’s and Carrier’s Compass”, magazine “Ukrainian Railways”, UkrAvtoContinent, Vestnik of the Association of International Automobile Carriers, newspaper “Seafarer of Ukraine”, magazine “Transportweekly”, railways magazine “DEPO”, magazine “Lifting Constructions. Special Machinery”, magazine “JURA МОРЕ SEA”, magazine “Business and Security”, BUSINESS DOSYE, “Logistics: problems and solutions ", the newspaper "Seaman of Ukraine", newspaper "Press Exchange ", the publishing house "Business in Ukraine" and other specialized and mass editions.
Internet support was provided by: information portal Transport Business, on-line shop Ship2Shore, INFOLINE, infoportal Loglink.ru, Marine business news of Ukraine, Transport of Ukraine and CIS, Compass Ukraine.

The Exposition “Agro-LOGISTICS” was highlighted by the newspaper “Agrarnik”, publishing house “AGROPATNER”, magazine “AGROELITA”, newspaper “CHYM KHATA BAGATA” (“POTLUCK”), weekly publication “REKLAMA NA SELO”(Advertisement for village”). The support in the Internet was provided by information portals: Agrosputnik, Russelkhoz.ru, Ruslogistic.ru, Clever logistician, Ukrapk.com.

The transport intellectuals traditionally gathered in Odessa within the framework of the International Transport Week. The motto of the Forum “Inter-TRANSPORT” is “Dialogue. Trust. Action”.

At the beginning of summer in Odessa there was a successful DIALOGUE. We hope that on the basis of such DIALOGUE the TRUST has been strengthened. We invite you to discuss future ACTIONS in a year - at the XVth International transport week, Exhibition and Conference “Inter-TRANSPORT”(1-3rd June, 2016).

See you soon!

Organising committee: Exhibitions Technologies Center
Of. 3, 1 Sabanskiy Lane, Odessa, 65014, Ukraine
Tel./Fax: 38 (048) 715 02 62, 38 (048) 786 05 91

Project Manager:	Nataliya Balayan
Assistants of Project manager:	Victoria Naumova Anna Dudnik Natalia Pogrebenuyk

E-mail: nm@expo-odessa.com