English
Today, on May 17, in the framework of his official visit to Latvia, the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament (or Olij Majlis) of the Republic of Uzbekistan Nigmatilla Juldashev, accompanied by the delegation, visited the Freeport of Riga. Uzbekistan Senate Chairman met with the Freeport of Riga Board Chairman Andris Ameriks, the Freeport acting CEO Aigars Pecaks and the FPRA Development Service Head Viesturs Silenieks. Uzbek guests were introduced to the Freeport of Riga operation, investment opportunities in the port and the port of Riga offers for transit of Uzbekistan goods to European markets.
During the negotiations, the Freeport representatives highlighted the importance of the promotion of cooperation with Uzbekistan in the field of transport and logistics for both the port of Riga and the entire Latvian transport sector as a whole due to the necessity to provide alternatives to decreasing transit cargo flow from Russia. Uzbekistan is an important partner and market for the port of Riga, in view of the opportunities provided by multimodal transportation of cargo to the rapidly growing Uzbek logistics center “Navoi”. The region's largest intermodal logistics center, set up at the international airport “Navoi”, provides efficient cargo transportation services to the growing Central Asian markets.
The Uzbek delegation expressed interest in the Freeport of Riga operation and the opportunities, provided by the port companies, with the aim to contribute to the development of Uzbekistan's goods export to the European markets. The Port of Riga and the port companies can offer a full range of quality services for Uzbekistan cargo transit – such as cargo handling, storage and processing, as well as the benefits related to the free economic zone status. Uzbek guests were also informed about the investment opportunities in the Freeport of Riga; the hosts expressed support for Uzbekistan's transport and logistics center, terminal and warehouse establishment within the Riga port territory. The Freeport of Riga Board Chairman Andris Ameriks: “Currently the Port of Riga, as well as the entire transport and logistics industry, are actively looking for new partners. We are open to a wide range of offers and we are interested in the Uzbek market both in terms of geography and growing volumes, especially taking into account the already developed rail route for NATO cargo transportation from the port of Riga to Afghanistan, which runs through Uzbekistan”.
The Freeport representatives noted rapidly growing Uzbekistan cargo turnover indicators in Riga port in 2016 and highlighted the future opportunities for growth in cargo volumes. At present the biggest group of Uzbek cargo at Riga port is cotton from Uzbekistan and containerized cargo transported from Riga to Uzbekistan, as well as food products, that are dispatched in both directions. Fast-growing and promising cargo groups are vehicles, equipment and machinery, which through the Port of Riga are delivered to Uzbekistan industrial facilities. Riga Port has traditionally been a frozen food supply center for the Uzbek market, but the volume of cargo has decreased due to Russian sanctions applied against the European Union, which have an impact on cargo transit through Russia.
