Latviski
Brazilian Minister for Ports and delegation of entrepreneurs came to Latvia on a working visit and on May 7 were introduced with the possibilities of the Port of Riga to reload the main Brazilian export product – sugar, as well as possibilities of other terminals so that in the perspective the Port of Riga could be used also for logistics of other food cargoes, including frozen products.
„Visit of the Brazilian Special Minister for Ports is highly important to development of the Latvian economics – meeting of the Latvian entrepreneurs with the Brazilian ‘colleagues’ may evoke ideas about possibilities of cooperation between the two states, new trade and logistics projects that are particularly important now before the trade mission to Brazil on the second half of May organized by the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI),” stressed the LCCI Chairwoman of the Board Žaneta Jaunzeme – Grende. The Freeport of Riga Strategic Development and Project Management department head Vladimirs Makarovs in his turn emphasizes the involvement of the Latvian Honorary Consul in Brazil Līga Briģe in promotion of the Latvian and Brazilian mutual economic activities. Actually the Brazilian Special Minister for Ports had planned to visit St. Petersburg to find out more about operation of its port since a large part of the sugar produced in Brazil comes to the CIS states. After getting acquainted with proposals of the Freeport of Riga Authority and entrepreneurs, the minister and accompanying entrepreneurs were agreeably surprised by the Freeport of Riga pricing policy, as well as the wide terminal development possibilities.
The Riga Central terminal is capable of handling and storage of up to 500 000 tons of sugar cargoes annually, and the prices of these services at the opinion of Brazilian entrepreneurs are very attractive. Cargo owners see a possibility to use the Port of Riga as the most optimal route from Brazil to the CIS states.
Speaking about the frozen cargo handling and storage Mr. Makarovs is more cautious: „For several years the Port of Riga lacks refrigerator warehouses that is caused by different factors: one of the most modern warehouses burned down some years ago and still has not been renovated. Also several commenced projects have not been finished, including construction of the Frigo terminal refrigerators that was terminated by an inconsiderate decision of the Constitutional Court about annulment of the Riga City, Freeport of Riga territorial plan. At the moment the plan has been confirmed and Frigo terminal has commenced development of the technical project, but two and a half years have gone by. The optimism of entrepreneurs to build new refrigerators previously was also delayed by the Russian embargo to import frozen poultry meat through foreign ports. In the course of time other cooperation partners have been found, for example, Kazakhstan is interested to use the Port of Riga for shipment of beef. Also the interest of Brazilian entrepreneurs gives proof to the fact that the capacity of refrigerators must be urgently increased.”
The existing lack of refrigerator warehouses is not a burden for the Brazilian entrepreneurs’ interest about shipment of frozen cargoes via the Port of Riga, because they also need time for reorientation of their cargoes from St. Petersburg to Riga. More precise summary of the results of the Brazilian delegation visit can be made in autumn or at the beginning of the next year, when the new agreements are concluded on cargo delivery to the CIS states. The Freeport of Riga Authority is open to the Brazilian cargoes but the terminals will be ready when more specific offers will be proposed.
