Latvian Ministry of Transport organized a meeting of transport ministers of China and 16 Central and Eastern European countries (16 + 1 format) and a business conference. In the framework of the important international event on May 16 Chinese businessmen visited the Freeport of Riga with the aim to know more about the operation of the port, the provided services and investment projects.
The visit was organized as a boat trip through the harbor area on board the ship “Jelgava”, the Freeport of Riga enterprises’ representatives could present their businesses to their potential partners from China and show the location of the companies in the port, as well as discuss cooperation opportunities in the sphere of cargo attracting, co-financing of projects and other forms of partnership.
The Freeport of Riga was visited by the following representatives of Chinese companies: China Harbour Engineering Company, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd., China Merchants Holding (International) Co, Ltd., Zhengzhou International Hub Development and Construction Co.,Ltd., China Railway Container Transport Co., Ltd., China Railway. The following Freeport companies were represented: SIA Rīgas Universālais Termināls, SIA Baltic Container Terminal, SIA Systems Terminal, SIA NKT, SIA Frigo Terminal and SIA TFS Trans. The Freeport of Riga representatives informed businessmen from China about other investment projects at the port and free territories available for port development.
Entrepreneurs from China were mainly interested in the Freeport’s and specific port companies’ business opportunities for container transportation, handling and logistics. According to the Freeport of Riga entrepreneurs Chinese representatives were more interested in cooperation by investing in already operating terminals instead of new terminal and logistics projects. During the visit, the Chinese businessmen expressed great interest in the development of Riga port as a whole, its performance indicators, forecasts; they wanted to know about the impact of the geopolitical situation, European and Russian sanctions on the operation of the port.
On May 17 at “Radisson BLU Latvia” hotel within the framework of the ongoing business conference in the format 16 + 1 the participants can approach the Freeport of Riga stand and learn a lot about the Freeport of Riga activities, development plans and investment projects, as well as discuss them face to face with representatives of the Freeport of Riga Authority.