Minister Tālis Linkaits represents communications, transport and logistics interests at the international forum in Belarus
Minister of Transport, Tālis Linkaits, from 1st to 2nd of July visited Belarus on work visit where he participated in international forum “Open Park “Big Stone” – an example of global opportunities” as well as met with high level officials and transport spheres entrepreneurs from Belarus and China.
On the first day of the visit Mr Linkaits and Mr Shulgan, Minister of Communications and Computerization of the Republic of Belarus, signed protocol between Latvia and Belarus on cooperation in the release of the 694-790 MHz band from digital terrestrial broadcasting with the Belarusian Minister for Communications and Informatization, in order to make use of 5G for the new generation of mobile communications in the future.
On July 2nd Minister of Transport of Transport of the Republic of Latvia and Deputy State Secretary, Uldis Reimanis, took part in international forum “Open Park “Big Stone” – an example of global opportunities”. Mr Linkaits participated in work session together with Mr Alexei Avramenko, Transport and Communications Minister of the Republic of Belarus, Chairman of the Board of the German Duisport, Mr Erich Staake, Transport and Communications of Lithuania, Rokas Masiulis, etc.
While speaking at the plenary session of the international forum “Participation of the countries in the“ Belt and Road Initiative”: successes and perspectives”, Linkaits emphasized that Latvia is interested in continuing cooperation in the transport and logistics sector between Belt and Road Initiative involved countries, as well as attracting investments in Latvian ports, modernize existing infrastructure, increase competitiveness and efficiency of multimodal transport corridor through Latvia.
Minister informed forum participants about Latvia's engagement, role and achievements in Eurasian cargo supply chains and development of infrastructure connectivity projects with Belarus. He emphasized that container trains Riga-Minsk and Riga-Moscow, continuing route to the East and South, are already an important section in the connection with the western part of the Eurasian continent. Within the large-scale project “Rail Baltica”, planned logistics park at Salaspils, in the future will provide the North - South and East – West cargo flow synergies and wide distribution opportunities not only in the Baltic States, but also in Scandinavia and whole Northern Europe region.
At the same time, in his speech Mr Linkaits drew attention to the achievements during last year, where activity yielded significant, real results. Latvian ports handle more than 66 mln. tons (2018) of various types of cargo, i.e. every 6th ton of all cargoes transported in the Baltic Sea region are processed in Latvia. Also, Latvia like the Republic of Belarus, is a fully integrated part of the wide rail network (1520 mm) in the Eurasian continental rail network and is one of the five largest rail carriers in the European Union (49.3 million tonnes in 2018).
The Minister of Transport confirmed that Latvia will continue to be equally active in the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative and ensuring connectivity of the Eurasian continent.
Photos of Belarusian two-day visit:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/satiksmes_ministrija/albums/72157709376543576
Three years ago, in 2016, Latvia became the first country in the Baltics and Northern Europe to join the Belt and Road Initiative. Since then, Latvia offers a comprehensive approach to the development of bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the fields of aviation, ports, roads and railways, post and communications with China and other initiative countries.