The document was signed by Clemens Först, Member of the Board of RCG, László Horváth, Chairman of the Board of CER Cargo Holding and Dimitry Murev, CEO of RZD Logistics JSC. Mihály Varga, Finance Minister and László Palkovics Minister for Innovation and Technology attended the event. Russia was represented on a high-level as well by Vladimir Aleksandrovich Tokarev, Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation.
The company established with the support of the responsible national ministries aims to strengthen the transport routes between China and Europe by providing high-quality logistics services. It will focus mostly on the import rail transports of Chinese goods and the export transports to the Far East. The further traffic increase may accelerate the development of the Hungarian railway logistics market and the revitalisation of the Záhony transhipment area.
Clemens Först highlighted on the occasion: “There is no doubt that the land bridge between Europe and Asia is of enormous importance in connecting the respective economies. History has shown that trade lanes lead to prosperity, economic growth. We are therefore pleased that together we have created a strong alliance that will make rail transport on the Silk Road even more attractive. Specifically, we will transform the route via Ukraine and Hungary into a second, major axis leading to new capacity, fast transport times and efficient onward distribution in Europe.”
Mihály Varga emphasised that it is of strategic importance not only for Hungary but also for Europe to establish a railway and freight hub in Záhony, which will connect Eastern countries with the European Union. He added: “Building the logistics centre in Záhony is a good example of the fact that Hungary's policy of opening up to the East does not mean a closure to the West, but a connection. The policy’s success is also highlighted by the fact that within ten years, trade between Hungary and the states to its East increased by almost a third.”
László Palkovics, Minister, Government Commissioner of the Northeast Hungarian Economic Development Zone stated: “Hungary can become the freight, logistics and distribution centre of Central Europe as planned if it benefits as much as possible from the transport between Europe and Asia. For rail consignments arriving from China on the mainland increased capacities at Záhony should be established as well as within the country, until the region of Győr-Sopron, a transport route bypassing the capital.”
The administrative and operational preparations for establishing the asset-light company indicated in the letter of intent are already in progress hence it is expected to start its operations in the first half of next year.