Address to the participants

Dear colleagues,
On 24—25 September, 2008 Saint Petersburg will host International conference GlobalPORT-2008: Saint Petersburg — the Sea Capital of Russia. Transport and transit potential.

Being a port city, Saint Petersburg plays the role of a key point for traffic flows. Creating a modern port infrastructure cannot be considered ignoring development of shipbuilding, rail and motor transport, as well as the industrial complex of the Russian Federation. That is why it was decided to hold annual international conference in transport and logistics in Saint Petersburg, involving all interested parties: legislative and executive power, foreign authorities, public and private transport companies, both, local and international, ports, cargo owners, insurance and investment companies.

The conference’ main targets:

The Conference has been arranged within the project «Saint Petersburg — the Sea Capital of Russia» by the All-Russian political party United Russia (Yedinaya Rossiya), supported by the federal executive authorities, relative committees of the State Duma, Social-Conservative Politics Center, and Saint Petersburg Administration.

We hereby invite you to take part in the work of the Conference.

Best regards,
Saint Petersburg — the Sea Capital of Russia
Project Coordinator
Member of the Supreme Council’ Bureau
of the All-Russian political party United Russia A. N. Chilingarov

ILYA IOSIFOVICH KLEBANOV
PRESIDENTIAL PLENIPOTENTIARY ENVOY TO THE NORTHWEST FEDERAL DISTRICT

Dear friends,
At present, development of Russia’s transport complex has reached its historic maximum. In 2007, for the first time, freight turnover in Russian ports exceeded maximum level reached during the Soviet Union times. Passenger turnover decrease has stopped, transport mobility of the population is constantly growing, new ports, motor- and rail -roads are being constructed.

Transport industry is gradually moving from a modernization stage to development. This has been reflected in new sectoral strategic program documents. New Federal Target Program has the name «Development of the Russia’s transport system ( 2010—2015)». Elaborating of the Transport Strategy of the Russian Federation up to 2030 is going through a completion stage.

Today, a point of reference for the transport industry is the Transport Strategy of the Russian Federation to 2020. According to the Strategy, significant role in the transport infrastructure development is allocated to the sea ports.

Northwest Federal District has the most traffic volume among Russia? s sea ports. The Port of Saint Petersburg is the leading port of Russia.

Saint Petersburg is Russia’ s second biggest city, one of the biggest ports in the world, global transit hub at the intersection of a number of international transport corridors.

Whereas historically, Saint Petersburg port used to be outside the city boundaries, now it s located almost at the city center. Therefore, the challenges of Saint Petersburg port hub development are very urgent. We need to move part of the cargoes outside of the city, decreasing load to the city highways. Solving this issue will take development of motor- and rail- accesses to the port, constructing new sea terminals in Leningrad region, attracting investments to Saint Petersburg outports.

Moreover, arranging smooth goods traffic takes construction of new transport and logistics terminals and off-docks. Highly important is to coordinate activities of Saint Petersburg and Leningrad region in infrastructure development. With a view to fine-tune this process, Ministry of Transport established a separate working group.

Holding the First International conference «Saint-Petersburg — the Sea Capital of Russia. Transport and transit potential» is very timely.

I fully support All-Russian political party United Russia’ project «Saint-Petersburg — the Sea Capital of Russia» and wish success to all the participants.