This meeting constitutes a first step towards developing a representative body to work with the government on necessary reforms to enhance the competitiveness of Polish ports and of the Polish economy. The meeting took place at DCT’s offices.
According to demand studies commissioned by DCT, growth for container demand in the region will triple in the next 15 years. This constitutes huge opportunities for Poland as its role as a gateway to Central-Eastern Europe and Russia will rapidly increase.
DCT’s initiative was welcomed by the Poland’s Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Economy which were represented on the meeting by Anna Wypych-Namiotko, Undersecretary of State and Igor Str?k, the Director of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Economy.
“The Polish government is very pleased with the initiative of Polish ports and container terminals led by DCT. The possibility of being able to learn about their view of the sector is of profound importance to us. We appreciate the commitment of Polish operators and their willingness to cooperate for Poland’s development in order for Poland to be able to offer gradually better service in the sector of marine transportation” said Anna Wypych-Namiotko. “It helps us to become familiar with the true situation of the container industry and make a thorough analysis of the positive changes and requirements of the marine economy” added Anna Wypych-Namiotko.
“Polish ports stand ahead of a historic chance to increase the transit of imported and exported goods to and from Central-Eastern Europe and Russia” said Igor Str?k. “Currently the Polish marine economy requires a common vision, what will be possible when the whole sector speaks as one voice with the government. DCT’s initiative should be seen in this light.”
The meeting addressed topics such as fiscal representation, VAT on imports, cargo clearance procedures, single window (i.e. reduction of the number of inspections) and infrastructure. The participants of the meeting unanimously agreed that good cooperation is vital to restore Poland’s historical position as the major platform for trade in the region and expressed their opinions concerning the necessity of reviewing regulations affecting negatively development of Polish container terminals. This will be possible once the infrastructural, financial and bureaucratic barriers are removed.
Boris Wenzel, DCT Gdansk CEO and the host of this meeting was contented with the debate:
Changes enacted by the government will have significant long-lasting beneficial effects on the development of Polish ports and Polish containerization. The support we received from the Polish Government authorities ensures us that Polish Ports will soon benefit from their geographic location and provide their clients of Central-Eastern Europe and Russia with better services and better logistics solutions than those currently offered by other European port