ODESA, SEPTEMBER 28th, 2011, CONTEXT-PRICHERNOMORIE —Minister of Transport of Russia Igor Levitin says consolidation in the operation of sea ports at the south of Ukraine and Russia is needed, Context-Prichernomorie correspondent reports.

Mr Levitin stated it today, 28 September, in Odesa during the ceremony of signing a number of cooperqation documents beween Ukraine in Russia.

“The volume of cargo handling in seaports of Russia a few years ago, exceeded the level of the Soviet handling — about 450 million tons. Today, it is about 570 million tons and in a few years, we need 750 million tons”, noted the Minister of Transport.

“We understand that the increase in the number of goods, including transit cargo to our region and Europe comes from Southeast Asia, so we need to consolidate on the work of the ports here in the south of Russia and Ukraine”, added Minister Levitin.