ODESA, MAY 15th, 2012, CONTEXT-PRICHERNOMORIE VI International Conference Charter and Ports of the Azov-Black Sea Basin is being held in Odesa, Context-Prichernomorie correspondent reports.

The Press service of Odesa Commercial Sea Port informed today, 15 May.

According to the press service, 14 May, in the conference hall of the hotel London opened the VI International Conference Charter and Ports of the Azov-Black Sea Basin. Among the participants there are representatives of Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Israel, Britain, Austria, Switzerland, Canada, Egypt, Norway, Romania, the Netherlands and other countries.

Welcoming the participants, Odesa Port CEO, Yuri Vaskov before the beginning of the forum said, “Despite the crisis and post-crisis periods the volume of cargo in domestic ports in 2011 increased. In this contribution, both public and private ports and terminals currently operate 40% of the cargo. Consequently, the market for services for freight and transport companies is growing. I want to remind that Ukraine is on the verge of port reform, awaiting the adoption of the new law. The main purpose of this law is not privatization, as many mistakenly believe, but to provide opportunities for investors to enter the Ukrainian ports are not under the cooperation agreements or lease and concession. This allows investors to actively invest in infrastructure development, respectively, in the Ukrainian ports to attract additional freight traffic. Many domestic companies and neighbouring countries expect the adoption of this law to get a concession of port facilities, increase the cargo base. For us, dockers, it means an increase in cargo handling, transport streams, passing through the territory of Ukraine. Prospects, in my opinion, we are positive. The main thing is not to miss out on time, participate actively in the forthcoming reforms. I wish you all success, sharing experiences, which can then be used in practical work.”

The conference programme included analysis of the dry cargo market Black Sea-Azov basin, the market of bulk, grain cargoes, a review of exports of ferrous metals in the Black Sea, the consideration of the potential of container shipping in the Black Sea, the container shipping market due to the market the Mediterranean Sea and river transport and trade Europe and much more. The Conference will continue on May 15.