transport logistic 2007: Central and eastern European countries present their potential

The eight central and eastern European countries that became members of the European Union in 2004 have quickly established themselves within the community. On 1 January 2007, Romania and Bulgaria also joined the club. The opportunities and risks that these ten markets present to German logistics companies will be highlighted at transport logistic, which takes place from 12 to 15 June 2007 in Munich.
At this international trade fair for logistics, telematics and transport, the countries of Hungary and Romania will be exhibiting for the first time, each of them with their own pavilion of exhibitors. Croatia, the Czech Republic and Poland will also again be exhibiting at their own national pavilions. In addition many individual exhibitors from central and eastern Europe will also be coming along to add their offering to this showcase for the value-added chain in the logistics sector.

One thing eastern European countries have in common is that their logistics sectors are still very small in comparison to those of western European countries. There are few national logistics-services providers, and the ones that do exist generally tend to offer only transport operations. Yet the low production costs, the central location of these countries within Europe and their growing markets have already attracted many global logistics operators. In Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, where conditions are favourable, initial successes have already been achieved. Already in these countries, there are logistics facilities of western standard and some of the many national service companies are also offering contract logistics, too. In Slovenia, by contrast, logistics plays only a subordinate role. Not only because the country is some distance from the main transit routes, but also because with its two million inhabitants, it is only a small market.

The three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have developed into one of the most important interchanges for passenger and goods transport, thanks to their favourable position in northeastern Europe. They play a key role in transport both east-west as well as north-south. The transport and logistics sector regularly accounts for more than 10 percent of GDP. In terms of freight transport, the railways dominates, but a large part of the transport is also handled on the pan-European transit routes. The ports and also the airports on the Baltic can also point to substantial growth in volumes. An insight into the opportunities this opens up to logistics companies can be obtained at transport logistic 2007, in a panel discussion on the subject of ‘New European logistics hubs in the Baltic’, organised by the German-Baltic Chamber of Trade in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, on 14 June 2007 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Forum II in Hall A3.

The two newest EU member-states of Romania and Bulgaria have the most ground to catch up in all areas. But German forwarders and logistics companies are already showing growing interest in these markets. Michael Kubenz, President of the German forwarders´ association, Deutsche Speditions- und Logistikverband e.V. (DSLV), explained it as follows: “Romania, with its great market potential of around 22 million inhabitants, is very interesting for logistics suppliers. With the rise in per-capita income expected in that country, there will be an above-average demand for logistics services in that country. The target sectors are mainly customers in the automotive and textile sectors. As regards Bulgaria, its favourable geographical position for transport is appealing, on the crossroads of trade between the EU, Turkey and the Middle East.”

For all visitors to transport logistic who want to inform themselves about the situation in both these two countries, the DSLV is offering an event on ‘Transport and logistics in the new EU member states of Bulgaria and Romania’, taking place on 13 June 2007, from 3.30 to 5.30 p.m., in conference room B52. At this forum, experts from Romania and Bulgaria will be outlining the conditions in the two countries and reporting to German logistics suppliers about their experiences.

About transport logistic
The 11th international trade fair for logistics, telematics and transport (12 to 15 June 2007 in Munich) presents the whole spectrum of the transport and logistics industry – telematics, in-company transport and material flow, logistics and freight transport. The fair aims to be a practical forum for information gathering and exchange in the diversely structured field of transporting freight – by road, rail, water and air. The visitor target groups of the fair are service-providers and decision-makers from the transport business, from industry, trade associations and freight logistics. In 2005 transport logistic attracted 1,333 exhibitors and around 40,000 visitors from a total of 103 countries. The statistics for the fair are independently audited on behalf of the Gesellschaft zur Freiwilligen Kontrolle von Messe- und Ausstellungszahlen (FKM), a society for the voluntary control of fair and exhibition statistics.

Further information: www.transportlogistic.de

About Messe München International MMI
Messe München International (MMI) is one of the world´s leading trade-fair organisations. It organises around 40 trade fairs for capital and consumer goods, and new technology. Over 30,000 exhibitors from more than 100 countries, and over two million visitors from more than 200 countries take part each year in the trade fairs in Munich. In addition, MMI organises trade fairs in Asia, Russia, the Middle East and in South America. With four subsidiaries abroad and 66 foreign representatives covering 89 countries, MMI has a truly global network.

Press contact:
Petra Gagel
Tel.: +49 89 / 9 49-20244, Fax: +49 89 / 9 49-20249
E-mail: petra.gagel@messe-muenchen.de
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This release was published on openPR.