Záhony: new European logistics centre?26 February 2008
The government would like to develop Záhony into a goods transfer centre of European significance. In order to be able to do so, the government urges substantial infrastructure development and closer Russian-Ukrainian relations. The complex development programme that is also backed by the EU will be running up to 2013. Its objective is to promote that the highest possible volume of goods shipped from the Far East enter the territory of the EU at Záhony.
At the Hungarian Logistics Association Forum state secretary of the Ministry of Economy Ábel Garamhegyi stressed that the utmost endeavours of the Hungarian government include, among others, to promote that the highest possible volume of goods shipped from the Far East chose Záhony as an entry point to the territory of the European Union. Customs clearance should be performed here and shipping companies would be able to use the connecting value added services. This would generate considerable revenue for Hungary.
Sándor Kis Kálnoki, Government Commissioner for the development of the Záhony region, highlighted that together with EU funding, over 32 billion HUF will be invested to implement the Záhony complex development programme of the government of Hungary running up to 2013, out of which 20 billion HUF will be spent on track renewal and 8 billion HUF will be spent on the development of municipal roads.
The commercial representative of the Embassy of the Russian Federation said that the development of the goods transfer station at Záhony coincides with the national interests of Russia, since the container trains embarking from China would be able to travel via Russia and Ukraine and enter the territory of the EU at Záhony, instead of having to travel through Kazakhstan. The latter route does not pass through the territory of Russia, which implies the loss of substantial transit fees. The Ukrainian Ambassador also highlighted that Ukraine would like to actively take part in the Záhony project.