Bureaucratism Hampers Transit Development
26.12.2007 (18:01)
«There are several reasons which are important for Russia and Kazakhstan: lack of stability in common transit time, lack of rolling stock, complexity of customs registration procedures, absence of advancement of this transport corridor in the market and flexible mechanism of pricing», Denis Zalevsky, Head of business projects development department of STS Logistic company, considers.
— Mr. Zalevsky, many experts considers that it is reasonable to use Trans-Siberian Railway for transportation of import-export cargoes, it will be more favorable, than transit. Transit on the railway is possible when express delivery is required. Do you think it is expedient way?
At first sight, it seems that it is favorable to develop export-import flows of cargoes because rates on these transportations exceed the transit rates. But if we analyze the situation we understand that the good transit cargo flow will allow to regulate transit tariffs in the same way. There is also one more important point: expenses for transit cargoes transportations are smaller. It is easier to send the whole train from Nakhodka to Buslovsky station, for example, than to distribute the same train between all Russian cities… Besides, big flow of transit cargoes for the third countries is additional argument for intergovernmental questions solution.
On the other hand, if transit grows the same rates, as now potentials of the railway will be exhausted in 3 - 5 years. Thus it is necessary to understand, that despite active work on transit cargo flow attraction, we will not achieve it tomorrow, it is necessary to spend considerable time for it.
In my opinion, the Trans-Siberian Railway can be used not only as an export-import way of cargoes transportation, as a transit corridor too under condition of the correct organization of work, correct planning of all necessary resources.
— The program of transport and transit potential development of the country is carried out in the adjoining states, for example, in Kazakhstan. Could you tell about perspective of this way?
— According to the experience of our company, the basic volume of transportation in the South Asian region falls on goods turnover between Kazakhstan and Russia. There is no the essential growth of the transit cargoes volume on these routes. For some last years countries did not make efforts to change this situation despite some obvious advantages of transit on railways in comparison with the sea, flow of transit cargoes didn’t increase.
—Do you think what hamper development of transit flows from Southern Asia?
— In my opinion, there is several reasons which are important for Russia and Kazakhstan: lack of stability in common transit time, lack of rolling stock, complexity of customs registration procedures, absence of advancement of this transport corridor in the market and flexible mechanism of pricing.
Thus Russia has more advantages. Firstly, Russian transit corridor is within the bounds of one state unlike Kazakhstan which should co-ordinate the transit policy with adjoining countries. Secondly, Russia has a positive experience of transit corridors work, after all in days of Soviet Union the Trans-Siberian Railway functioned in Soviet period and cargoes were transported and the western countries have not been interested in its development. And the last: today the most simple exit of a transit way of Kazakhstan — via Russia as other ways are difficult now.
On the other hand, according to our experience, the Kazakhstan authorities are more careful in problems solution. Our company when we placed the information on planned project of STS Logistic in Kazakhstan in mass-media and mentioned some problems in interaction with the Kazakhstan railways. Representatives of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy call us and suggested to discuss in detail these problems to try to solve them! I haven't heard yet about similar calls from OAO RZD. Have you?
Interviewed by Anna Nezhinskaya
Print version
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