Magazines — RZD-Partner International — 1 (13) February 2008
1 (13) February 2008
OAO RZD: Export Services to India: Lately, OAO RZD has actively been promoting its developments in the international transport market and shown much interest in participation with foreign infrastructure projects.Russian Ports Are Losing Metallurgical Cargoes: Russian portmen will have to think over how they can keep ferrous metallurgy production from being re-directed to competitors and onland border crossings; and rolling stock operators will have to decide on how to use universal and special parks more efficiently.
There Are No Rules, But The Game Is Going On: In OAO RZD a new department has been created – the Department of Freight Transportation Marketing and Tariff Policy. It is headed by a famous specialist in transport circles, Evgeny Mikhailov, who used to be Deputy Director of the Tariff State Regulation and Infrastructure Reforms Department in the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade. In his exclusive interview with The RZD-Partner International magazine, Mr Mikhailov talked about the targets of the new department and about his vision for tariff reform.
Contents
Editorial
EDITORIAL
The famous container train that traveled from Beijing to Hamburg is designed to attract more international traffic to Russian railways. It’s an undoubtedly accomplishable task, but some main problems must be solved.JSC Russian Railways: Scenario of Innovation Development
INTERVIEW
President of JSC Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin told The RZD-Partner International about the company’s results in 2007 and its strategic development plans.
Future of Customs: Neither Paper Documents nor Search
THEME / customs
Participants in foreign economic activity consider that the main problems with Russian customs are turnover of paper documents and unreasonably long searches. Customs officers are ready to provide customs formalities through e-documents and hold examination by means of special electronic complexes, which will speed up the process significantly. Leonid Shornikov, Deputy Head of the RF Federal Customs Service (FTS), told The RZD-Partner International about the innovations implemented at the RF border crossings.
E-Declaration: Fast, Reliable, But Not Yet Used
THEME / customs
The Russian Federal Customs Service is actively putting into operation advanced communication customs technologies. The most important of them is e-declaration, which aims to simplify the work of companies, including the ones doing business in Russia. Market players note that online data transfer fails to give the desired result. The reason for it is the lack of necessary legislative conditions.Customs Barrier
THEME / customs
European consignees and transport companies are staking their hopes on railway communication between China and the EU. The target of the Beijing – Hamburg train is to demonstrate the advantages of such a project. But all the interested parties should pay attention to the problem of customs formalities at the border of Russia and China. The difficulties described below concern transit goods destined for the EU member states as well.
Panorama. Economics
ECONOMICS / Panorama
President of Russian Railways, Vladimir Yakunin, and Director of The Breakers Investments B.V., Indrek Gusev, signed documents whereby Russian Railways acquired a 25% blocking stake plus 1 share in the Dutch company The Breakers Investments B.V, which owns 100% of Transmashholding.
High-Tech Works Up The Market
ECONOMICS / Reform
In 2007, on the basis of Russian Research Institute of the Railway Transport (VNIIZhT) and Russian Research Development and Planning Institute for Railway Information Technology, Automation and Telecommunication (VNIIAS), two subsidiaries of OAO RZD were launched – OAO VNIIZhT and OAO NIIAS. As a result, the scientific enterprises will work more actively in the scientific and technical services market, especially abroad.State Tariff Regulation: Adaptation, Differentiation, Equilibrium
ECONOMICS / state policy
State tariff policy in the railway transport sector makes for realisation of the structural reform carried out in the sector: creation of the conditions for its stable functioning and development, provision of Russian economy"s competitiveness and keeping rates of economic growth high. Meanwhile, the third stage of the reform envisages definite changes in the tariff policy, in particular, it must become more flexible.
Special Canal for Caspian Oil Transportation Estimated at USD 5 Billion
ECONOMICS / Transport Corridors
Russia and Kazakhstan initiated construction of a navigation canal connecting the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea. The new waterway, "Eurasia", is supposed to be used to transport oil extracted at the Caspian oil fields and, perhaps, containers. Experts say that the effect of the project, estimated at USD 5.4 billion, will be first of all political, not economic.
OAO RZD: Export Services to India
ECONOMICS / Projects and Investments
Lately, OAO RZD has actively been promoting its developments in the international transport market and shown much interest in participation with foreign infrastructure projects. In the company’s sphere of interest there are such states as Cuba, Bulgaria, North Korea, Syria, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and Venezuela. But one of the most prospective is the Indian railway infrastructure market along with rolling stock construction and modernisation, believe experts.The Time of Transsib Has Come
ECONOMICS / Doing business in Russia
Nowadays, Deutsche Bahn develops its presence on the international markets, in particular on Russian and Chinese ones. Gebhard Hafer, Director of Europe (East) and CIS, DB International GmbH and former Director of the company’s Logistic Department, commented on the potential attractiveness of the Transsiberian railway and the prospects of his company’s operation in Russia.
Panorama. Transportation
TRANSPORTATION / Panorama
Last year the revenue of the 10 companies which are in charge of the Armenian Ministry of Transport and Communication amounted to USD 51million, up 4.9% year-on-year.Russian Ports Are Losing Metallurgical Cargoes
TRANSPORTATION / Cargo and routes
The national economy growth, weakness of the dollar and competent tariff policy of neighbouring states caused in 2007 significant changes in the routes along which Russian ferrous metallurgy production is transported. Russian portmen will have to think over how they can keep the cargo from being re-directed to competitors and onland border crossings; and rolling stock operators will have to decide on how to use universal and special parks more efficiently.Lianyungang – Almaty – Moscow: One More Corridor For Europe
TRANSPORTATION / Container transportation
In autumn 2007 a transit block train was launched. It connected the port of Lianyungang and the Russian capital Moscow via the capital of Kazakhstan, Almaty. In fact, it is another transport corridor, targeted at providing qualitative and cheap transportation of goods from China to consumers in Central Asia, Russia, and perhaps, Europe. Analysis by The RZD-Partner International shows that the success of the project and the creation of one more convenient route from the "world factory" to European consignees depends on the readiness of Chinese infrastructure to service the planned cargo flows.
To Moscow Or Smolensk – Travelling By Train Is Best
TRANSPORTATION / passenger transportation
At the end of 2007, OAO RZD launched several new international passenger services. Thus, the company is regaining the position it lost in the 1990’s as well as opening new opportunities for its European partners. In their turn, European companies from Germany, Poland and France are offering OAO RZD the opportunity to continue strengthening the position of railways in the passenger transportation sector between Russia and Europe.Truck Queues at the Border: Will Railwaymen Take Advantage of the Chance?
TRANSPORTATION / Auto Transport
Kilometres-long truck queues on the border of the Russian Federation and EU countries Finland, Latvia and Estonia became one of the most popular themes even in the non-specialist mass media in 2007. Meanwhile, cargo owners are not eager to transport their freight by railway. The problem lies with the terms of customs transit and railway tariffs.
RF National Fleet To Fly Russian Flag
TRANSPORTATION / sea transport
After the law "On an International Register of Vessels" aimed at putting the Russian fleet under national jurisdiction was adopted in 2005, the RF Government has taken a number of other legislative measures. In particular, the ban on insuring vessels listed in the register at foreign insurance companies was removed. Nevertheless, experts, including foreign ones, are not sure about the prospects of the Russian register.Problem of Top Priority
TRANSPORTATION / Port
Most of Russia's 62 ports are operating at their full capacity. Because of the shortage of infrastructure (depths, berths, warehousing area, railway approaches), some cargo destined for Russia is serviced by stevedoring companies from neighboring states before being delivered to consignees by onland transport.Panorama. Company
COMPANY / Panorama
Foreign direct investment in the Russian economy is expected to rise from $41 billion in 2007 to $51 billion in 2010, the Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade said in late December.There Are No Rules, But The Game Is Going On
COMPANY / OAO RZD
In OAO RZD a new department has been created – the Department of Freight Transportation Marketing and Tariff Policy. It is headed by a famous specialist in transport circles, Evgeny Mikhailov, who used to be Deputy Director of the Tariff State Regulation and Infrastructure Reforms Department in the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade. In his exclusive interview with The RZD-Partner International magazine, Mr Mikhailov talked about the targets of the new department and about his vision for tariff reform.
Peculiarities Of Competition In Russia
COMPANY / Operator
Nowadays the third stage of railway transport structural reform is being carried out in Russia. Its target is creation of real competition in the transportation sector. One of the ways to reach the target is the emergence of transport companies alternative to OAO RZD. Meanwhile, the terms of the third stage of the reform and whether it will be a success – are still debatable questions.
Stable Development
COMPANY / partner
The year of 2007 was very important for OJSC Railroad of Yakutia, since it was the year when the company concluded agreements on cooperation with OAO RZD, developed the new tariff system, and a project of locomotive modernisation. , Director Generalof OJSC Railroad of Yakutia, told The RZD-Partner International about the company’s current projects and prospects.
Warehousing Logistics: Supply Falls Behind Demand
PRODUCTION AND SERVICES / logistics
Development of retail networks and large enterprises in Russia caused a boom in demand for logistics complexes. At the end of 2007, the area of industrial estate property in the CIS (mainly in Russia) amounted to 5.2 million square metres, meanwhile the potential market capacity is 50 million square metres. Experts forecast that, even if all the announced projects for network warehousing terminals are carried out, the demand will only be partly fulfilled by 2010-2012. And now, although this business is not profitable for them, cargo owners prefer to create their own warehousing assets.Transport Exhibitions In Russia – The Shortest Way To A Client’s Heart
PRODUCTION AND SERVICES / Exhibitions and Symposia
"We have come to Moscow to find business partners and present our product", – this is how Lingang Sang, sales manager of Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Construction Corporation, characterised the target of his visit to International Salon of Rolling Stock and Rail Technologies EXPO 1520, held in Russia in 2007. And Mr. Sang reached his target – his company's stand was one of the most often-visited stands at the exhibition. And it is not a surprise: participation in such events is one of the most efficient ways to promote a company in Russia.