Magazines — RZD-Partner International — 1 (5) March-May 2006
1 (5) March-May 2006
"IF IT IS TRANSIT, WE'LL MAKE IT COMPETITIVE": "Russia hosts foreign airplanes, in the future we'll welcome trains (the Finnish "Sibelius" has already been calling) and, consequently, river vessels. We ought not to close, but, on the opposite, we should encourage the boost of transportation volumes", assures Igor Levitin, The RF Minister of Transport.DEPENDENT COAL: Lately Russian coal sector has been considered one of the most stable and fast developing, due to high coal prices on the world markets and investment activity of coal producers. Analysts evaluate coal produce at about 282 million tons in 2005.
TO SAVE RUSSIAN SHIPBUILDING: Russia is one of the leading sea powers in the world, historically in possession of a strong merchant, fishery and military fleet. However, by now it has almost lost its leading positions in the sphere of shipping and shipbuilding.
Top five companies in 2005: results and projects
RF TRANSPORT: RESULT AND PROSPECTS
Last year was not an easy one for the Russian shipping companies. The tax scandal involving Volgotanker due to its suspected association with YUKOS passed on to the state level, and the whole situation had a negative influence on the company's financial condition and the output results. In 2005 the president of the Novoship company changed, and currently the future of the company is vague. At the same time, the financial figures of the largest Russian vessel owners were increasing; the programmes aimed at fleet renewal were carried out, and on the whole, the year of 2005 can be considered a successful one for the Russian shipping companies.