Linking Türkiye by Danube
The Secretariat of the Danube Commission together with the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Budapest, organized the Danube transport promotion event “Linking Türkiye by Danube”, which took place at the Yunus Emre Institute – Turkish Cultural Centre in Budapest, on June 6, 2024.
The objective of the event was to promote the use of the Danube River waterway and the Danube ports for cargo flows between the Danube region and Türkiye. It also sought to provide a platform for future targeted cooperation of Danube-IWT stakeholders with Turkish companies with the purpose of facilitating Danube cargo transportation, to enable successful Danube transport & logistics operations and consequently to create good practices within the community of companies in Hungary and neighbouring countries having cargo flows to and from Türkiye. During the event, the existing and emerging services connecting Danube seaports with seaports in Türkiye were highlighted, with a focus on the new maritime services (Motorways of the Sea) between EU and Türkiye.
In the welcoming remarks, H.E. Gülşen Karanis Ekşioğlu, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye in Hungary and Mr. Manfred Seitz, Director-General of the Secretariat of the Danube Commission stressed the importance of the transport of goods by the Danube River, coming from the ports in Türkiye. Increase in connectivity is very important, and the first step in that direction is the opening of the RORO line between the Port of Constanta and the Port of Karasu.
Representatives from the EC DG/MOVE, Ministry of Trade of Türkiye, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of Türkiye, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye (EU Directorate), and ProDanube International presented the possibilities for the improvement of transport relations between the Danube region and Türkiye, by the better use of the Danube River waterway.
From the business perspective, representatives from the DP World, International Transporters Association of Türkiye (UND), and International Transport and Logistics Service Provider Association (UTIKAT) presented their activities and vision for future cooperation between the Danube region and Türkiye.
On the side of cargo flows, with the focus on Hungary being the origin and/or destination companies EKOL Logistics and GYSEV Cargo presented their activities.
In the last segment of the event, transport and logistics companies had an opportunity to present themselves: Transport Trade Services, Shipping Container Services Constanța, Grampet Group, DDSG-Mahart, Rhenus Donauhafen Krems, and Tawil Group.
With over 60 participants from Türkiye, Romania and Hungary, this event was a great opportunity for networking and fostering future development of cooperation in waterborne transport between Türkiye and the Danube region.
Presentations:
- Ákos Kovács – EKOL Transport solutions between Türkiye and Hungary
- Alexander Craciun DP World – DP World Constanta and its facilitation of SEALINES RORO Services
- Alper Özel – UND
- Andra Solomon – SCS
- Balázs Hlavacska – DDSG MAHART Kft.
- Bilgehan Engin, UTIKAD – The Danube river in freight operations
- Ilyas Karabriyik, DGM – Turkish Maritime Policies & Priorities
- Péter Kondor – GYSEV Cargo
- Razvan Banica, TTS – Budapest Linking Türkiye by Danube
- Róbert Rafael – Pro Danube International
- Selen Gunel Susuz – Perspectives of Türki̇ye
- William G Melki – Tawil Group
- Gerhard Gussmagg, Rhenus
