The group of companies RHENUS LOGISTICS: It is comfortable for us to work in Smolensk region
The working meeting of the Vice Governor of the Smolensk region Rostislav Rovbel with the CEO of Rhenus Freight Logistics Olaf Metzger and the chairman of the Russian-German Foreign Trade Chamber Matthias Schepp has taken place in the territory of the customs and logistic terminal of the group of companies RHENUS LOGISTICS. The prospects of further cooperation of Smolensk region with the leading European service provider in logistics has been considered during the meeting.
It should be noted that RHENUS LOGISTICS is one of the largest international transport and logistic companies which turnover makes about three billion euros. Representative offices work more than in 290 cities of the world. The number of employees are more than 16 thousand people. The principal directions of the company’s activity are contract logistics, transport logistics and port logistics.
400 parking spaces for trucks, 2 500 sq.m of warehouse, 900 sq.m of office rooms has been created in the Smolensk region within implementation of the project Construction of a warehouse of temporary storage of Rhenus Terminal. The total amount of own means of the investor on the project was 6,5 million euros. Nowadays 70 employees work at the terminal.
At the beginning of the meeting Rostislav Rovbel has greeted the German delegation on behalf of the Governor of Smolensk region Alexey Ostrovsky and has told about the key aspects of investment policy of the region, has underlined the successfully realized investment projects of foreign investors such as Egger, Fresenius Medical Care, Arsenal ST, Ledvance and also about the project of the company Siemens on construction of electrical substation on 25 MW.
In the opening speech the Chairman of the Russian-German Foreign Trade Chamber Matthias Schepp has emphasized that despite the slowing-down tendencies which were outlined in the Russian economy in recent years, the German companies invested record means into the Russian economy for the last 2 years.
According to expert assessments the volume of direct investments of Germany abroad was more than 100 billion euros in 2016 and external turnover between our countries made about 40 billion euros.
- About 50% of the German companies that are localized in Russia are going to expand production in Russia. Mutually advantageous projects between our countries are some kind of a lighthouse of development of the German-Russian relations. Smolensk region is a border region disposed very close to Germany but at the same time is near to the capital of Russia. We are especially pleased that several large German companies, such as RHENUS LOGISTICS and Fresenius Medical Care Deutshland GmdH successfully work in the region, - Matthias Schepp has emphasized.
Matthias Schepp has also told about opportunities of holding joint actions and has expressed readiness to render assistance in the organization of business missions both for the Smolensk businessmen to Germany and German to the Smolensk region.
The CEO of Rhenus Freight Logistics Olaf Metzger has shared plans for the future which are planned to be realized in the territory of Smolensk region.
Goods turnover on the terminal increases every year. According to the estimates there will pass more than 15 000 trucks through the terminal in 2017 and they will appear not due to enticement of clients at other transport and logistic organizations and at the expense of the increasing quantity of a cargo transportation.
- Following the results of the meeting with the Governor Alexey Ostrovsky at the end of 2016 our company has made the decision on construction of a warehouse for temporary storage of paint and varnish production on the basis of the customs and logistic terminal Rhenus Terminal in 2017. We see that the Administration of Smolensk region is most open for any offers from investors and renders them full assistance in any undertaking. It is comfortable to us to work in the Smolensk region. I think that shortly we will begin construction of one more warehouse for storage of pharmaceutical production and also we will organize customs registration of forest products, - Olaf Metzger has emphasized.
Also the parties have discussed joint realization of the project Green corridor from Germany to Russia in the territory of the region. Three German companies that will be chosen on the competitive procedure among participants of the Russian-German Foreign Trade Chamber will take part in the pilot project assuming improvements of conditions of development of business and trade between the countries. The start is appointed to the end of 2017.
In the end of the meeting Matthias Schepp has noted that the Russian-German Foreign Trade Chamber is ready to organize a meeting of the Governor of the Smolensk region with representatives of the German business for representation of investment potential of the Smolensk region.