More than 250 participants had the opportunity to nurture and deepen the good relationship between Hamburg and St Petersburg at the Port Evening staged by Port of Hamburg in St Petersburg. Since 1957 Hamburg and St Petersburg have developed strong economic, cultural, social and scientific contacts. The ports of both cities have had good business contacts for many decades. Now, with the politically tense situation Hamburg and St Petersburg are still maintaining their dialogue and close business cooperation.
15 years ago Port of Hamburg Marketing (HHM) opened a representative office in St Petersburg. In honour of this anniversary Dr. Torsten Sevecke, State Secretary, for the Ministry of Economics, Transport and Innovation in the Hanseatic City of Hamburg, travelled to St Petersburg at HHM’s invitation.
More than 250 representatives of the port and transport business from Hamburg and the metropolitan region, as well as from Russia met at the Hamburg Port Evening in St Petersburg, held by Port of Hamburg Marketing. Among the guests in the Panorama restaurant ‘Le Vernissage‘ in the Hotel Ambassador were numerous high ranking representatives from the Russian transport and logistics sector.
In his welcoming speech State Secretary Dr. Sevecke stated that “Port of Hamburg Marketing’s Representative Office in St Petersburg had done excellent work during the last 15 years. “The relationship between the two ports is very good. I wish for us that the handling results develop positively again.”
Ingo Egloff, CEO Port of Hamburg Marketing added: “The high number of Russian guests shows great interest in exchanges and cooperation.” Sergey Movchan, Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg, stressed: Not only friendship between our cities is important. Hamburg is the major partner city for St Petersburg. Last year we celebrated the 60 anniversary of our city twinning. What counts are the friendships and good contacts between individuals, which we see here today.”
Alongside the Port Evening in the afternoon HHM offered a port round-trip for member companies e.g. HHLA AG, Hamburg Port Authority, C. Steinweg (Süd-West Terminal) Lübecker Hafen-Gesellschaft, Seehafen Kiel, European Cargo Logistics and many others. During the trip the Deputy Harbour master Mikhail Khariuzov presented the port and its terminals from the waterside.
Since 2003 the HHM Representative Office in St Petersburg has facilitated good contacts to the Russian industry and transport sector, the HHM Representative Natalia Kapkajewa gave information on the spot about the Port of Hamburg, arranged contacts between Hamburg and Russian companies and provided information on their markets.
Container traffic between Hamburg and Russian ports reached 171,000 TEU in the first half-year. Exports to Russia were above all foodstuff and luxury foods, chemical products, machinery and equipment. The most important imports are coke and mineral oil products, coal, crude oil and natural gas as well as chemical products.
