Mr Jacek Pieniazek - Fast Shipping , Mr Paul Fleming - Drogheda Port, Mr Frank Allen - Dundalk Port
Drogheda to increase trade links with Poland
Drogheda Port is to increase its trade links with Poland, the largest of the new accession countries to join the EU. Currently Drogheda is linked to Szczecin in Poland through its regular direct sailings operated by Fast Shipping Belgium who operate a fleet of 8 shortsea shipping vessels.
The relationship between Ireland and Poland has continued to strengthen politically, economically and culturally since Poland’s economic transformation from a centrally planned economy into a market economy in 1990. Irish-Polish trade by value has continued to increase year on year since 1998 and Poland’s accession to the EU in 2004 has enabled foreign investors to benefit from Poland’s growing economic markets.
On Friday (June 15th) the Irish Government arranged formal discussions in the port of Gydnia, Poland to facilitate the development of closer Irish-Polish trade links. The Irish naval vessel, the L.E. Aisling, made a formal call to Gdynia, the first such visit from an Irish naval vessel to Poland. With trade between the two countries growing annually the Irish Ambassador Mr Declan 0'Donovan welcomed the special relationship that was developing between the two countries and recognized that the Polish community in Ireland now contribute to the economic and social life of the country, since the Irish Government’s decision to open up its labour market to Poland and EU member states.
Mr Paul Fleming indicated that Drogheda Port intends to build on its existing polish links and is currently seeking to expand its polish service with a regular shortsea container line. Mr Fleming commented ”There is now considerable EU funding moving into Poland for infrastructural investment and certainly in the port sector recent developments in Gdynia, Gdansk and Szczecin will provide considerable opportunity for new container services. I would expect that the trend toward more unitized trade will continue in the medium to long term as trade is opened up as a result of accession.”
Ends.
Further information
Paul Fleming
Chief Executive
041 9838378
www.droghedaport.ie
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