The Round Table Talks with representatives of the Ministry of Transport on rail infrastructure, harbour development and airport development
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Ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to thank you all for your willingness to talk to Dutch entrepreneurs about current Russian infrastructure policy.
I have come here today with sixty leading Dutch companies because I am convinced that Russia and the Netherlands can mean a great deal to one another. Our countries complement each other and are already working together on large-scale projects. Last year, Dutch exports to Russia grew by twenty percent. And a number of Dutch transport companies have already extended their operations to Russia.
In my opinion, a lot more is still possible. Our cooperation can be made broader and deeper. But then we have to be well aware of your needs and of the plans and projects on which you are working.
We have come here today to learn. In this way, we are following the example set by Tsar Peter the Great who came to our country in 1697 because he was curious about Dutch infrastructure and transport resources. Since that time, our country has played an important supporting role in the economic and maritime expansion of Russia. And that is a role we would like to continue to fulfil.
Russia is a country in which investments in infrastructure take a prominent position on the political agenda. This makes you an even more interesting partner. Just like us, you are facing the challenge of organizing your growing transport flows more sustainably. This demands a robust logistics system.
The theme of these round-table talks is information sharing. Information about your infrastructural plans. And about the possibilities for Dutch companies to contribute to their implementation.
We have a lot to offer you. The Netherlands is a big economic player that tops the bill in important areas like hydraulic engineering, dredging, airport development and the designing of international freight corridors.
To give you a better picture, here are five facts about the Netherlands:
· In size, we are the sixteenth economy in the world. For a country with a population of only sixteen million this is a remarkable performance.
· We are your most important export market. Thanks in part to our strong ties in the fields of oil and gas.
· We are one of the world’s major logistics hubs. The World Bank puts us in second place after Singapore on the Global Logistics Performance Index. A position that we owe in part to the quality of the port of Rotterdam – the third largest port in the world – and to Schiphol Airport near Amsterdam.
· We have centuries of experience in building in wet areas. More than half of the Netherlands is under sea level. And seventy percent of our Gross National Product is earned there.
· We are making a considerable contribution to major projects in Russia. For example, the completion of the storm surge barrier in St Petersburg and the development of the Sakhalin 2 oil and gas project. And let us not forget the expansion and modernization of the airport of the future Olympic city, Sochi. A Dutch company was commissioned this year to build the baggage handling system for the airport.
It was a year ago that Dutch Prime Minister Balkenende visited Russia, together with an extensive delegation from our business community, including representatives from the fields of transport and logistics. On that occasion, he and Mr Putin talked together intensively.
There was great interest on both sides for an intensification of relations, including economic relations. Our visit is aimed at building on this.
And that is why I especially appreciate the involvement today of the Russian Ministry of Transport.
The members of the Dutch delegation would very much like to hear more about the Master Plan for Planned Investments. About expected developments in public-private partnerships. About cross-border infrastructural projects. And of course, about your ideas for strengthening cooperation between the Netherlands and Russia in the areas of water construction projects, airport development, and rail and road infrastructure.
All of you are working towards developing Russia into a leading transport nation. You know what Russia needs in the area of infrastructure. I am very pleased that you will be talking to us about this today. The Netherlands is ready to intensify our cooperation.