International Association Cities & Ports

14.05.2001

BALTIC MEETING POINT

May 11-12, 2001, the City of Gdansk hosted the General Assembly of the International Association Cities and Ports (IACP) with its seat in Le Havre. The City and the Port of Gdansk joined the organization in June 2000. In appreciation of the active contribution to the work carried out by the organization during the conferences in Le Havre and Marseilles in the year 2000, the authorities of IACP approached Port of Gdansk Authority SA and the City Hall of Gdansk with the request to organize a general assembly in our city. The co-organizers of the event were Synergia 99 Co. Ltd, Szczecin-Swinoujscie Seaport Authority and Gdansk-Trojmiasto Airport Ltd.

The delegates to the General Assembly and the invited guests received a warm welcome from Mayor of Gdansk Pawel Adamowicz and President of the Board of Port of Gdansk Authority SA Marian Switek. While addressing the assembly, they emphasized the bonds between the City and the Port of Gdansk, further strengthened by the fact that the Municipality of Gdansk became a shareholder of the managing entity of the Port of Gdansk. They also recognized that such a shareholding relation facilitates coordination of investment projects at the port-city interface and also contributes toward further dynamic growth of the City of Gdansk and the entire region. The best example of this kind of investment cooperation comprises the project of construction of a tunnel under the Martwa Wisla River. The Municipal and Port Authorities filed a request with the European Commission to participate in the financing of the project by means of the ISPA fund. The benefits resulting from the development of this transportation node include, among other things, connecting the two parts of the port, diverting road traffic from the city center of Gdansk, as well as intercepting the traffic from Gdynia and Sopot and directing it through the tunnel and across the suspension bridge directly toward Warsaw.

The second part of the agenda covered a seminar-debate titled "Baltic Meeting Point". This aimed to present issues related to transportation and municipal aspects in the Baltic Sea Region, as well as to promote the City and the Port of Gdansk. The seminar was commenced with a letter from the Minister of Transport and Maritime Economy Mr. Jerzy Widzyk addressed to the participants of the assembly. The Minister stressed the significance of ports to the national economy and recognized the beneficial impact of the bonds between port and municipal authorities on regional growth.

During the break in the seminar-debate the guests attended a catamaran trip around the Port of Gdansk. Particular impression was made by the sheer scope of the Northern Port of Gdansk and the investment projects carried out by Port of Gdansk Authority SA The project of the Deepsea Container Terminal and launch of the container block train service along the Gdansk-Odessa Corridor encouraged the representatives from a number of European port authorities to enter into introductory commercial talks with Port of Gdansk Authority SA from the very first day of the meeting.

The intensive program of the first day concluded with an official dinner held at the Artus Court, sponsored by Port of Gdansk Authority SA and Synergia 99 Co. Ltd. The president of IACP Mr. Antoine Rufenacht expressed his sincere gratitude to the Mayor of Gdansk Mr. Adamowicz and the President of the Board of Port of Gdansk Authority Mr. Switek for very good organization of the annual statutory IACP event and declared that his association will take advantage of its widespread contact network in order to actively promote not only the investment projects in Gdansk, but also the tourist attractiveness of our region.

On the second day of the event, the City Hall of Gdansk arranged a sightseeing tour for the invited guests presenting the City of Gdansk and Malbork.

The advantages derived from hosting similar events are not only reduced to the promotional dimension, but also yield substantial profits for the local business. Hotels, restaurants, transportation companies, the airport and a great number of other companies benefit from providing services to large groups of visitors coming to our city. In the case of the General Assembly of IACP, over 120 people from all over the world attended, people who will further encourage their friends and relatives, as well as business partners, to visit Gdansk not only as a perfect holiday destination, but also as an attractive center for expanding business activities.

The General Assembly of IACP has been a second event successfully organized by Port of Gdansk Authority SA since March 2000. Therefore, it is no surprise that more and more organizations are showing interest in becoming thoroughly acquainted with Gdansk and establishing here long-term cooperation.