South Africa's Minister of Transport in the Port of Gdansk

14.03.2014

On 13 March 2014, an official delegation of South Africa's Ministry of Transport paid a study visit to the Gdansk Coast. Presided by Minister Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, the delegates were hosted by Ms Dorota Pyc, the Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development of the Republic of Poland. After their visit to the Port of Gdynia and the Gdynia Maritime School, the delegates were hosted by Ms Dorota Raben, President of the Board of PGA SA. Having heard a presentation on the existing handling potential and development prospects for the Port of Gdansk given by Mr Julian Skelnik, the Port of Gdansk's Foreign Relations Director, the meeting participants were talking about the possibilities of cooperation in the sector of maritime economy.

All the guests invited to a plenary meeting, among whom were Mr Ryszard Swilski, Deputy Marshal of the Pomerania Region, Mr Andrzej Krolikowski, Director of the Maritime Office in Gdynia, Mr Jerzy Lewandowski, Secretary General of the Polish Chamber of Maritime Commerce, Mr Walery Tankiewicz, Vice-President of the Board of Port of Gdynia Authority SA, and representatives of the Maritime Institute, the Maritime University of Szczecin, and institutions connected with port activities and shipyard industry, expressed opinions that mutual cooperation between the two countries should be developed. The talks concerned also the starting of negotiations on drafting and signing an agreement for maritime transport cooperation between ministries responsible for transport and maritime economy of Poland and South Africa. It was initially determined that such cooperation can revolve around the sailing and shipyard sector, exchange of scientific and academic experience in maritime education and qualifications, and maritime administration. It was also stated that the dialogue which has been started can contribute to the development of maritime economies of both countries.

The final point of the visit to the Port of Gdansk was laying a wreath at the Monument of Westerplatte Defenders.

Janusz Kasprowicz
PGA SA PR Officer