The VIII International Conference “Transport Services Market: Cooperation and Partnership” will be held on 7–8 December 2010 at the President Hotel, hosted by Business Dialogue and RZD-Partner business magazine. 
 
At the final stage of the railway sector structural reform, it is necessary to assess the efficiency of the results achieved at all stages of the programme. Choosing how to continue with railway-sector reforms aligned with the forecasted economic needs will ensure the transport industry’s sustainable and comprehensive development in the long run. Therefore, the main theme of the forthcoming conference is “Reform – the final phase. A single market, a single infrastructure, shared interests”.

Russian Railways is the conference’s Strategic Partner, and VTB Capital is the General Partner. Sponsors include Vnesheconombank, Uralvagonzavod, Freight One, RZDstroy, with support from Freight Two Company.  

The conference will be attended by top officials, including Sergei Ivanov, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin, Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin, Sergei Shishkarev, Chairman of the State Duma Transport Committee, VTB Capital President Yuri Solovyоv, and Gennady Petrakov, Head of the Federal Agency for Railway Transport. 

Other participants include representatives from A.T. Kearney, Eurocement Group, TransBasis, Investment Group Rosvagonmash, PhosAgro-Trans, Tikhvin Railway Car Building Plant, Transmashholding, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Troika-Dialog, JP Morgan, TransContainer, FESCO Transportation Group, Transgarant, Siberian Coal Energy Company, Independent Transport Company (NTK), and others.

In a letter of support, Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin stated: “As a strategic industry, railway transport has a significant impact on the country’s economic and social situation. On the one hand, this encourages the industry to reform, while on the other hand it implies significant responsibility, urging a thorough approach to every step in this direction. This year we have approached the final stage of the railway sector structural reform. The results we achieved fill us with confidence that we were not mistaken in the chief reform areas we chose. International experts believe that Russia’s experience is an example of the successful railway sector reform and creation of a developed competitive railway transport market. Investments in the industry’s infrastructure have brought our transport services to a new level, providing a reliable basis for developing the logistics market and raising the quality of service.”  

The high status of the conference’s participants and guests will allow us to hold a formidable event, fostering a constructive dialogue and outlining new ways for industry development.  

We wish all participants and guests of the VIII International Conference “Transport Services Market: Cooperation and Partnership” successful work and hope you are able to find new partner contacts!