The Conference of the Regional Association of International Carriers
The conference of the Association of International Road Carriers (ASMAP) of the Smolensk region was held in Smolensk. The participants discussed the results and prospects of the road transport sector in the region in 2013, examined the characteristics of the traffic surveillance. Also, as a part of the annual conference, there was the presentation of the regional market of international transportation opportunities.
The key speakers were Andrey Bakhov, Deputy Head of Industry, Transport and Roads Department of the Smolensk region, Sergei Baklitsky, Head of ASMAP Representation in the Central Federal District, Ivan Kutenkov, Head of Gosavtonadzor of the Smolensk region.
It was said at the conference that the development of the economy, the implementation of major investment projects need the upgraded transport infrastructure. The present capacity of the roads cannot keep up with the growing demand for transport services.
Deputy Head of Industry, Transport and Roads Department Andrey Bakhov focused on such a positive change in the road sector as establishing since January 1, 2012 the regional road funds with the fixed funding sources in accordance with the Federal legislation in the Russian regions. Creating the Road Fund of the Smolensk region led to more than doubling of the road sector funding in 2012 compared to 2011, and in 2013 this funding is going to increase. The length of the federal highways passing through the territory of the Smolensk region is 697 kilometers. The network of the regional public roads is 8,310 km. In compliance to the regulations almost 1,500 kilometers of roads must be repaired. So there is going to be a lot of work.
738 carriers of the Smolensk region have the license for the International Road Transportation. 30 percent of all freight transported by road through the territory of Russia pass through our region. Andrey Bakhov stressed that the regional administration intends to continue developing the transport capacity of the region and to promote the traffic growth by constructive cooperation with ASMAP. A few more logistics centers are planned to be set up in the region in addition to the already opened ones, which will positively affect the development of the transport services market. Head of the Regional Gosavtonadzor Administration Ivan Kutenkov said that the situation with the freight flow is gradually changing for the better: the traffic volume is increasing, and in the recent months the traffic through the Smolensk region has reached the level of 2008.