Latvian Railways (LDz) and DHL Global Forwarding signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation on establishing multimodal rail connections between China and Latvia, including both freight connections and consolidation services centered in Riga City. Under the agreement, new connections will include guaranteed transit times and simplified customs and handling procedures for inbound and outbound cargo, as well as support for more flexible shipments such as Less-than-Container Load (LCL) freight.
“With the economies of Latvia and its neighbors expected to grow faster than the rest of the European Union, businesses in the region will need to look to new markets like China to fuel their expansion. By building rapid, reliable logistics connections between the Baltic and Asia Pacific, we hope to give the region’s businesses a strong foundation for ongoing growth,” Steve Huang, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding Greater China said.
The agreement comes as DHL begins service along its newest Asia-Europe multimodal route connecting Shenzhen to Minsk via rail. DHL holds similar agreements with national rail providers in Belarus, Chengdu, and other major hubs along China’s proposed “Belt and Road” trade routes. “DHL has led the way in realizing the Belt and Road’s opportunities for numerous countries, including the Nordic states that its Shenzhen-Minsk route will directly service. This new agreement will give Latvian businesses the flexibility and confidence to engage in freer trade with Chinese and Asian markets, as well as establish Latvia as a strategic gateway along the Belt and Road to other parts of Europe – a twofold boost to the country’s production and logistics industries,” President of LDz, Edvīns Bērziņš said.
The cooperation between the two companies also includes provisions for ocean freight and intermodal shipping between Latvia, Scandinavia, and the UK and Ireland, as well as air and road freight connections to major cities across continental Europe.
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