OREANDA-NEWS. The 3rd ASEM Transport Ministers' Meeting devoted to “Development of Euro - Asia Multimodal Transport Linkages – Status Quo and Blueprints for the Future” will be held on 29-30 April 2015 in Riga, Latvia.

The two-day event will include a closed ministerial round-table meeting and several high-profile panel discussions. The ministers and stakeholders will analyse the development of land-based transport connectivity between Asia and Europe with a particular emphasis on the possibilities and development of multimodal transport in the transport corridors connecting these two continents. The meeting will give new impulse to the development of ASEM Transport Ministers’ Meeting format.

Increasing trade volume between Asia and Europa calls for revolutionary new supply chain management solutions, particularly in relation to transport routes and modes. In line with the vision espoused by ASEM Leaders at the Milan Summit, the main goal of the 3rd ASEM Transport Ministers’ Meeting will be to broaden our understanding of the recent development of transport linkages between Asia and Europe, to identify bottlenecks and weaknesses, and to foster closer cooperation among all the major stakeholders in order to harmonise strategic planning and development efforts.

The use of multimodal land-based supply chains is rapidly gaining importance in the age of globalisation, manufacturers require Just-in-Time (JIT) deliveries of the inputs of production and e-commerce — a prompt access to distant markets for final goods.

The 3rd ASEM Transport Ministers' Meeting will start with the opening speeches of the President of Latvia Mr Andris B?rzi??, the Minister for Transport of Latvia Mr Anrijs Mat?ss and European Commissioner for Mobility and Transport Ms Violeta Bulc.

The Meeting will bring together all the major stakeholders: ASEM Transport Ministers, representatives of the European Commission and other EU officials, as well as representatives from international institutions and NGO`s, entrepreneurs, logistics companies and global freight forwarders. Representatives from the companies recognised worldwide, such as Hewlett Packard, Adidas, DB Schenker, Stena Line will also participate in the conference.

Live broadcast of the conference will be available on the website of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

ASEM Transport Ministers` meeting is one of the events during the ASEM week in Riga. On 29 April Erasmus+ Information Day will be held at the University of Latvia. On 27-28 April  the 5th ASEM Education Ministers’ Meeting organised by the Latvian Ministry of Education and Science will also take place in Riga. 

The 3rd ASEM Transport Ministers’ Meeting is organised by the Ministry of Transport of Latvia  at the time when Latvia holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.