Deli Andor, who is a member of the European Parliament, will talk about how the Western Balkans region’s geographical position is key not only for the European Union, but for Europe as a whole. Further, Andor is particularly interested in topics concerning Western Balkans region, EU-Serbia relations and EU transport policy.

Andor will speak on how, historically, very important trade routes crossed the region connecting Europe with Asia and discuss the creation of the Western Balkans Transport Community, the proposed Western Balkans Transport Corridor, and the ongoing transport projects may finally improve the situation.

Panel discussion: How to operate a rail-sea connection efficiently?

Rashad Majidov, who is the Head of the Business Development Department, ADY Container. Ady Container is the main rail operator between the Caspian and Black Sea and has been pioneering the Middle Corridor as such. Majidov, who holds a master’s degree from the World Trade Institute of Switzerland, will join a panel discussion on how the main challenge on the Middle Corridor is the reloading of cargo from rail to vessel. Joining him on this panel are Igor Zhigora, Rati Devadze and Leila Batyrbekova, all of whom are already on the program.

As part of the panel discussion, questions will be asked about the main gains and challenges of the transhipment points on the Black and Caspian Sea, and the routes these points are forming. How can a combined rail-sea route be operated efficiently, if this is possible at all?

Panel discussion: The Hungarian hotspot

Both of the next speakers on the list are going to be talking about Hungary as a logistics hotspot on the New Silk Road. Dmitrij Hasenkampf, who is General Manager Sales & Business Development at RTSB, and Zoltan Kozlovszky: a senior consultant at Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency (HIPA), will be on a panel discussion about what makes Hungary an interesting location for the distribution of products further to Europe. These two new speakers will be joined by Sophia Nina Burna-Asefi and Agnes Hernad who are both already on the programme.

The role that rail has in making Hungary a hotspot will be a further topic of discussion, and both speakers are passionate about anything that has to do with the Eurasian corridor, and have extensive knowledge on these points.