Intermodal China 2013 – Shippers’ Summit was held at the Sheraton Hongkou Hotel, Shanghai, China from September 24 to 25, 2013. The conference attracted over 500 leading companies in the field of logistics sector including ports, shipping companies, rail transportation companies, highway transportation companies, cargo shippers and freight forwarders, and more. 40 percent of the attendees are cargo shippers from various industries including chemicals, electronics, FMCG, auto, construction and others.

Peter Wolters, the Secretary General at European Intermodal Association has received an interview from CNSS, sharing his viewpoints of intermodal transport.

1. In your speech you mentioned that new sustainable values drive European Intermodal transport competitiveness, so the situation is challenging. I am wondering whether there is any problem with European Intermodal transport.

There are too many mountains in Europe, so the transport cost is so expensive. What’s more, “the New Green” concept should be emphasized. I advocate better interoperability and innovative forms of collaboration between modes (rail, road, waterborne, air), since the logistics chain still has lots of shortcomings in infrastructural, technical, organizational and legal respects. Ultimate aim is efficiency savings by turning sustainability into profitability.

2. What’s the prospect of European Intermodal transport?

Now we advocate industrial innovative logistics concepts, such as SuperGreen (defining “green corridors”), E-freight (providing a reference model for transport & logistics supporting paperless information exchange) and TIPS (Enhancing the capacity of EU transport projects to transform research results into innovative products and services). “Mental shift” initiatives have been introduced. We hope to realize new green sustainable values.

3. Could you share with us any experience for Chinese industrial competitiveness?

To give space to private is very important, which offers Chinese industry full development. Furthermore, China should encourage more use infrastructure. With the rapid development of China’s foreign trade, cargo shippers are looking for new and innovative transport services and solutions. During the two high-impact days of networking, logistics and cargo transport suppliers from Central Asia, Africa, Russia, South America, Europe, the U.S., and more will meet Chinese shippers and carriers for business partnerships.