A subsidiary of Estonian logistics company GTS Express entered into a cooperation contract with a Chinese company in the framework of which initially two trains from Xian per week should begin arriving in Muuga beginning in June.
On April 19, GTS Rail, a subsidiary of GTS Express, signed a cooperation contract in the Chinese city of Xian with Xian International Inland Port Multimodal Transportation Co. Ltd. for the promotion of railway transport. According to the company, the agreement should help increase trade with Estonia as well as with the EU as a whole.
The agreement is part of bringing the Chinese government-backed Belt and Road Initiative to Estonia. With this contract, the Chinese side agreed to expand subsidies to the Estonian route as well. Four such routes have previously been established from Xian to Europe – to Hungary, Germany, Poland and Finland.
According to current plans, the first train is expected to arrive in Muuga in June, and the plan is to initially send two trains per week, to increase later.
“The new trade route is of critical significance, as it is twice or up to three times as fast as the seaway,” the company said. “This will give Estonian and EU goods to China and goods from there to here a new, fast and effective transport opportunity as well as revive Estonia as a historic transit country.” (ERR/Business World Magazine)