Date: 26th October 2010

Over 100 delegates from 29 countries as far apart as USA, Thailand, Brazil and India took part in the first ever Dryport Conference to be held in the UK at the Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh.

 

The event puts Scotland at the forefront of developments in multimodal freight terminals, which offer the possibilities of increased trade, reduced freight traffic on the nation’s roads and greater use of existing sea and rail freight facilities.

 

SEStran Chair, Cllr Russell Imrie said:

 

“The range and depth of experience on display during the Dryport conference was exceptional. This was a truly global event that has put Scotland at the heart of developments in multimodal terminals”.

 

“It is important that we now follow up debate with action. Scotland has much to gain from the Dryport concept and, with our partners in the £5.5. million EU-funded Dryport Project, we aim to develop it as a viable option for future global trade based in Scotland”.

 “To survive as a trading nation in this increasingly competitive world Scotland must be ready to innovate and adapt to new realities. The conference highlighted many of the major obstacles to progress in the development of Dryports, as well as offering new solutions. Now we must move forward together with our European partners to ensure that Scotland becomes a key node for trade in Europe, the north Atlantic and the wider world.” 

Dr. Gordon Wilmsmeier  of TRI added:  

"TRI is delighted to have facilitated this unique conference and exchange of knowledge in cooperation with our Partner SEStran and with support from the Interreg IVb North Sea Region Programme. We now look forward to building on the results and new contacts made." 

"The research, industry experiences and case studies presented at the conference provided a global perspective on the current challenges in intermodal hinterland strategies and dryports. One main benefit was the recognition from academics and industry of the need for an exchange of ideas and concepts, in order to find solutions to current problems and to give incentives to future developments." 

"The discussions on dryports in 5 continents revealed the relevance of cooperation between private sector, instititutions and planning. From the shop-floor perspective to econometric modelling results, the crucial issue of competitiveness and economic viability of solutions was identified key for future developments" 

"The value of effective intermodal strategies as a contributor towards a more sustainable way of freight transport was also highlighted, but it became clear that new and improved intermodal solutions require political will to drive developments."  

ENDS

SEStran - South East of Scotland Transport Partnership - is one of seven new Statutory Regional Transport Partnerships (RTP) created by the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 and is a partnership of eight local councils covering the Borders, Clackmannanshire, East Lothian Midlothian and West Lothian, Edinburgh, Falkirk and Fife.

For further information, please contact:

Andrew Dougal, SEStran Communications Officer

T: 0131-524-5161

M: 07889-010-291

E: Andrew.dougal@sestran.gov.uk Notes 

1. The Dryport Conference - International Conference on Intermodal Strategies for Integrating Ports and Hinterlands took place at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh on 21-22 October 2010.

 

1. To finbd out more about the conference please visit the event web iste at : http://www.dryport-conference.tri-napier.org

 To find out more about the Dryport project please access the Dryport website at : http://www.dryport.org

---