Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
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The first International Transport and Logistics Forum has opened in St. Petersburg. The event aims to become a new platform for global dialogue on the development of the global transport system in an era of geopolitical change. A plenary discussion, "Global Transport Corridors: Integration and Seamless Logistics," was held as part of the event. The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, Minister of Transport Andrei Nikitin, Minister of Transport and Logistics of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates Suhail Mohammed Al-Mazrouei, Minister of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan Ilkhom Makhkamov, Minister-Delegate for Marine Economy of the Ministry of Maritime Economy, Fisheries and Coast Guard of the Togolese Republic Koku Edem Tengue, Deputy Minister of Transport of the People's Republic of China Chengguang Xu, Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Delo Group Sergey Shishkarev.
In the context of a changing global order and the acceleration of economic and technological processes, international transport corridors are becoming important not only from a logistics perspective, but also as tools for ensuring predictability, security, and economic connectivity between countries.
In his speech, Vitaly Savelyev emphasized Russia's strategic role as a link between North and South, West and East. He detailed the development of the five major international transport corridors passing through the country.
"Given the development of markets in the Global South, the development of the North-South international transport corridor remains important for our country in the long term. Over the past four years, we have made significant progress both in developing the corridor's infrastructure and in organizing transportation along its routes," he said.
The North-South Corridor significantly reduces the distance between Russian Baltic ports and South Asia—almost halving the distance via the Suez Canal. Travel time is reduced from 35–45 days to 15–20 days. Last year, approximately 21.5 million tons of cargo were transported along this international transport corridor, a 39% increase compared to five years earlier.
The Deputy Prime Minister also emphasized the ongoing development of the Eastern Railway Polygon, a historic transport artery leading to Siberia and the Far East. While its capacity in 2013 was only 98 million tons, it was increased to 180 million tons by 2024. Last year, the third phase of the Eastern Polygon began, with contracts signed for the construction of unique and capital-intensive infrastructure projects such as the Severomuysky, Kodarsky, and Kuznetsovsky tunnels, as well as a bridge across the Amur River.
Vitaly Savelyev also noted the active development of the Northern Sea Route and the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor as a whole. "Today, we are considering the Northern Sea Route transport corridor from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok, not just its geographical boundaries—from the Kara Gate to the Bering Strait. For our country, this is not just a commercial route, but a way to ensure year-round connectivity across our territory," he stated. According to the plan, cargo traffic along the Northern Sea Route should reach 70–109 million tons by 2030. To accommodate this volume of traffic, port infrastructure and the icebreaker fleet are continuing to develop.
"President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin has defined scientific and technological development priorities. The Scientific and Technological Development Strategy states that technology should help ensure our country's transport connectivity. We are also instructed to maintain our leadership in developing our own technologies: on land, at sea, and in the air, including unmanned and autonomous systems," said Dmitry Chernyshenko.
He added that it is important to focus on global technological trends in logistics: the use of artificial intelligence, robotics, and drones, as well as sustainable development.
As part of the national project "Industrial Support for Transport Mobility," nearly 140 billion rubles have been allocated for research and development over the next three years, with the majority of this allocated to R&D in aviation and shipbuilding.
The Deputy Prime Minister also reported that, according to estimates by the Russian Ministry of Labor, the Russian transport sector will need approximately 220,000 qualified specialists by 2032: "We annually increase the number of state-funded places at universities and colleges. Over 130,000 have been allocated for this academic year alone. Last year, approximately 170,000 applicants entered Russian universities and colleges, and approximately 128,000 graduates entered the labor market. More than 8,500 international students from over 100 countries also studied at Russian transport universities."
As part of the federal project "Professionalism," 46 specialized clusters in 34 regions have been created in partnership with more than 100 companies to meet industry needs.
Andrey Nikitin outlined key areas for industry development, focusing on eliminating infrastructure constraints, digitalization, and expanding international cooperation.
One of the priority tasks, he said, remains eliminating infrastructure constraints. He cited the construction of the Moscow-St. Petersburg high-speed highway as a prime example, which will create additional opportunities for freight transport and develop port infrastructure. "We have an appropriate budget and clear plans, and all infrastructure constraints will be systematically eliminated in the coming years," he added.
The minister also placed special emphasis on seamless digital processes. Russia is developing a National Digital Transport and Logistics Platform, elements of which are already being successfully implemented. These include electronic consignment notes for rail and air transport, and starting September 1, they will also be implemented for road transport. Furthermore, a registry of carriers and freight forwarders is being created. The Minister of Transport noted that digitalization will reduce the time it takes to clear border crossings to 10 minutes by switching to electronic documents.
The development of driverless transport was also discussed. The use of driverless trucks will significantly speed up delivery: the St. Petersburg-Kazan route will be reduced from 58 to 24 hours. The country is actively working on the implementation of driverless trains, trams, and other innovative solutions, and is preparing a legislative framework for their widespread use.
Speaking about international cooperation, Andrey Nikitin emphasized that the transport system must be built on the principles of openness and cooperation. Russia is ready to share its technologies and experience with partners, as well as develop joint projects in logistics and digital platforms.
Alexander Beglov, in turn, explained that St. Petersburg is actively working on the "10 Development Priorities" program. "We are part of our country's great transport system, and we are proud to be implementing numerous large-scale projects. One such landmark project is the high-speed railway between St. Petersburg and Moscow, which will reduce travel time to just 2 hours and 15 minutes. This is a truly impressive achievement, and we eagerly anticipate the launch of this phase in 2028," he said.
At the same time, plans are underway to expand port infrastructure, rail transport, and air travel to strengthen St. Petersburg's role as a major transportation hub.
Chengguang Xu noted that for 40 years, China has been implementing a program of reform and opening up, which has resulted in the creation of a robust infrastructure in transportation and logistics. "As part of its development plan for the next five years, China has planned large-scale measures to transform the national transportation system and improve service quality. We view current challenges as opportunities to diversify trade and logistics," he stated. The Deputy Minister also added that sharing best practices in transportation and logistics could form the basis for mutually beneficial cooperation. China is ready to share experience and implement joint projects that will promote the economic development of all participants.
Saudi Arabia's transport strategy aims to transform the country into a global logistics hub, according to Saudi Arabia's Minister of Transport and Logistics, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser. "Looking at the projects already implemented at our ports, airports, and road network, it becomes clear how strong the existing infrastructure is," he said. "The sustainability of the entire logistics system is one of our primary goals. We have invested in modern technology, and all our port terminals and airports are equipped with cutting-edge solutions. We plan to develop new routes that will ensure connectivity and strengthen relations between countries."
The Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates, Suhail Mohammed Al Mazrouei, announced that the country has decided to significantly invest in the development of railway infrastructure. Work is also underway to connect the railway network with Oman, opening up new opportunities for freight transport to Africa and Asia.
"We continue to invest in developing the country's transport logistics network and are developing alternative routes. Russia plays a vital role as an exporter of raw materials, and the development of its regions will contribute to global economic growth. Central Asia is also becoming a key player, and we are investing in the region's infrastructure, connecting China to the global economy through Russia and the Middle East," he noted.
Ilkhom Makhkamov spoke to those present about Uzbekistan's experience in digitalizing the transport sector. "We are creating a unified transport space in Central Asia, where we can implement digitalized transport documents, which will expedite the passage of international cargo through our territory," the minister emphasized. "Uzbekistan is positioning itself as an active participant in the digitalization of all operational processes in the transport sector. We are also open to integration with international transport corridors, which are relevant given the current challenges of global logistics. We understand that there is no single universal transport corridor, and therefore we will work to integrate into various routes."
Koku Edem Tenge expressed the opinion that the African perspective must be taken into account in the context of changing maritime routes. The situations around the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz open up new opportunities for West Africa.
In particular, the Port of Lomé, the largest container port in the Sahara region, handles approximately 30 million tons of goods annually and is of enormous regional importance. "We actively cooperate with Sahel states such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, making the Port of Lomé a key logistics hub for these countries," he stated. "It's important to note that Africa relies on chemical fertilizers and grain produced in Russia. We believe that the opening of new sea routes between Africa and Russia can be achieved through the Port of Lomé."
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