ISSUE 3 2010
RUSSIA / EASTERN EUROpE
Kuehne + Nagel is using its traditional freight forwarding skills to develop business to Croatia, one of the countries that emerged from the Yugoslav countries in the civil war in the 1990s. With the country not due to join the EU until 2012, KN has been helping to educate its EU customers about the need to provide full documents such as correctly issued commercial invoices and fill out and attach EUR1 forms so as to smooth the customs clearance process and avoid delays, explains Zagreb- based director for sales and marketing, Renata Cirjak. Not everyone who trades in Europe is used to concepts such as customs clearance. Food products destined for
the country have to be cleared at the border, although other goods can be cleared inland or at forwarders’ own premises in some cases. KN has its own
16,500 sq m bonded warehouse at its inland logistics centre near the west entrance of Zagreb. KN recently signed a deal with
polymer manufacturer Rehau for road transport from plants in Poland, France, Germany and Austria to its Zagreb warehouse, as well as local distribution using a subcontracted fleet and crane-equipped trucks. KN provides a 24-hour
delivery service throughout Croatia for Rehau, says Renata Cirjak. “Formerly, most of the market was in Zagreb and its surroundings with very little business going to the outlying areas but it is increasing more and more now.” The country still bears some
of the scars of the civil war, with reconstruction still going on in some areas. Less evident, but equally serious, is the disruption to commerce in many parts of the country; cash flow is
still difficult for many local businesses. EU membership is having a
profound effect on the country’s development. “There are around 3,000
transport companies, but not many of them have trucks in good condition,” explains Renata Cirjak. KN has been working with reliable
subcontractors which have developed in co-operation with Kuehne + Nagel. Other countries in former Yugoslavia face similar economic and transport issues, although industrial and business development in Bosnia and Serbia is lagging Croatia’s. Nevertheless, KN has a similar set-up in most parts of the region except Kosovo and
Montenegro. Despite recent history, there is a reasonable amount of trade and commerce between the countries of the region – mainly industrial products from Croatia and Serbia with agriculture products moving the other way. KN can also offer regular
services between all parts of ex- Yugoslavia and the rest of Europe
29 Forwarding skills to the fore in Croatia
via its groupage hub at Haiger in central Germany, in addition to regular direct groupage lines, including a weekly run between Manchester and Croatia, says Renata Cirjak. “There is relatively low awareness of Croatia in countries like the UK, but perhaps people need to be more aware of the possibilities here.”
Invited guests including forwarders and shippers welcomed the first Polet Airlines IL-96 freighter flights from Shanghai and Moscow at Munich airport on 9 September. Polet is planning to operate additional flights from Shanghai to Munich and Liege to the end of the year as well as flights from Beijing from the end of October. A fourth aircraft is due to join the fleet in Spring 2011 and the target is to have six in service by 2012/13. The two-deck IL-96-400T is the first Russian-built widebody freighter for general cargo transportation.
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