- The Port Authority of Valencia (PAV) takes note of the training, infrastructure and environmental needs that will be required at the end of the conflict.
València, 21st June de 2023.- Oleksandr Nosenko, delegate in Valencia of the Odessa Region (Ukraine) and Serhii Bychkov, mayor of the port city of Ochakiv, have held a meeting with Federico Torres and Miguel Garín, representatives of the Port Authority of Valencia (PAV) and the Valenciaport Foundation (FV) respectively, to request the collaboration of Valenciaport in the future reconstruction of the country.
Specifically, they believe that they will need help in logistical-port training, infrastructures and the environment for when the end of the armed conflict caused in their country by the Russian invasion allows it. Ukraine”, they said, “wants to count on Valenciaport and its logistical and port experience to rebuild its infrastructures when the end of the war allows it”.
The two representatives of the Ukrainian port areas were accompanied by Pablo Gil (Honorary Consul of Ukraine in the Valencian Community); Eleonora Vatral (Honorary Consulate Coordinator); and Oleg Grabovetskyy, Consul for Economic Affairs of the General Consulate of Ukraine in Barcelona.
The meeting was held at the request of the Ukrainian representatives, given the need for permanent reconstruction of the logistical and port infrastructures of this region, which is connected by sea through the ports of Odessa and Ochakiv. These needs are expected to be enormous when the conflict comes to an end, for which no one is currently daring to set a date. When this situation arises, the representatives of one of the world’s leading cereal exporters explained that their country will need to rebuild port facilities, cranes, accesses, bridges, etc. And not only infrastructures, “it will also be urgent to train logistics technicians in all kinds of specialities; hence the importance of establishing channels of communication with Valenciaport, one of the great ports of reference in Europe so that, when possible, we can begin to collaborate”, explained the Ukrainian representatives.
As Joan Calabuig, President of Valenciaport, points out, “the reconstruction of the Ukraine is a challenge for Europe as it will be essential to be able to reactivate its economic activity and its social development. This issue will be a priority for Europe and for all its institutions. And in this context, an essential port – as Valenciaport is – will obviously be fully committed to this work. And together with the Port of Valencia, the entire port community will also be supporting Ukraine in its reconstruction”. After a working meeting held at the Port Authority headquarters, the Ukrainian delegation toured the Valencian docks where the northern expansion and hydrogen projects have aroused great interest among the visitors. The great environmental commitment of Valenciaport and the decarbonisation plans were also other matters dealt with during the tour of the Port of Valencia facilities.