General Assembly of the International Union of Railways (UIC) approved the Management Committee for the European region for 2018–2019 on 6 December in Paris. Edvīns Bērziņš, President of the SJSC (VAS) “Latvijas dzelzceļš” (LDZ), has become a member of this committee. Participation in the UIC Management Committee will allow LDz for efficient international representation of the interests of Latvia. Thus, LDz becomes the first Baltic railway company, which is represented in the UIC Management Committee.
“During the development of the transport and logistics sector, there are no railway companies operating within the borders of their homeland only – we have both become part of the unified European railway space and are actively working in a wider Eurasian region. Besides successful promotion of previously established or upcoming partnerships in various Eurasian countries, it is important to agree on coordinated principles of activity, and participation in international organizations enables us to influence the kind of these principles and the application of these principles by the member states in their everyday work,” stresses E.Bērziņš.
Activities in the Management Committee provides opportunity for LDz to promote recognition of Latvia and the Baltic region while cooperating with the largest European railway networks, express LDz position according to the interests of the transport sector of Latvia and to find new business opportunities. Within the framework of the participation in the UIC, LDz stands for the development of uniform standards, compatibility and digitalization of the systems used in railway. Furthermore, research and talent management within the sector is among the interests of LDz.
Railways of Germany, Italy, Austria, Portugal, Switzerland, Hungary, Spain, Russia and Poland are also represented in the Management Committee.
UIC has been active since 1922, and this organization coordinates cooperation on topical matters globally among the railway networks, thus promoting coordinated operation of the railway systems. Organization unites 194 members from across the globe. Members of the organization are being informed on regular basis on the main processes, documentation and new regulations, thus allowing forecast of legal and technical changes within the sector, furthermore, every member of the organization is given an opportunity to express its position and promote establishment of regulatory basis improving competitiveness of railway sector.
Meanwhile, this autumn E.Bērziņš was approved also in the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) Management Committee. This organization represents interests of their members in the establishment process of the policy of the European Union, mainly for the purpose of support and promotion of more efficient business and regulatory environment in the railway sector.