Cargotec has signed a strategic co-operation agreement with Rosmorport to co-ordinate Russian marine transport infrastructure development.

Cargotec CEO Mikael Mäkinen sees the partnership as "high-level leverage" for participating in Russian ports' infrastructure development. "This co-operation will also increase our opportunities to present our know-how in Russia."

The documents were signed in the presence of the Russian and Finnish trade ministers, Russian deputy prime minister Sergey B Ivanov and minister for trade and European affairs of Finland, Alexander Stubb.

"Russia is going to modernise its ports, especially on the Northeast Passage and Arctic region. Russia needs long-term co-operation with trusted partners like Cargotec that has important know-how in optimising harbour activities," Ivanov says.

Andrey Lavrishchev, general director of FSUE Rosmorport, which operates the federation's seaports, says Russian ports will benefit from Cargotec's expertise in port automation.

"This agreement shows that Russia is interested in co-operation with Finnish companies to modernise its port capacity. The strategy of seaport infrastructure development in Russia until 2030 is aimed at doubling the port capacity in the next 10 years. Therefore, co-operation with Finnish companies is an important step in the development of the industry," he explains.