Legislative work is underway at the level of the European Union and member states on the “Greening Freight Transport” package and other regulations aimed at accelerating the decarbonisation of transport and industry. Increasing the share of intermodal shipments in freight transport is indicated as one of the goals of this climate policy. However, the proposals presented by the European Commission were met with mixed opinions by representatives of the rail and intermodal transport industry. The general direction of changes is praised but it is emphasised that they are insufficient. During the debate, we will consider what the effects of the adopted reforms of the railway market have had on the intermodal industry, what the effects of the changes currently being introduced may be, and what the solutions are needed to strengthen the position of sustainable freight transport in Europe.

In the last few years, the maritime container shipping industry has gone through a period of turbulent economic changes resulting in large fluctuations in demand and prices. The coming years will bring further changes related to the introduction of fees for greenhouse gas emissions, the end of the operation of container carrier alliances, the need to develop zero-emission ship propulsion technologies, and new environmental protection requirements in seaports. During the Debate on maritime transport at Intermodal in Poland, experts will answer the questions: How will the container shipping market develop in Europe and around the world? Will the trend of industry consolidation continue? How will changes in supply chains affect ocean connectivity maps? What will be the role of ferry shipping in the Baltic and Mediterranean region?

In the coming years, road transport in Europe will undergo a process of transformation related to the requirements of climate policy, labour market challenges and business cycles. Carriers will provide first- and last-mile transport to a greater extent, and the role of long-distance road transport will decrease. At the same time, the industry is largely impacted by the effects of the war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia and Belarus. During the debate, we will consider issues such as cooperation between road carriers and intermodal operators? What will be the impact of changes in the e-toll directive or the approval of the longer heavier vehicles (LHVs or so-called gigaliners) on European roads? What role do electric trucks play in the decarbonisation of transport?

Recently, China celebrated the 10th anniversary of the announcement of the Belt and Road Initiative, which strengthened the country’s importance in the international arena and intensified its economic cooperation with other countries, including Europe. The launch of the New Silk Road railway was an important impulse for the development of the logistics industry in the Małaszewicze-Terespol region, which benefited many Polish companies from the TFL sector. However, geopolitical crises and the actions of countries such as Russia are major challenges for the industry today. At the same time, initiatives are being undertaken to compete with the Chinese BRI initiative. During the Debate, we will look for answers to the questions: What will be the future of trade cooperation between Europe and China? How will the logistics hub in Małaszewicze-Terespol and transport on the New Silk Road develop? Can intermodal transport be competitive with ocean transport? How does cooperation between Polish companies and Chinese companies work?

The market for transport and logistics services in the Central and Eastern European region is developing dynamically and responding to geopolitical and economic crises. The importance of ports on the Adriatic Sea for the region’s economies is growing. Trade with Turkey and transport on the Middle and Southern intermodal corridors are developing. Many companies from the region count on the development of trade with India and Kazakhstan. At the same time, Hungary and Romania are building their position as new regional logistics hubs. What role will Poland play in the development of logistics services in the region? Will the Middle and Southern Corridors replace the New Silk Road in the long run? How to strengthen trade with the countries of the Balkan Peninsula and the Middle East? These are the questions we will seek answers to during the debate at the Intermodal in Poland Congress.

In previous years, the labour market in the logistics industry and infrastructure construction saw a visible problem of shortage of qualified employees, which was influenced in recent months by the reduced demand for transport services due to the economic downturn and the effects of the war in Ukraine. In the long term, the labour market in the TFL sector will be shaped by digitalisation, automation and the development of the e-commerce sector and new logistics services. During the debate, we will talk about the challenges of the labour market in the TFL industry, the prospects for process automation in terminals, ports and the development of autonomous vehicles, changes in the education of drivers, train drivers, customs agents and other specialists, cooperation with the education sector and the development of new services and new professional specialisations in the logistics industry.

In recent years, the state of the TFL industry has been strongly influenced by unexpected shocks such as the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis in Europe. Logistics companies had to adapt to economic fluctuations and quickly respond to the need to change supply directions and new tasks of the logistics sector in connection with military needs. There are also upcoming changes in the global map of industrial production, which will also affect the TFL sector. During the Debate, we will look for answers to the question: What are the prospects for a return to economic prosperity in the industry? How to ensure security of supply? How to improve business cooperation with market regulators and public administration in the face of new security challenges and economic changes?