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Transport of Russia, the VIIIth International Forum and Exhibition, was held in Gostiny Dvor trade and exhibition center, Moscow, on December 4-6, 2014.  This was an important event for the entire Russian transportation industry. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev delivered a speech at Transport Infrastructure: Priority Development Strategy plenary session.

Vladimir Popov, the Minister for Economic Development of Kaluga Region, attended Policy for Rational Coverage: How to Optimize Airport Network and to Use Airspace Transit Potential conference.  Top officials from the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation,  the Federal Agency for Air Transportation as well as representatives of Russian airlines also took in the discussion.

The key objective of the forum is to discuss the most important development issues for all types of transportation with the participation of top management of major Russian and foreign companies as well as officials from relevant government authorities.  

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev pointed out that the transport infrastructure is a key Russian industry, which continued to operate steadily despite a difficult situation in the national economy. He said: “The transportation industry managed to complete all tasks set for it. Objectives for 2015 are not less ambitious. We are to develop federal and regional road network and to increase the capacity of sea ports. Baikal-Amur and Transsiberian railways modernization is also on the list of our objectives.  Further development of regional aviation is to continue. Apart from that we need to build a transportation channel across the Kerch Strait.

Maxim Sokolov, the Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, noted that the advanced and integrated development of the transportation industry would help establish new growth points for the Russian economy. Apart from that the attendees also discussed the ever-increasing role of public private partnership in the regional infrastructure development.

When addressing the conference Vladimir Popov, the Minister for Economic Development of Kaluga Region, presented key areas of the Kaluga Region transportation system development.  He noted that in the recent years the well-developed motorway and railway network as well as close proximity to Moscow Region airports have become major donators to the Kaluga region investment attractiveness. Vladimir Sokolov said: “A decision was taken to modernize two existing airports of Kaluga region, Kaluga and Ermolino, taking into consideration the economic success of the region”.  

Following Kaluga international airport reconstruction A319, B737 and similar airplanes (weight of up to 64 t)  will be able to land and take-off at the airport. The passenger turnover on both domestic and international routes is to reach about 0.5 million in 2030. The first flight is to take place in December 2014.

Ermolino international airport is to become a part of Freight Village Vorsino, a major transport and logistics hub.  The Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation recognized Ermolino international airport construction project as a large-scale federal project. The Government of Kaluga region together with the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation takes steps to make Ermolino airport a part Moscow airport hub.

Vladimir Popov said: “Taking into consideration all current problems associated with motor transport and railway transport networks operation the air transport is to play an important role in developing and maintaining social and economic ties between the Russian regions.   The Kaluga Region experience in reviving interregional air transportation may become a starting point for development of transport and logistics system of the Central Federal District”.