The strong trading links between Associated British Ports‘ (ABP) Port of Ipswich and the Baltic states were underlined with an official visit visit by a trio of Baltic Ambassadors.
The port played host to Aurimas Taurantas of Lithuania, Kaja Tael of Estonia and Janis Dripe of Latvia. They were given a tour of the operation’s facilities and then invited to a reception at the port’s Waterfront Conference Centre attended by Ipswich mayor Penny Breakwell, MP Chris Mole and local business leaders.
ABP Port Manager Robert Smith welcomed the ambassadors’ interest in Ipswich.
“The relationship between our countries dates back centuries and Ipswich’s location favours trade with the Baltic states,” he said. “The port receives imports of Baltic forest products and agribulks, and in 2002 we handled over 250,000 tonnes of containerised traffic imported by the Baltic shipping line Kursiu Linija. With Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania set to join the EU in 2004, there is every expectation these volumes will grow.”
