Srpska logistička kompanija „Transfera“ i „Rail Cargo Austria“, a division of rail freight of the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB group), signed a contract today in Belgrade to establish a joint company with the aim of developing intermodal transport.
Intermodal transport involves the transportation of goods by different means of transport in the same cargo unit, and it consists of two or more types of transport. The importance of this type of transport lies in its potential to overcome the limitations of conventional road transport, such as driver shortage, pollution, and high costs.
The joint company of the Serbian and Austrian firms represents a step closer to innovative logistics solutions in the Western Balkans.
The General Director of „Transfera“, Duško Radović, emphasized that the collaboration is a symbol of the longstanding friendship and trust between the two countries.
„Intermodal transport represents the future of logistics and we firmly believe that, by combining our resources, knowledge, and experience, we can initiate positive changes and set new standards in the industry,“ said Radović.
Radović also highlighted the fact that it is particularly satisfying that a Serbian company, which is 100% privately owned, is collaborating with a state-owned company from Austria.
The General Director of „Rail Cargo Logistics“, Karl Acinger, stated that they aim to develop tailored end-to-end solutions with „Transfera“ and establish them sustainably in Serbia and beyond.
Austria as a significant investor
Austria’s Ambassador to Belgrade, Christian Ebner, mentioned that enhancing this transport model is a significant step towards transport development in the region and Europe, as well as improving bilateral cooperation between Serbia and Austria.
„I am pleased to see the further expansion of Austrian entrepreneurship in Serbia through the collaboration of these two companies. With investments of around 3.6 billion euros, Austria is one of the largest foreign investors in Serbia, which represents an increasingly important market with great potential, especially in the area of rail freight transport,“ said Ebner.
„By developing a joint company, we continue our longstanding successful presence in the Balkans. We look forward to our joint work,“ said Acinger.
Christoph Grasl, a member of the executive board of Rail Cargo Group, emphasized that their company will provide the network, while „Transfera“ will provide expertise.
„By working together, we strive to establish sustainable logistics and freight forwarding solutions for the Serbian market, which has been one of the fastest-growing in Europe for years. This facilitates the transition of the Serbian industry from road to railway transport, which benefits not only the economy but ultimately also our climate,“ said Grasl.
In the 2024 budget law, Serbia allocated 100 million dinars for the development of intermodal transport. Currently, there are 11 intermodal terminals and ports in Serbia that deal with this type of transport, two of which are state-owned terminals.
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