18 Jun Cooperation agreement signed between Euroports Finland and the city of Zhuhai

A cooperation agreement between Euroports Rauma and the city of Zhuhai means increased exportation of timber products to China in the future.

On 14 June 2019, the Managing Director of Euroports Finland, Mr. Timo Lehtinen, and Deputy Director of Administrative Committee of Zhuhai Economic and Technological Development Area, Mr. Zhang Ge, signed a cooperation agreement for long-term development of business activities between the port operator and city of Zhuhai.

Euroports has been engaging for a long time already in cooperation with China through forestry products. One of the three port terminals of Euroports in China is located in the city of Zhuhai, a rapidly growing centre of industry in South-East China.

The reason for the city of Zhuhai being a party to the agreement is connected with the abundance of furniture production in the region. Finnish timber products are shipped from Rauma to Zhuhai, so there was already a link. It is well-known that Finland can supply wooden material of a good quality as well as expertise in forest industry for the production of paper, pulp and wood products. The high market demand in China is a good match for this, Timo Lehtinen explains.

Result of major investments

The Gaolan port terminal in the city of Zhuhai has operated for several years on a small scale, but recently Euroports has invested heavily in it. These major investments, the current position of Euroports in the field as well as the role of Finland as an export country in forest industry has not escaped the attention of the city’s management.

So far operations have been run locally, but a delegation from the city of Zhuhai has now visited Rauma for the first time, to familiarise themselves with the operation of Euroports’ port terminal. The cooperation agreement between the city and Euroports was signed at this connection, Lehtinen tells.

The terminal operation of Euroports and the exportation of wood products are not the only links, as the city of Zhuhai is also a twin town of Rauma. During a day spent in Rauma, the management of the city of Zhuhai were also shown around the Finnish city and visited other companies in the area.

”One belt, one road”

An advantage of Euroports over many other operators is its capability to provide operator services for both despatched and received products. This is appreciated in China. With the operation as a whole handled by a single operator, they feel they can trust to get what they want and what they need. We are in practice the only port operator in Finland with a network capable of this.

Although Lehtinen describes the signed agreement as symbolic, it is of great significance. This agreement will result in exports to China growing even further. We are confident that investments made in the Gaolan terminal will pay themselves back, and that Euroports will thus indirectly benefit from the good trade relations between Finland and China.