July 2nd 2009 Vienna, Austria: Supply Chain Management and the Caucasus - A revival of the ancient silkroad ?

Austria's Foreign Trade Organization (AWO), the Austrian Chamber of Commerce and Paradigma organized a workshop to discuss the business potential of the Caucasus region (Asian CIS countries) for businesses in Austria and Central Europe.
DI Rudolf Bauer, CEO PARADIGMARudolf Bauer, the managing director of Paradigma, alluded to the historical importance of the region, connecting the Chinese and the Roman empires since more than 2200 years and compared the dangers of trading along this route in the days of the Han dynasty to the challenges facing traders and transporters today. Taking on these risks however seems warranted if the market potential for buyers and sellers as well as the geographic location of the region at the crossroads between Russia and India and China to Europe is factored in. Download presentation

Dr. Elmar Fürst (Statistics Austria) highlighted in more detail current and planned transcontinental transport links and their potential for services rendered by freight forwarders and logistics service providers.

Prof. Sebastian Kummer, head of the Transport Institute of the Vienna Business School, presented an analysis of the trade development between Austria and the CIS countries. Recognizing the importance of training and education as an investment in human capital and business relationships, Prof. Kummer presented INTRAMAMA, a TEMPUS project proposal to develop a curriculum for a Master Course in Supply Chain Management with a consortium of universities from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, Belgium and Austria.Download Presentation

Michael Bodenstein, CMC moderated the lively discussion of participants, representing a cross section of Austria's export oriented business community. Three areas of interest  emerged: the Caucasus region as an opportunity for procurement (fertilizer components, steel coils,...), an export market for Austrian businesses (railroad infrastructure, health services and business software) and their location at the crossroad between Asia and Europe, which is seen as an opportunity for the European transport industry to provide consultancy and services.

Dr. Walter, the AWO regional manager for CIS, informed the workshop participants about current plans to promote the regions potential. In recognition of the growing importance, the Austrian government is expected to open an embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan, before the end of this year. As a consequence of the positive response to this initiative, a follow up conference with representatives from the Caucasus region will be prepared for November 2009.