The geographical position of Estonia is one of its main strategic resources. Bordered on one side by the highly developed EU consumer market and its well established manufacturing base and on the other side by the future centres for world economy and politics - fast developing Russia and China, with their vast natural resources and huge consumer potential. It would be difficult to over emphasise the importance of the Estonian transit companies in making use of this geographical advantage.

The Association of the Port Operators was created mainly because Port of Tallinn Ltd., that owns the biggest harbours in Tallinn, Muuga and Paldiski, functions as a land-lord type of port with the main functions as the traditional port services, safe navigation and the development and rental of the infrastructure. Therefore all the operations with transit and export goods are carried out by operator-firms that have contracts with the Port of Tallinn for the use of the port's infrastructure.

At the moment the Association of Port Operators encompasses the majority of Estonian transit companies. As a traditional third sector organisation, its main task is to unify, develop and represent the joint interests of the port operators.

One of the most important aims of the Association is to organise co-operation of its members in communications with the state organs, Port administration and the other parties of the logistic chain - Estonian Railway, National Customs Board, the Board of Border Guard, etc. This task is especially important, because the efficient servicing of the international transit business through Estonia and sustainable development of its competitiveness depend directly on the co-operation of the different elements of Estonian logistic chain. Our Association also has an important role in the general development of the transit business and logistics of Estonia.

The Association of Port Operators was established on the 1st of April 2002. The establishing members were such flagships of Estonian enterprise and transit business as E.O.S., Transiidikeskuse AS., Pakterminal AS., Eurodek AS., and Galvex Estonia OÜ. We hope to see among us majority of port-operators, acting in any Estonian port so as to develop thorough services provided in the port and on a highest level, be it loading/discharging services, or the organisation and the functioning of distribution centres and added value units.

I hope that our web-page can provide useful information to all of you, who are involved in transit business and foreign trade.

Thank you for your attention and may all your enterprises prosper with Estonia!

Jüri Petter