Türkiye-Slovakia Export-Import Line Launched

Omsan Logistics has launched an export-import line between Turkey and Slovakia in cooperation with METRANS, one of Europe's established logistics companies. Under the partnership, the first freight train departed from the Dunajska Streda Terminal in Slovakia for the Istanbul Halkalı Terminal. Omsan Logistics, a company of the OYAK Group, has launched its first train on an import-export line jointly established with METRANS, one of Europe's established logistics companies that provides intermodal transport using different modes of transportation including road, sea, air and rail. As part of a project aimed at increasing Turkey's railway exports, containers moved by train from the METRANS Terminal in Dunajska Streda, Slovakia to Istanbul Halkalı Train Station. According to the statement, all institutions with commercial flows involving Omsan Logistics and METRANS will benefit from the project, which serves Turkey's goal of increasing railway export revenues. Services between Halkalı and Dunajska Streda will operate regularly and reciprocally from September onwards. Through the project, intermodal services will be provided from the 280,000-square-meter terminal in Dunajska Streda to countries such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Poland, Germany and the Netherlands via Slovakia. A ceremony held at the Streda Terminal to mark the first train departure was attended by Turkey's Ambassador to Slovakia Yunus Demirer, Omsan Logistics General Manager Cömert Varlık and METRANS Group CEO Peter Kiss.

Opening doors between two nations

Speaking at the ceremony, Turkey's Ambassador to Slovakia Yunus Demirer said that both countries share similarities in terms of geographical location. Demirer noted that Turkey could serve as a gateway to Central Asia and Asia and the Middle East for Central European Slovakia, and that Slovakia could facilitate Turkey's access to Central, Eastern and Northern Europe. Demirer said he eagerly awaits similar new projects to be implemented in the near future and wished success to both companies.

Contributing to regional countries

Speaking at the ceremony, Cömert Varlık stated that they feel honored by the cooperation with METRANS, one of Europe's established logistics companies, in line with the vision of OYAK General Manager Süleyman Savaş Erdem. Varlık emphasized that through the partnership established at a time when economies are undergoing major transformation, they will make significant contributions to their countries, stating: "This operation will contribute to both the national economies and the countries of the region."

Our aim is to provide the best and most comprehensive service

Peter Kiss expressed great satisfaction at launching such an exemplary project as the company embarks on its journey. Emphasizing that the project's aim is to enable the two companies to provide customers with the best and most comprehensive service through joint efforts, Kiss noted that they will implement other projects in the future.

Model project for 'green transport'

According to the statement, the company, which is making a difference in railway transport, recently described as 'green transport', is increasing the share of railway transport in its service portfolio day by day. The company, which views railway as a strategic growth area at the core of the Green Transport concept, provides services in this field with a fleet of 15 locomotives and more than 500 wagons.

Preventing carbon emissions that could be offset by over 2 million trees

Through the line opened between Istanbul and Slovakia, the company aims to prevent carbon emissions equivalent to the amount that more than 450,000 trees could offset by the end of next year. According to calculations made through the 'Digital Carbon Footprint Calculation' application, in 2021, Omsan Logistics achieved savings equivalent to carbon emissions that could be offset by 2,220,154 trees through the use of railway lines in its operations. At this point, projects contributing to emission reductions carried out by logistics companies, particularly with the EU Green Deal, have gained significant importance. Having captured over 10% of the total railway transport carried out in Turkey last year, the company, which is among the leading private firms performing railway transport, has increased the volume of operations it conducts in sea transport, another environmentally friendly mode of transport, both through its own vessels and chartered ships, by approximately 8-fold.