GÖTEBORG AS A TRANSIT PORT FOR THE BALTIC STATES AND RUSSIA

Abstract

This thesis deals with the Port of Göteborg and its effort to penetrate into the maritime/cargo traffic in the Baltic Sea Region and Russia (BSRR). It is an attempt aimed at gaining and sustaining competitive advantage in container cargo. In the course of this study, it was discovered that analysis of shipping requires a continuous surveillance of development in policies, technology, factors of production, ecology and culture, the economy and international trade. Sectors that are particularly dependent on sea transports are the energy and raw materials markets, agriculture and the wood, mining, steel and car industries. Since the break up of the former Soviet Union, countries in the Baltic Sea Region, especially those that were part of the former Soviet Union, have made great efforts at moving from a centrally controlled economy to free enterprise system. There are also attempts made at joining the European Union by each of these countries. These two major steps have had tremendous impact on the politics, economy and business life of these countries. The chief goal of this research is to describe the situation in the BSRR, as regards container traffic in the region. To achieve this goal, I have attempted to analyses the situation both from a narrow and broad perspective; the former is an attempt to zero in on each seaport while the latter aims as given a broad picture of the Baltic market. I hope I have done a fairly good job at this. I have discovered that great potentials exist for the Port of Göteborg, in container traffic, to routes other than the European market as well as the commercial viability of services offered by the Port of Göteborg.