Danube has a potential for up to 8,000 jobs

“Danube+20“-study reveals: Increasing cargo transport on barges can have positive results on employment in Central and Eastern Europe

Though cargo transport by barge accounts only for a small share of transport in Europe, it could play a more important role in the future, particularly as part of an enhanced intermodal transport system. The Danube region has also a potential for expansion of transport by barge that could bring benefits to the local economy. The promotion of inland waterway transport is a priority part of the EU’s Danube Region Strategy, not least because of this.

The politics of the EU and the riparian countries expect an increase in transport volume by barges on the Danube region to result in logistic and environmental improvement of the transport system, but also to have positive effects on the regional economy. The promotion of freight transport on the Danube belongs therefore to the political priorities of the Danube Region Strategy.

The „Danube + 20“-study, with participation of WIFO, estimated employment effects of an increase in transport volume by barge on the Danube, on behalf of the European Commission. A scenario providing for an expansion of the tonnage of inland waterway transport by 20% between 2010 and 2020, is based on assumptions about an increase in transport volume driven by general economic growth and the positive demand effects of measures to increase the attractiveness and reduce the cost of inland navigation.

According to the simulations by Adagio, the multi-regional input-output model, a transport increase by 20 per cent in the riparian regions of the Danube could be accompanied by an increase in employment. The increase in employment was mainly due to the induced economic effects, ie a reduction of average transport costs for the whole economy.

As the estimation model shows, the extension of the transport volume of inland waterway transport is linked with the creation of about 7,000 to 8,000 jobs. This is a small increase in employment from a European perspective. But from a comprehensive perspective of the European regional development further action channels must be observed. Thus river shipping is considered environmentally friendly, especially thanks to lower specific energy consumption and low specific CO2 emissions. On the one hand promotion of inland waterway transport can provide economic stimulus and on the other hand, it is an important element of a policy that aims at sustainable transport services in the Danube Region.

www.wifo.ac.at

Quelle: LogEastics
Portal: www.logistik-express.com