Latvia praised as important U.S. partner in cargo transportation to Afghanistan

2012-04-24

Air Force Gen. William M. Fraser III (right), commander, U.S. Transportation Command, greets Aivis Ronis, Latvian Minister of Transport, during his recent visit to USTRANSCOM at Scott Air Force Base. Photo by Bob Fehringer.

RIGA - During Transport Minister Aivis Ronis' visit to the United States, the U.S. Transportation Command emphasized that Latvia has become an important U.S. and coalition forces' partner, taking into account that a large part of Northern Distribution Network cargo is transported through the Port of Riga, business portal Nozare.lv was informed by Transport Ministry’s representative Ilze Sviklina.

Ronis met with U.S. Air Force General and Transportation Commander William Fraser and visited the Transportation Command's headquarters - the Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. Ronis thanked Fraser for his support to Northern Distribution transit via Latvia and emphasized the network's advantages to Latvia's ports, airports, railways and economic gains.

The minister also emphasized Latvia's readiness and advantages of attracting Afghanistan's reverse cargo by using multi-modal solutions.

Ronis lauded the Transportation Command's cooperation with Latvia, which fostered the rebirth of historical trade routes between Europe and Central Asia.

Ronis was on a working visit to the United States from April 16 – 21.