Southern Poland, Czechia and Slovakia constitute a natural and strategic economic hinterland for the ports of West Pomerania. The role of the Szczecin–Świnoujście port complex as a key partner for these markets is steadily growing, reflected in numerous business and government initiatives. These efforts are actively supported by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH).

The importance of the Port of Szczecin–Świnoujście for customers from Czechia and Slovakia is regularly highlighted at numerous business and government meetings. Evidence of the growing momentum of this cooperation included an economic mission from Slovakia to West Pomerania organised in May by PAIH’s Regional Trade Office in Szczecin, in cooperation with its partners.

The next step with an international dimension will be the prestigious event “Ports of Szczecin and Świnoujście – the Gateway to the World for Silesia and Czechia”, which will take place on 23–24 September 2026 in Ostrava, Czechia. It is another stage of a strategic promotional campaign which, following last year’s success in Wrocław, is taking cooperation between the maritime economy and its southern hinterland to an international level. The meeting at the Mercure Ostrava Center Hotel will bring together representatives of business, logistics, academia and public administration from Poland and Czechia.

The event is being organised by the Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports Authority S.A., the Szczecin Port Users’ Council, the Świnoujście Port Users’ Council and the Maritime University of Technology in Szczecin.

Business reaches out to customers

The main objective of the initiative is to engage in direct dialogue with the market. The ports of Szczecin and Świnoujście will present an integrated offer from the port authority and the port companies represented on the users’ councils.

– Our aim is for the event to have a highly practical dimension. We are focusing on presentations, an expert panel discussion and networking, all of which are intended to lead to genuine business relationships and generate new cargo flows for our ports, says Aneta Szreder-Piernicka, Director for Commercial Affairs and Marketing at the Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports Authority.

The position of the ports is being strengthened by the dynamic development of infrastructure, including the S3 expressway, the modernisation of the CE-59 railway line and the Czech motorway link, whose completion is planned for 2028. All of this brings tangible value to Czech businesses: Świnoujście and Szczecin provide the shortest route to the Scandinavian markets.

A perspective to 2030 and transport corridors

The event in Ostrava directly follows the success of the 2025 edition in Wrocław, which brought together nearly 90 participants. This year’s agenda focuses, among other things, on the ports’ development strategy to 2030, including preparations for the launch of a deep-water container terminal in Świnoujście and the utilisation of the potential of the Oder Waterway.

Ostrava, at the heart of the industrial region of Czechia and Moravia, is an ideal location for building lasting supply chains.

– The logistics potential of West Pomerania is of strategic importance not only nationally, but also for the Central European region as a whole. As PAIH, we are fully committed to supporting initiatives that connect Polish businesses with partners from Czechia, Slovakia and Scandinavia, building lasting and stable transport corridors,concludes Łukasz Szeląg, an expert at PAIH.

Photo: GospodarkaMorska.pl