Poland is no longer just a transit country but is rapidly becoming a true intermodal hub for Europe, with billions of zlotys in added value at stake. CLIP Group, a Poznań-based logistics firm, is finalising two major intermodal terminals in Małaszewicze and Zabrze, aiming to capture more of the supply chain that currently passes through the country.
– I think it has already happened or is happening right now – said Agnieszka Hipś, CEO of CLIP Group, in an interview with WNP. She pointed out that the east-west corridor, often referred to as the New Silk Road, has remained active throughout the war in Ukraine and is gaining importance again due to conflicts in the Middle East.
According to Hipś, out of ten trains arriving from the east into Poland, four stay in the country. Their cargo is unloaded, cleared, repackaged, and either enters e-commerce channels or feeds into local manufacturing. This creates jobs, tax revenue, and demand for warehousing and domestic transport.
The east-west axis is still alive
– I would like to debunk the claim that the east-west route has stopped working. It has functioned throughout the entire Russian-Ukrainian war – Hipś emphasised. She noted that the volume of goods moving along the Silk Road is substantial and that handling them in Poland generates significant economic value. The company is betting on this corridor, building a strategic terminal in the free customs zone in Małaszewicze.
The terminal is now in its final stage, with only track works and formal approvals left. Hipś stressed that the project is strategic not only for CLIP Group but for Poland’s economic resilience. – We want to show the public sector what economic significance lies in handling goods arriving via the Silk Road: clearance, warehousing, packaging, and further distribution – she added.
Private infrastructure as strategic asset
Hipś argued that private intermodal infrastructure should be treated as strategically important for national security. – Terminals cannot be pulled out of the ground. They are permanent assets that can serve freight handling for decades to come – she said. CLIP Group is certifying itself as a secure operator, capable of serving the Polish military, allied forces, and NATO.
She recalled a statement by former US ambassador Georgette Mosbacher: public administration produces nothing on its own, and it is the private sector that creates goods, services, and infrastructure. – The better the state manages its cooperation with the private sector, the better the entire country, economy, and democracy perform – Hipś noted.
Business needs stable rules
Hipś stressed that entrepreneurs need predictability. – You cannot build long-term investments if the basic assumptions – energy prices, gas costs, regulations, evaluation indicators – change every few years. Business can take on market risk, but not constant changes in the rules of the game – she said.
She called for simpler tax systems, clearer procedures, and fewer administrative burdens. – Let’s liberate the entrepreneurship of Poles. This nation is very enterprising and resourceful. Do not take that away from them – she added. The CLIP Group plans to open the Zabrze terminal on 24 September and will use the event to show transport companies how intermodal solutions can improve their efficiency.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. CLIP Group / materiały prasowe
