Although it is difficult to be precise, at the moment, which exactly new opportunities would be connected with New Silk Road for Chipolbrok, Chmielinski thinks that even now the company is ready to participate in its development.

"Many of the areas which are to be included in the New Silk Road program are already covered by Chipolbrok's shipping services and our modern tonnage.

"The completion of our present fleet modernization program will make Chipolbrok an even more important player as mutually beneficial trade and new economic relations are always leading to new investment in infrastructure, which would mean bigger demand for heavy and oversized cargoes to be transported on our ships," he adds.

Upon incorporation, it was agreed that all important managerial positions would be simultaneously duplicated, and occupied simultaneously by the people from both China and Poland. Each department, section or a more important unit had two bosses, a Chinese and a Pole, who would make their decisions jointly.

Chmielinski attributes the company's success to the experienced and professional employees and also due to building a very solid bridge between Europe, especially Eastern and China.

"The foundations of that bridge are not only business-related but they are also very important in terms of culture exchange, education, learning history and human relationships.

"That has given very strong impulse for our development for decades. No one could imagine better destination for our ships than China, which has huge potential and investment requirements which were the main engine of Chipolbrok's development," he explains.

Today when China has transformed itself from very big cargo importer into one of the biggest exporters in the world, Chmielinski says Chipolbrok is glad to play a role and to meet all the high standards which are required on the shipping markets.

To contact the reporter: [email protected]

Editor: Chris Peterson