On Tuesday, January 13,
2004 in Washington D.C. at the offices of the Appalachian Regional
Commission on DuPont Circle a Cooperation Agreement between the European
Federation of Inland Ports (“EFIP”) and the Ohio River Basin International
Trade & Transportation System (“ORBITS”) was signed. Two other signatories
to the Agreement were TINA Vienna (Danube River Management) and the Port of
Pittsburgh Commission. Executing the Agreement on behalf of ORBITS was
Tracy V. Drake, Co-Chairman of ORBITS and CEO of the Port Authority for
Columbiana County.
The purpose of the Agreement is to establish a framework
for mutual cooperation toward inland wateway-intermodal transportation
development, advancement of inland navigation, and to promote sustainable
economic and employment strategies integrating inland river usage into the
global supply chain. These actions shall collectively be referred to as the
SMART RIVERS Coalition. ORBITS is a nonprofit organization representing the
Ohio River maritime interests of the States of Ohio, Pennsylvania, West
Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois. EFIP is an agency of the European
Commission representing 200 inland ports in 21 countries of Europe.
*Columbiana County is a founding
member of NEOTEC. News Release submitted by Tracy Drake, CEO
Columbiana County Port
Authority.
