In May 2026, Anas Laani, Network Development Officer at AIVP, carried out a prospecting mission across the Baltic region, with the aim of introducing AIVP to port and city stakeholders in an area still underrepresented in our network. Here is an overview of the meetings.
Copenhagen and Malmö: one region, two countries, one shared port challenge
The mission began in the Øresund region with two meaningful visits. At Copenhagen Malmö Port (CMP), a cross-border port operation, discussions covered shore power at Oceankaj, the new container terminal at Ydre Nordhavn, and an introduction to the AIVP network. Ulrika Prytz Rugfelt and Malthe Mulvad gave a warm welcome at Nordhavn. Anas also met with the team at By & Havn, Copenhagen’s urban and port development agency, to present AIVP and its activities. A promising exchange with Mette Odgaard Mylin and Rikke Faaborg Jarmer.
Riga: an event at the heart of the Baltic
On 13 May, Anas Laani and José Manuel Pagés Sánchez, Director of Agenda 2030 by AIVP, co-hosted a workshop organised in partnership with the Port of Riga Authority, a member of the AIVP Board. The event brought together representatives from Riga, Ventspils and Liepāja around a rich set of topics: financing in port cities, the Antoine Rufenacht Prize, port strategy and the port-city relationship.
The day featured contributions from several experts and network members, including Marine Hamelin (Blumorpho), Arturs Zandersons (Port of Riga), Mohamed Ouanaya and Jamil Ouazzani (SAPT/SGPTV, Tangier), and Jordi Torrent, port strategy expert and Secretary General of MEDPorts. Many thanks to Ansis Zeltiņš, CEO of the Freeport of Riga Authority, to Irina Gorbatikova and Undīne Bitīte, and to the entire port team for their hospitality and the seamless organisation of this workshop.
Tallinn: where city and port paths cross
On 15 May, Anas met successively with the City of Tallinn, represented by Priidu Ristkok, International Organisations Coordinator, and then with the Port of Tallinn, where Hele-Mai Metsal, Head of Infrastructure Development, presented the port’s projects. A good opportunity to share the latest AIVP news and discuss the upcoming World Conference.
Klaipėda: the final Lithuanian stop
On 18 May, Anas visited the Port of Klaipėda and met with Kristina Gontier and Evelina Grigaitė to discuss AIVP activities, the port’s ongoing projects, and the Dunkirk World Conference. The following day, on 19 May, he met with representatives of the City of Klaipėda, including Asta Anilionė-Lipovec, Advisor to the Mayor, and Simona Timinskienė, Chief Specialist, to present AIVP and the opportunities offered by the network.
See you in Dunkirk
These meetings open up concrete prospects for the development of the AIVP network in Northern Europe. All the cities and ports visited are now invited to join us in Dunkirk, from 3 to 6 November 2026, for the 21st World Conference Cities & Ports.
