ESTONIA. Organisers Raven Fox said it was pleased with the success of the Baltic & East European Conference, held earlier this week in Tallinn.
This was the third dedicated conference for the region in recent years, the first two having been joint ventures between Raven Fox and Tax Free World Association.
Having decided to go it alone this year, Raven Fox sources said they were delighted with the attendance of around 160 delegates. Among the key issues discussed was the planned entry of 10 new states to the EU next year and the implications for duty-free in the region.
EU Commission representative John Kjaer delivered what was described by a Raven Fox spokesman as “a robust defence” of the Commission’s proposed abolition of intra-EU duty-free once the new states join.
Outlining the consequences for trade following abolition, Czech Airports Authority director international affairs Vaclav Muchna said losing duty free would slash commercial revenues. He said the authority was talking with operators about the best way forward, and said a decision on the new commercial strategy for Prague airport would be delivered in the next three months.
Other highlights included a discussion with Aer Rianta International regional director Bill Maxwell and Weitnauer regional chief operating officer Rene Riedi, who outlined the challenges facing companies trying to enter the region, including “the problems of red tape, import regulations, corruption and currency fluctuation”. Despite this, they concluded that eastern Europe, in general, and Russia/the CIS specifically, had strong duty free growth prospects, based on rising disposable incomes among Russians and improved infrastructure.
