The first half of 2020 is over, and the shock of the sudden pandemic that has engulfed the world is gradually passing. After adjusting to remote working mode and carefully listening to forecasts, many informed observers believe that "this too shall pass." Even as private lives return to usual, social distancing remains in effect at mass gatherings.

Industry communities try to stay in touch as much as possible, share their experiences, and work together to find solutions that meet new realities. Instead of rescheduling the dates of business events planned for the spring, it became clear that these meetings are needed here and now. Therefore, many of these industry events have moved online.

From June 15 to 19 this year, an online conference was held on supply chain management in crisis conditions. To maintain effective customer service, the AsstrA team participated in case discussions. During the week, the experts held 20 round tables where participants discussed pressing issues. The event program included discussions on analytics, logistics chain optimization, electronic document management, doing business abroad, security, and sustainable development.

“The conference covered a wide range of issues, which is why it brought together so many representatives of the logistics sector. It is worth noting the round table where tricky issues of labeling were discussed. During the discussion, we considered real-life problems and possible solutions. This is a perpetually exciting topic for fashion industry clients,” shares Anastasia Vysotskaya, Head of AsstrA Fashion & Beauty Logistics.

Despite the convenience of the online format, Anastasia Vysotskaya hopes that face-to-face events and meetings will soon return: "After all, the theory of' six handshakes is not so effective without handshakes."

On June 18, another online event was held. This one was a working group meeting of the CPC’s coordinating council for trans-Siberian transport. At the meeting, participants raised issues related to increasing the competitiveness of container transport via Naushki, Grodekovo, and Nakhodka-Vostochnaya. AsstrA was represented at the meeting by Andrey Sulla, AsstrA Deputy Operating Director and Head of the Railway Department.

“The topic of the plenary discussion was the current state of routes with the participation of China and traffic through existing border crossings. The video conference was attended by more than 60 participants representing transport industry companies. Specific issues and cases were discussed, so the meeting was practical.

Close attention was paid to transportation through Mongolia. This route, given the increased flow of goods from China, is an alternative to the usual transit routes through Russia and Kazakhstan. Thanks to this solution, cargo flows are redistributed, and customers get good working solutions," as Andrey Sulla describes the meeting.

Also on July 3, AsstrA-Associated Traffic AG corporate group team participated in an online meeting with Yuri Trutnev, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Far-Eastern Federal District. The meeting was held with the support of the French-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The purpose of organizing the meeting was to build an open dialogue between government agencies and business representatives.

“At the meeting, we learned firsthand about the government's plans to develop the logistics infrastructure of the region. For AsstrA, the meeting was of a practical nature, as the company is planning to open a representative office in the Russian Far East in the near future. Expanding our branch network is a chance to become closer and more accessible to our customers and partners," Andrey Sulla shares.