On 3 March, UIC Director General Jean-Pierre Loubinoux paid a visit to the Headquarters of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) in Istanbul and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Secretary General of BSEC, HE Ambassador Michael B. Christides. Also present at the signing ceremony were Mr. Traian Chebeleu, Ambassador, Deputy Secretary General of BSEC and diplomats in charge of various fields of activities at BSEC, as well as Paul Véron, UIC Coordinator for the Middle-East.

The Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and UIC refers to the general context of economic globalisation resulting in increased transport links between Asia, Europe, the Caucasus and the Middle-East, as well as increasing West-East passenger and cargo flows.
It also takes into account that the activities of UIC are being organized to place rail transport as a key link in the global logistics and passenger chain through the efficient functioning of international railway corridors.

It also refers to the role of BSEC in promoting sustainable transport systems which meet the economic, social and environmental needs of the people of the Black Sea Region, in order to reduce national disparities and link BSEC’s transport infrastructure to European and Asian networks.

The general purpose of this MoU signed by BSEC and UIC is to develop transport connections, increasing the effectiveness of international railway transportation, attracting foreign and domestic trade cargo to the railways, and implementing innovative transport solutions to enhance transport efficiency in the Black Sea Region.

In his address following the signature of the MoU with HE Ambassador Michael B. Christides, UIC Director General Jean-Pierre Loubinoux summarized the commitments involved in this agreement for both organizations, UIC and BSEC, focusing on four main objectives: Cooperation, Transport (Multimodal), Railway and Life (contribution to economic and social development and sustainability for people in the region).

The Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) came into existence with the signing of the Istanbul Summit Declaration and the Bosphorus Statement of the Heads of State and Government of the countries in the region on 25 June 1992. Its Charter was implemented on 1 May 1999 and BSEC acquired the status of a regional economic organization, the Organization of BSEC.
BSEC currently has 12 member states and is chaired by the Russian Federation. Its headquarters are located in Istanbul on the Bosphorus.