Pro Danube International took action earlier than originally planned to connect to ongoing important policy initiatives and to provide support to the members.
The starting point of the idea of Pro Danube International was the long-time vision of Alexandru Capatu to bring major stakeholders from the industry of all Danube states together and to form a strong lobby for improvements of the Danube as a transport system. As Romanian living in Vienna for more than twenty years and working as representative for Romanian Sea and Inland ports in Austria and Hungary, he clearly felt the need for a joint private sector initiative to move ahead with the Danube.
At the same time, a group of Austrian companies under the leadership of the Managing Director of Industrie Logistik Linz, Ralph Gallob and Christian Mokry, Managing Director of LogServ started to transform the traditional Austrian Waterway Association into a modern business network called Pro Danube Austria. By bringing together these two activities, the nucleus of a dynamic transnational network of companies was created which has a strong economic interest in a competitive Danube logistics system.
The full operational start of the association was originally planned for the beginning of 2012. Nevertheless, the current problematic infrastructure situation as well as the urgent need to engage in European activities like the EUSDR and good opportunities to place strategic projects in various calls of EU programs required a quick start of the association’s activities. Therefore, the association was legally established on 19 September 2011 based on the commitment of companies and associations from Romania and Austria.
In this initial phase Mr. Alexandru Capatu is acting as President supported by Manfred Seitz as General Secretary. As founder and former general manager of via donau, Manfred Seitz has extensive experience in European IWT policy and is well- connected in the public and private sector of the Danube region. With his support, the association will gradually unfold its activities over the next months. The organizational setting will be revised and completed at the first full General Assembly planned for March 2012.Bumping up the timetable to serve its members fully corresponds to the service philosophy of Pro Danube International.
