Port Evening Reception in Prague Strengthens Partnership between Hamburg and the Czech Republic

Hamburg is a partner country in the celebrations marking German Unity Day. Event at the German Embassy highlights the importance of economic relations.

During the Port Evening Reception in Prague on Thursday, 9 October 2025, the economic and logistical ties between the Czech Republic and Hamburg were brought to the attention of a particularly large audience this year. The hosts, the German Embassy in Prague, the Senate of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and Port of Hamburg Marketing, welcomed around 900 guests to the German Unity Day celebration. The presence of Czech President Petr Pavel and the First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Dr Peter Tschentscher, underlined the importance of relations between the Czech Republic and the Hanseatic city. Hamburg also has a close city partnership with Prague, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.

Dr Peter Tschentscher, First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg: "Thirty-five years ago, the Port of Hamburg opened its representative office in Prague, the first in Central and Eastern Europe, just a few months after the historic events at the Prague Embassy and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Today, Hamburg is the most important port for the Czech Republic, connecting the economy of the country and neighbouring regions with global markets. Around 95 per cent of goods are transported by rail: reliably, efficiently and in a climate-friendly manner. Together, Hamburg and Prague, Germany and the Czech Republic have been contributing to European unity and strength for 35 years."

Axel Mattern, CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing: "The connection between Hamburg and Prague in the form of the city partnership, but also through the Port of Hamburg representative office, is a strong example of how economic and cultural bridges can be built over decades. The Czech Republic is one of our most important partners in European hinterland transport. We want to further deepen this close cooperation."

Marina Basso Michael, Regional Director Europe at Port of Hamburg Marketing: "Hamburg is the Czech Republic's maritime gateway to the world, and Prague is one of our most important gateways to Central Europe. We not only want to maintain these relationships, but also expand them further. Especially in times of global challenges, it becomes clear how important reliable partnerships and stable transport chains are."

With the establishment of its representative office in Prague in 1990, the Port of Hamburg opened its first office in a former Eastern Bloc country, which now once again belonged to the natural hinterland of the Port of Hamburg. Since then, the branch has maintained exchanges with business, politics and logistics in Czechia and Slovakia. Under the leadership of Vladimír Dobos, the representative office is an established institution and an important interface for companies in both countries.

METRANS, HHLA’s Czech subsidiary founded in 1991, also contributes to this close connection. Based in Prague, the company now operates one of Europe’s most efficient intermodal networks and provides climate-friendly, stable logistics solutions between Hamburg and Central and Eastern Europe with around 650 train connections per week.

The economic significance of these relations is enormous: around half a million standard containers (TEU) are transported between Hamburg and the Czech Republic and Slovakia every year, over 95 per cent of them by rail. This makes Hamburg the most important overseas port for the Czech Republic. In addition, the high proportion of rail transport is an example of the excellent hinterland connections of Europe's largest rail port.

The participants unanimously emphasised the need to maintain and expand the infrastructure in order to continue fostering economic relations in the spirit of a forward-looking partnership.

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  HHR Prague

  Since 1990, the staff at the Prague location have represented the interests of Hamburg's seaport transport industry in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.