The majority of enterprises in border areas produce for domestic market. Cross-border links between companies are underdeveloped although there are several road and railway connections in the project territory. The main reason for underdevelopment of cross-border trade is the lack of skilled workforce (“blue collar” labour) in the companies that otherwise would be able to enhance cross-border and international transport and logistics, freight forwarding, customer servicing and thus tighten cross-border economy links.

There exist vocational schools training transport and logistics in border areas. Still, companies employing vocational school graduates are often dissatisfied with the cross-border and international logistics and freight-forwarding skills of their employees.

In order to make maximum use of the existing cross-border trade potential, it is most necessary to improve training in the sphere of cross-border and international transport, freight-forwarding and logistics. The relevant curricula and training programmes should be updated, trainers need additional skills in the cross-border and international aspects of their subject, simulation, modelling and special IT programmes should be used more widely in the training process.

It is also important to create and stimulate connections and networks between the business communities, local/regional authorities and educational/research institutions.