Antwerp Port Authority on China tour to win more trade

THE Antwerp Port Authority has organised a trade mission to China this month with port authority president Marc van Peel, governor Cathy Berx, Antwerp's economic representative from the province Koen Helsen, members of the port authority, POM Antwerp, the customs authorities and a number of private companies are all taking part.

The aim of the visit is to raise the profile and market share of Antwerp in China and the Far East in general, to promote Antwerp as an attractive investment location for Chinese companies and to offer the delegation a platform from which they can make business contacts.

The Antwerp delegation will be visiting the cities of Tianjin, Chongqing, Yangzhou, Suzhou and Shanghai. During seminars and other meetings the representatives will outline the advantages of doing business in the region and with Antwerp port.

"POM Antwerp is particularly keen to make a strong marketing push in Chongqing and Tianjin, two Chinese city provinces. Hence, the decision to permanently base an economic representative in Chongqing," a statement from port authorities said.

Su Zeng, the chief economic representative, was officially introduced on June 4 in the presence of Patrick Nijs, the Belgian Ambassador for China. "Mr Zeng will actively identify companies in Chongqing that are looking to expand into Europe."

Later, in September POM Antwerp will receive a very large delegation from Tianjin, which will include all of the large state-owned corporations from that region.

The Antwerp Port Authority also invests in training Chinese students from the maritime and logistical world. Through this, around 2,300 Chinese have already attended seminars at the APEC-Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Centre.
(Source:www.schednet.com)