Antwerp Port Authority held a “Port Day” in Valenciennes

As part of its programme of regular meetings with ports in the hinterland, Antwerp Port Authority today held a “Port Day” in Valenciennes. The day was organised in collaboration with the North France Chambers of Commerce of Valenciennes, Avesnes and Cambrai. Some 20 or so private companies (shipping operators, forwarders, agents and stevedores) from the port of Antwerp took advantage of the occasion to meet customers and prospects in the region.

With such events the Port Authority seeks to give an accurate picture of the port of Antwerp and the developments and innovations that affect it, while for private companies they are an excellent opportunity for networking. The Valenciennes Chamber of Commerce for its part made use of the occasion to present its region, and was able to interest some 100 companies, mainly shippers and forwarders.

Before the meeting with the French companies the Antwerp delegation visited Obled Sacsum, a company that makes highly specialised industrial products such as large steel vessels, special rings for tunnel excavations, oil platforms, parts for Airbus, machinery etc. These spectacular loads are mainly exported via the port of Antwerp as project cargo.

The region around Valenciennes generates a significant amount of freight for the port of Antwerp, mainly conventional/breakbulk and containers. Much of the transport between the two regions is by truck, but all those present undertook to promote rail and in particular barge transport so as to reduce road congestion. In particular, development of the Seine-Nord canal link between the Seine and the Scheldt offers prospects for barge transport in the longer term.

Port alderman Marc Van Peel referred in his address to the potential for intermodal transport, pointing to the importance of well-developed logistics centres as in the North France region.

Source: Antwerp Port Authority