The Belgian Port of Antwerp-Zeebrugge and Japan’s Port of Nagoya signed a renewed cooperation agreement to further expand their trade relations and deepen their collaboration.
The agreement was signed on 7 December, while the Port of Antwerp-Bruges is participating in the princely economic mission to Japan this week.
In this context, a Sisterport/Partnership deal was signed on 7 December by Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, and Yuji Kamata, executive vice president of Port of Nagoya.
According to Port of Antwerp-Bruges, this agreement is a perpetuation of a long, fruitful relationship between the two ports that dates back to 1988 and has already been renewed in 2013.
“Japan plays a leading role in the automotive sector and the Port of Nagoya is Japan’s largest export port for cars. In turn, our Port of Antwerp-Bruges is the world’s largest Ro-Ro port and the most important European import port for cars. Intensive cooperation between these two ports is therefore economically very interesting,” commented Annick De Ridder vice-mayor of the City of Antwerp and president of Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
She added, “Moreover, both ports share the same great ambitions when it comes to energy transition. So the official ratification of the ‘sister port’ is a powerful signal for both the unified port and the Port of Nagoya and the economies they both serve.”