Port of Antwerp-Bruges International signs India-focused partnership with ASCELA
NEW DELHI : Port of Antwerp-Bruges International, a maritime-focused consulting subsidiary of the port, has signed a memorandum of understanding with ASCELA, aimed at expanding their cooperation in the Indian market.
Signed during the Belgian Economic Mission to India, the memorandum of understanding is aimed at enhancing the collaboration between the Belgian firm and ASCELA, focusing on the development and growth of the port and logistics sector in India. The partnership is expected to pave the way for joint projects in the areas of port management, operations, logistics efficiency, supply chain, and trade facilitation.
Port of Antwerp-Bruges International is a centre of excellence for port services, providing consultancy, advice and management solutions on port and terminal related projects. The specialist firm is a subsidiary of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, which is Europe’s second largest port with 300 liner services and 800 destinations.
ASCELA meanwhile is a management consulting firm with a focus on logistics and supply chain solutions, including in port and maritime environments. The consulting firm has around 60 staff across offices in India and the Middle East.
“This partnership will drive collaboration on key consultancy projects in the Indian maritime sector, leveraging our global expertise and ASCELA’s local insights to enhance port operations, logistics, and supply chain efficiency,” stated Port of Antwerp-Bruges International in a communiqué. “The signing of this memorandum of understanding represents the first step in expanding our presence in India’s port sector.”
Nivesh Chaudhary, Managing Director of ASCELA, added: “This partnership with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges International is a significant step towards advancing infrastructure development, and we are optimistic about the future prospects. The logistics and port infrastructure space is rapidly evolving, and we look forward to exploring the opportunities that will arise from this association.”
Development of India’s ports sector
The ties between the two companies comes at a time of major opportunities but also challenges for India’s ports sector. With 13 major ports and over 210 non-major ports, and a handling volume of more than 1.4 billion metric tons of cargo, the sector is of strategic importance for India’s economy, accounting for roughly 70 percent of trade by value and more than 95 percent by volume across the country.
To fuel the further growth of its ports sector and keep it competitive on the international stage, India is charting a course towards robust infrastructure development with a planned $82 billion investment in port projects by 2035.
“ASCELA has long been a key player in the infrastructure space in Indian subcontinent. With the ports sector becoming increasingly critical for global trade, we are keen on driving innovation and efficiency in the industry, and contribute towards strengthened bilateral relations between Belgium and India,” Chaudhary concluded.