Port of Antwerp-Bruges to organise Roadshow in Ahmedabad today
AHMEDABAD : Port of Antwerp-Bruges, with a delegation led by Vice President, Luc Arnouts, is organizing a high impact Roadshow to India in collaboration with Flanders Investment & Trade. Scheduled stops include three major cities: New Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai, each representing unique economic hubs within India. Ahmedabad Roadshow to be held today as per schedule.
The following companies will be visiting Ahmedabad today on 20th Nov. The delegation is led by Luc Arnouts – Vice President, Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
- Blackstone Shipping
- Boeckmans Belgium
- C. Steinweg Belgium NV
- PSA Breakbulk
- Steelduxx
Other Senior Officials from Port of Antwerp-Bruges which includes Bernadette Deschepper (Regional Coordinator), Ann De Smet (Key Account Manager), Daljit Singh (Port Representative) and Shivendu Padte (Business Development) will attend the Ahmedabad Roadshow today.
This initiative aims to deepen the port’s relationship with one of its vital trading partners and the world’s fastest-growing economy. The port authority is joined by seven companies from the port community of Antwerp and Bruges, underscoring the significant interest the Indian market holds.
This initiative will also provide opportunities for engaging with key industry leaders, site visits to major Indian conglomerates, and thought-provoking panel discussions and roundtables. Tailored B2B meetings and networking events, coordinated with local chambers of commerce, aim to foster meaningful connections and explore avenues for collaboration in sectors essential to both regions.
Why India is a strategic partner for Port of Antwerp-Bruges
As the world’s fifth-largest economy in absolute terms, with ambitions to become the third-largest by 2030, India represents a thriving, multifaceted market. As one of the largest ports in Europe, Port of Antwerp-Bruges believes India will continue to grow as the “factory of the world”. This makes it a pivotal trading partner for the port. That is supported by the numbers, as India’s volumes through Port of Antwerp-Bruges increased by over 10% this year alone.
“Port of Antwerp-Bruges is a diverse port, known globally for its expertise in steel, chemicals, project cargo, and containerized cargo. That’s why we are pleased that representatives from these sectors are joining us on our roadshow to India, where all these sectors have a strong presence.”
Luc Arnouts, Vice President Port of Antwerp-Bruges
The roadshow comes at a time when India’s industrial sector is advancing rapidly. Port of Antwerp Bruges stands ready to facilitate efficient, reliable trade flows for India’s expanding economy. Furthermore, India’s leadership in renewable energy aligns well with the port’s energy transition objectives, making this roadshow a powerful platform for reinforcing ties with India’s green energy sector.
Beyond its industrial capacity, India is known for its globally competitive IT and high-tech sectors. As one of the largest automotive industries, India will find a strategic partner in Bruges, the largest automotive port in the world. The chemical hub in Antwerp aligns with India’s world-leading pharmaceutical production. Finally, India’s ambition to lead in renewable energy fits well with Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ focus on energy transition.
Diversification in a post-pandemic economy
Diversifying suppliers is a strategic imperative for Port of Antwerp-Bruges. This need was underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic. As global businesses seek alternatives to traditional manufacturing hubs such as China, India presents a promising, stable option.
India itself has shown a commitment to taking on a more prominent role in global manufacturing. The country aims to raise its performance in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index to 25 by bringing down the logistics costs from 14 to 8 percent of GDP.
Accompanying port companies
Key members from several companies within the Antwerp and Bruges port community will join the Port Authority on the roadshow.
As one of the largest ports in Europe, Port of Antwerp-Bruges is the engine of the Belgian economy. Since 2022, Port of Antwerp-Bruges combines the port platforms of Antwerp and Zeebrugge. With, among other things, the largest chemical hub in Europe, and the title of largest car port in the world, the merger of this complementary duo created a world port with ambition. Because Port of AntwerpBruges wants to be the first world port that reconciles economy, people and climate.
Blackstone Shipping Belgium
Blackstone Shipping, headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, specializes in simplifying complex supply chains with special expertise in the India-Europe trade corridor. Blackstone operates a state-of-the-art warehouse in Antwerp and boasts offices in countries worldwide, including eleven offices in India covering all major ports and dry ports.
With a “One Stop Shipping Solution” approach, Blackstone covers every aspect of your journey. It provides door-to-door delivery with flexible shipping terms, customs clearance, 3PL warehousing and cross-stuffing, global cargo insurance, ensuring realtime shipment visibility. By combining global expertise with local precision, Blackstone Shipping is committed to optimizing your supply chain efficiently and cost-effectively.
Boeckmans Belgium
Boeckmans is a family-owned business with over 85 years of experience in shipping. With offices in Antwerp and Rotterdam, Europe’s largest sea ports, they are well positioned to offer customized shipping solutions for the European import and export market.
As a liner agent, Boeckmans represents established carriers like Chipolbrok, G2 Ocean, and Swire Shipping, which serve routes between Europe and Asia. They focus on niche carriers that ship either cargo that requires certain expertise, such as breakbulk and project cargo, or carriers that offer special destinations, such as islands in the Pacific.
Boeckmans owns and operates a dedicated fleet of general cargo vessels that serve the European short-sea market. With approximatively 300 large and smaller ports called in the past years, the vessels are the ideal tool to connect main ports such as Antwerp, Rotterdam or Hamburg in transshipment to smaller and often less accessible ports in the region.
C. Steinweg Belgium
As part of the C. Steinweg Group, C. Steinweg Belgium in Antwerp offers comprehensive logistics solutions through a global network of over 135 offices. With owned terminals and warehouses, we ensure seamless, end-to-end service for all cargo types. Our Expertise: In addition to Project and Breakbulk Cargo, we handle a wide range of commodities, including:
- Metals: Reliable handling of ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
- Ferro Alloys and Minor Metals: Specialized logistics for industrial materials.
- Chemicals: Safe transport for chemical products.
- Soft Commodities: Expert care for goods like nuts, cocoa, and coffee.
Whether for global or local shipments, C. Steinweg Belgium delivers the full logistics package you
need
PSA Breakbulk
PSA Breakbulk, a joint venture between PSA, Haeger & Schmidt and Felbermayr, is one of the largest steel and general cargo terminal operators in Port of Antwerp-Bruges. Handling an average of 2 million tons of seagoing cargo per year for liner and semi-liner trade operators, PSA Breakbulk serves as the ‘Terminal of Call’ for breakbulk and general cargo for industrial groups.
PSA Breakbulk operates two deepsea terminals located in Port of Antwerp-Bruges: Churchill North Terminal for steel cargo and Churchill South Terminal for their Project Cargo Ecosystem. Project Cargo Ecosystem is a one-stop shop breakbulk terminal facility that offers infrastructure, equipment, and value added services for industrial partners to load and unload, store, package, consolidate, and build-up their high-end project cargo within one dedicated location.
The terminals provide seamless connectivity with a one-stop-logistics service and water-connected warehouses, ensuring efficient handling and storage of cargo. PSA Breakbulk can be accessed by truck, rail (with its own 7-track bundle), barge, and shortsea/deepsea vessels (up to Panama size, eight berths), making it a versatile hub for global logistics.
Steelduxx
In 2020, Edmond Van Duck & Sons joined forces with Aneka and formed Steelduxx. They combine more than 125 years of experience in the logistics industry. They specialize in the steel manufacturing industry. Known for handling steel breakbulk shipments, container logistics and consulting. They offer parallel trading of new cars, global matchmaking, warehousing and projects.
Steelduxx focuses on a flexible, customized approach to meet the needs of a modern market. With a strong reputation in the European steel sector, Steelduxx is well-positioned to collaborate with Indian partners seeking robust, reliable logistics services for complex projects.