The Ports of Indiana and Port of Antwerp-Bruges have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance key economic and environmental port initiatives.
As disclosed, the agreement formalizes a plan to work together to advance economic development, container shipping, decarbonization, port security and technology integration.
“It’s an honor to partner with Europe’s second largest port. Port of Antwerp-Bruges is a true world port and a major innovator for global shipping,” Jody Peacock, Chief Executive Officer for Ports of Indian, said.
“Our ports have mutual strategic, economic, and innovation interests, and this agreement formalizes a plan for working together to advance key shipping and port development initiatives that will support robust sustainable growth in both of our regions.”
“It’s exciting to launch this collaboration as Ports of Indiana is initiating new economic development and environmental programs that align with the goals and objectives of Port of Antwerp-Burges, including establishing the first all-water container shipping route between Europe, Chicago and the U.S. Midwest,” Wim Dillen, International Development Manager for Port of Antwerp-Bruges, said.
“Our ports, centrally located as key trade hubs, have tremendous opportunities to jointly pursue critical connections between Europe and North America.”
Through the MoU, the ports will explore the opportunity to develop container trade to support key industries, including advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, microelectronics, clean energy, life sciences, agriculture, hardwoods, steel, and soybean production.
The collaboration also reinforces Ports of Indiana’s commitment to the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Regional Maritime Strategy which prioritizes growing trade with Antwerp for steel, grain, and breakbulk cargoes.
Lastly, the MoU is also intended to strengthen each of the participants’ commitments to decarbonization initiatives by sharing best practices and exploring the development of a “Green Shipping Route” from Belgium to Indiana that could significantly reduce carbon emissions versus traditional supply chain routing.
The agreement was a result of past collaborations between the ports, a recent trade mission by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb to Belgium in June, and an MoU between the State of Indiana and the Government of Flanders signed in December last year in Indianapolis, that called for “cooperation and information sharing between the Ports of Indiana and the Flemish sea ports.”
Last month, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges joined the Sweden-Belgium green shipping corridor to bolster its green ambitions.
2,500 kilometers is the distance from the northernmost to the southernmost point of the green shipping corridor between Sweden and Belgium that the port, together with the Port of Gothenburg, North Sea Port, and DFDS, wants to establish.