Antwerp and Zeebrugge make an impression in Japan

Eddy Bruyninckx of Antwerp and Joachim Coens of Zeebrugge were taking part in the state visit by King Filip and Queen Mathilde to Japan.

Antwerp and Zeebrugge recently decided to act together instead of in competition with each other, to attract foreign shippers by presenting a joint package. Both already have strong ties to Japan: Antwerp is a destination for a number of shipping lines, for container, ro-ro and breakbulk traffic. Zeebrugge, meanwhile, is the largest automobile port in the world, handling 2.4 million new cars a year, 40% of which come from Japan.

Nagoya is Japan’s fourth-largest city and a major port. The event at which the two port bosses were speaking is an annual gathering of high-level representatives of shipping lines, freight forwarders and port authorities. Antwerp has been twinned with Nagoya for almost 30 years, while Zeebrugge signed a treaty of friendship with the city in 2013.

“We felt a strong feeling of confidence from those present,” Bruyninckx said. The day after the event, King Filip, Bruyninckx  and Coens were present for a ceremony in which the 10 millionth Japanese car was loaded on a ship bound for Belgium.

Photo courtesy port of Antwerp