The Flemish terminal will be bigger

09.03.2011

The reflection on Gdansk's "golden age" and the time of the Hanseatic League was brought back to the port of Gdansk on 8 March during the visit paid by the Minister-President of the Flemish Government, Kris Peeters. The Belgian delegation, including Ambasador Raoul Delcorde, as well as representatives of the Flemish government and the owner of SEA-Invest Group investing in Gdansk, Philippe Van de Vyvere, was hosted by the Port of Gdansk Authority SA.

The Flanders Federation holds the biggest share in producing the GDP of the Kingdom of Belgium. The country, which boasts one of the most developed economies in the world and is the seat of several hundred international concerns and industrial groups, has cumulated its biggest industrial plants in Flanders, including the major centre of Antwerp. This city is also house to the biggest, after Rotterdam, seaport in Europe.

In appreciation of the perspectives and mutual benefits, the governments of Flanders and Poland signed an agreement concerning wide-ranging cooperation already in 1994. Over the recent years, considerable growth in the commercial exchange has been observed, including mainly metallurgical and chemical industries, as well as machinery, industrial equipment and electrical appliances. Nearly 90 percent of the total turnover between Poland and Belgium is realised by Flanders. Additionally, Belgium investment activity in Poland has also gained rapid pace. Belgium, which ranks in tenth place among foreign investors in Poland, has engaged its capital in the implementation of over 500 Polish projects.

The grounds of the Port of Gdansk is also the location of a financial venture realised by SEA-Invest Group. Following the agreement signed in May last year between the companies of "Northern Port" and "Rudoport" (with SEA-Invest being their major shareholder), and PGA SA, the biggest Dry Bulk Terminal on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea is under construction. Upon verification of throughput demands and with the intention to provide top-quality handling services, the Belgian investor has turned to PGA SA with an offer to expand the project ground by another 30 hectares. In the presence of Prime Minister Kris Peeters and Philippe Van de Vyvere, the CEO of the "Northern Port", Jacek Klimczak, signed a Letter of Intent with the PGA SA Board of Directors declaring a bilateral intention to expand the terminal up to almost 90 hectares. The parties expressed their satisfaction with the cooperation to date and declared to make up a suitable agreement by the end of April of this year.

- SEA-Invest ranks among the most important companies in my country - said Prime Minister Kris Peeters. - I realise that the investment launched in the Port of Gdansk has great significance not only to the port, the Pomeranian region and to Poland, but also to entire Europe.

- We are restoring the trade relations which had been significant for this region of Europe for centuries - concluded PGA SA President of the Board, Ryszard Strzyzewicz, PhD. - With each such contact, in addition to the direct advantages for both cooperating partners, our return to Europe is gaining pace.

PGA SA PR Officer