The port of Antwerp’s ‘India Natie’ platform was officially inaugurated this morning by HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium in the presence of deputy prime minister Didier Reynders, Flemish minister-president Kris Peeters, AMTOI President Sailesh Bhatia, Port of Antwerp Chairman Marc Van Peel and Port of Antwerp CCO Luc Arnouts. This digital platform has been set up to facilitate contacts and exchange of information between forwarders, shippers and logistics operators in Antwerp and India, the company said in its press release.
The ‘India Natie’ platform is the result of collaboration between the Association of Multimodal Transport Operators of India (AMTOI), the Association of Forwarding, Logistics & Freight Handlers in Antwerp and Antwerp Port Authority. The digital platform brings together a number of existing online services, supplemented by specific regional information. It provides a simple way for Indian and Antwerp shipping and logistics companies to exchange information on commercial opportunities and relevant trade matters.
Chief commercial officer of the Port of Antwerp Luc Arnouts together with Anand Sheth and Tushar Jani the driving forces behind the project, emphasises the gains in speed and efficiency that the new platform will offer: “By tailoring the online tools and information to suit the users, it will be possible for customers and suppliers to find their way to each other more quickly. With this application we are reducing the distance between the maritime and logistics chains in India and the European hinterland.”
According to Port Authority chairman Marc Van Peel, the ‘India Natie’ platform exemplifies the smooth international collaboration between the Antwerp port community and the Indian shipping world: “The various international partners involved in this project have shown that they understand each other’s needs very well. With ‘India Natie’ we are able to offer tailor-made information and help shippers, forwarders and shipping companies to get together. In fact you could call it the dream ‘dating site’ for the Indian and European shipping and logistics communities.”
The port of Antwerp is very important for European export and import trade with India. In 2012 more than 4 million tonnes of freight was carried to and from India. Containers, steel and petroleum derivatives in particular made up a significant proportion of the volume. The importance of India for Antwerp (and vice-versa) is demonstrated by the presence of a permanent representative of Antwerp Port Authority in Mumbai, the close collaboration with the business world and the local authorities, and the strategic stake held by Port of Antwerp International in Essar Ports. In all cases the objective is to stimulate trade between the two regions.