Port of Quebec to cooperate with Port of Zeebrugge

The Québec Port Authority (QPA) and the Port of Zeebrugge have signed a partnership agreement aimed at engaging dialogue between the two ports on shared issues and establishing commercial ties, QPA said in a press release.

At a ceremony in Montreal during the state visit to Canada of Their Majesties the King and Queen of the Belgians, the president and CEO of the Port of Québec, Mr. Mario Girard, and the president and managing director of the Port of Zeebrugge, Mr. Joachim Coens, signed a partnership agreement aimed at developing commercial ties between the two ports.

This new partnership arose from a desire to develop synergies between the two ports, which share common features and challenges. The two ports will be able to work collaboratively together in key commercial areas for both: containers,   automobile terminals and many other commercial aspects. It will also provide opportunities to discuss and share port know-how and best practices, sustainable port management, city–port relationships, and any commercial data that may be of interest to both parties.
 
“This agreement with the Port of Zeebrugge marks a new era for the Port of Québec and the start of a rewarding commercial collaboration, in particular in the booming field of containers. The similarities between the Port of Québec and the Port of Zeebrugge are conducive to forging a beneficial partnership, thanks in part to our strategic geographic positions, which will be a boon to future growth at the Port of Québec,” said QPA president and CEO Mario Girard.

"The port of Zeebrugge is pleased with the signing of the partnership agreement with the Port of Québec. The purpose of this agreement is to exchange expertise and experiences, as well as staff and experts in different fields. Another objective is to develop goods flows between Zeebrugge and Québec in the car, container and food sectors”. Said Joachim Coens, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Port of Zeebrugge
Representatives of the Port of Québec were present at the ceremony along with various attendees from the maritime transport sector. The Québec Port Authority also welcomed a delegation from Port of Zeebrugge earlier in the week to kick things off.

About the Port of Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge, the seaport of Bruges, is one of the world’s foremost roll-on/roll-off ports, where nearly 40 million tons of goods are transshipped annually. The offering of both intra-European and intercontinental services is what makes Zeebrugge such an important access port to the European markets.

About the Port of Québec
The Québec Port Authority is an independent federal agency established under the Canada Marine Act. Each year, the vessels transiting through the Port drive a $20 billion supply chain. The Port of Québec is the core of a maritime hub that helps generate more than 8,000 direct and indirect jobs in the Québec City region, according to the latest KPMG/SECOR research.