Ports of Indiana, Port of Antwerp-Bruges sign MoU
Representatives from Ports of Indiana and Port of Antwerp-Bruges met in Antwerp to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance key economic and environmental port initiatives, according to the Ports of Indiana's release. The agreement formalizes a plan to work together to advance economic development, container shipping, decarbonization, port security and technology integration.
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 Dec. 8, 2023, in Indianapolis, that called for “cooperation and information sharing between the Ports of Indiana and the Flemish sea ports.”
With more than 300 liner services and 1,200 destinations, Port of Antwerp-Bruges is the second largest port in Europe. It is an important lifeline for the Belgian economy, supporting employment for 164,000 people and generating added value of more than €21 billion annually. The port handles 290 million tons of international maritime cargo per year and is home to Europe’s largest integrated chemical cluster.
Being centrally located in the U.S., Indiana is home to the median center of the U.S. population and is a national leader in business, steelmaking and logistics. It ranks first among U.S. states in steelmaking, pass-through interstates, and various rail cargoes, and was recently ranked by Forbes as the #1 place to start a business in the U.S. For maritime shipping, Indiana ranks 13th among the 50 U.S. states, handling 54 million tons annually on the Great Lakes and Ohio River, with international connections through the St. Lawrence Seaway to the Atlantic Ocean and the inland river system to the Gulf of Mexico. The Southern Indiana Port District ranks as the 22nd largest port in the U.S. while the Northern Indiana Port District ranks 25th. Ports of Indiana is a statewide port authority operating three ports that contribute $8.7 billion annually to Indiana’s economy.
Through the new 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.
