2021.01.14 -On Thursday 14 January 2021, the Minister for Climate Transition and the Environment, Alain Maron, and the Port of Brussels authorities signed a new management contract for a period of four years from 2021 to 2025.
This is the fifth management contract for the Port of Brussels since its creation as a regional corporation. The signing of the new contract underlines the Brussels-Capital Region’s confidence in the Port of Brussels, guaranteeing 93.5 million euros of funding over the contractual term.The contract also relates the Port's activities to the government's objectives,making it a key player in the economic and ecological transition.
Concrete undertakings from the Region and the Port
The management contract concluded between the partners provides for the expansion of the Port area, in particular through the acquisition by the Region of 40 hectares of the Schaerbeek Training site, 20 hectares of which will be placed under Port management.
In terms of goods transportation by water, the contract provides for several projects intended to promote the modal shift from road to waterway:
- continued maintenance of Port facilities (Canal, movable bridges and locks), representing 15 million euros of spending;
- the investment of nearly 15 million euros in the Canal and related structures, including 9.5 million euros for the reinforcement and construction of new quay walls, to enable new businesses to move to the Port and thus increase the volume of waterway transport;
- studying the possibility of making the use of waterway transport compulsory for the sites inventoried by the Port in its multi-year site plan.
The Port’s economic priorities will be reoriented towards model companies in terms of climate and environment.
The Port will develop comprehensive logistical services for the construction sector, a key sector that looks set to grow in response to the Brussels Region’s building renovation objectives.These services will include waterway and site management, the supply of construction materials and the provision of storage spaces for re-used materials.
The Port will ensure that its projects blend into the natural surroundings and encourage its concession-holders to adopt the same approach.
To boost the Port’s economic potential, the Region has undertaken to maintain optimal accessibility to the Port area by means of large-scale infrastructure projects such as the development of the TIR centre as a key site for exemplary sustainable urban goods distribution.
It has also committed to implementing four large-scale urban integration projects in the Port area:
- the creation of a park occupying the entire left bank of the Vergote Dock;
- the construction of a sports facilityat the Vergote Dock turning area;
- the creation of a regional nautical cluster around BRYC(Brussels Royal Yacht Club);
- the construction of a dedicated cycle path fringing the Port area for 14 kilometres on the Canal’s left bank.
A strong commitment against global warming and for biodiversity
The management contract represents a significant joint commitment on the part of the Region and the Port to combat global warming and promote biodiversity in Brussels. It sets the Port firmly on the road to the economic transition that lies at the heart of regional policies.
According to Alain Maron, Minister for Climate Transition and the Environment, ‘This ambitious management contract will reinforce the Port’s recreational potential and make its economic activities more sustainable.It will create a true ecosystem around the Canal, which is much more than a transport route. In particular, it is also an important cooling reservoir that helps combat climate warming, and a centre for the development of local leisure activities. As we saw during the lockdown, the people of Brussels have a great need for public spaces where they can relax, and the Canal, which crosses the Region from north to south and passes through some particularly densely populated districts, can provide a response to this need.’
Yassine Akki, the President of the Port, welcomed the Regional government’s support for the Port of Brussels: ‘With an unprecedented financial commitment, the Region has shown the importance it attaches to the Port’s development for the achievement of its objectives in terms of the economy and the environment, as well as in transport. This management contract gives the Port the means to fulfil its ambitions as set out in the master plan to 2040, which represents a strong long-term commitment to work even harder in future for Port development that will benefit the entire Region and its inhabitants.’
More information: www.port.brussels
The text of the management contract: www.port.brussels
