The Antwerp port in Belgium is well-connected to the hinterland by waterways and has gained considerable expertise in the area of inland waterways which it is willing to share with India, according to Luc Arnouts, Chief Commercial Officer.
He was interacting with the media here on Wednesday after visiting the Visakhapatnam port as a member of a delegation from Belgium.
He said more than 30 per cent of the cargo from the hinterland reach Antwerp through inland waterways, which are much cheaper than the roadways and railways, and the logistics cost is lower.
He said it was identified as one of the key areas in which Belgium could offer its services to India, as most of the Indian ports are not connected to the hinterland through waterways. “We have signed pacts with some of the Indian ports such as Mumbai and we are also exploring ways of tying up with Visakhapatnam, a major port on the east coast of India,” he added.