Belgium’s Port of Antwerp has signed a collaboration agreement with Iran’s Shahid Rajaee Port Authority that looks after the port of Bandar Abbas to help companies in both ports to collaborate and develop trade between the two regions.

Valid for a period of five years, the agreement has the option for renewal at the end of its first term.

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Under the deal, both the port authorities will work together to collaborate on various matters, such as exchanging information on statistics and port development projects, as well as training.   

"Antwerp is perfectly situated to support the further growth of the trade with this country."

APEC, the training subsidiary port of Antwerp, currently offers various kinds of tailor-made training courses.

Antwerp Port Authority CEO Eddy Bruyninckx said: “Today we are restoring our trading relations with Iran, a country with great economic growth potential that is also a gateway to neighbouring countries.

“Antwerp is perfectly situated to support the further growth of the trade with this country.”

Prior to the sanctions, Antwerp was one of the most important European destination ports for Iranian cargo, until 2010.

After the sanctions were lifted, Iranian shipping company IRISL returned to Antwerp with the first container ship in March this year.

The port of Bandar Abbas currently handles around 90% of the in and outgoing containers of Iran, and nearly half of the 200 million tonnes of freight handled by the 11 Iranian ports put together.

Additionally, after signing the deal, the Antwerp Port Authority organised a port seminar to introduce Antwerp companies to the Iranian market.

Recently, the port of Antwerp had announced to extend its collaboration with Dalian Maritime University (DMU) in northern China for the next three academic years.

Image: Shahid Rajaee Port Authority and port of Antwerp sign collaboration agreement. Photo: courtesy of Port of Antwerp.