Home Press release LAUNCH OF HAUTS-DE-FRANCE PORTS ASSOCIATION: NORLINK PORTS
Territory

LAUNCH OF HAUTS-DE-FRANCE PORTS ASSOCIATION: NORLINK PORTS

On Wednesday 25 January, in the headquarters of the Hauts-de-France CCI, the founder members of the Hauts-de-France Ports Association officially signed its articles of association and revealed its trading name of NORLINK PORTS.

Download Press contact

Following the agreement signed in Lille on 28 September, the Hauts-de-France Region CCI, Grand PortMaritime de Dunkerque (Dunkerque-Port), Société d’Exploitation des Ports du Détroit (SEPD), the Docks Seine Nord Europe-Escaut public-private entity and the CCIs of Greater Lille, Greater Hainaut, the Oise, the Aisne, Amiens-Picardie, Artois and the Côte d’Opale met for the Founding General Meeting.

NORLINK PORTS is already working to draw up a port strategy for the Hauts-de-France with the following goals:

The Hauts-de-France Ports Association has already stated that its 2017 action plan will include broadening and opening the Cargo Community System (CCS) of the Dunkirk port community to all the region’s transport chain operators.

NORLINK PORTS aims to bring together the region’s clients, logistics professionals and multimodal platforms, as well as the trade unions and representatives of the shipping and transport industry.

Following the General Meeting, the Board of Directors met and proceeded to elect its officers.

Philippe Enjolras, President of the Oise CCI, was elected Chairman of NORLINK PORTS, and Stéphane Raison, CEO of Dunkerque-Port, was elected Vice-Chairman.

I am really proud to represent those involved in the development of the Hauts-de-France who, in recent decades, have put in place proactive policies in the field of freight and logistics. Today the Hauts-de-France region is a logistics centre of paramount importance. Its potential for development requires a strong new regional approach. We want to move forward together and implement our strategy effectively.
Philippe Enjolras
To make the most of the huge changes already taking place in the world of freight, all these stakeholders want to ramp up activity by setting up a new organisation, capable of making the Hauts-de-France the logistics hub of North-Western Europe, geared to meet clients’ needs.
Stéphane Raison
By 2015 the Seine-North Europe Canal will connect the river basins of Northern Europe with Greater Paris. This European-scale project could generate the creation of 10,000 jobs during the works phase, and nearly 50,000 once it is in service. The ports of the Hauts-de-France want to take advantage of the opening of the future Seine-North Europe Canal to affirm the area’s position as a leading logistics hub.
Philippe Hourdain
President of the Hauts de France CCI and Ports de Lille