Trade association VNCW makes an emergency call for more cooperation in chemical logistics. Companies and governments should come closer together to prevent business relocating abroad.
The chemical logistics industry association is making the call after a billion-dollar investment went by the wayside last week. Chemical company INEOS decided to establish itself in Antwerp. As a result, the Netherlands is missing out on a €3 billion investment, good for 400 direct jobs and more than 2,000 indirect jobs.
VNCW speaks of the 'umpteenth investment in a short time in the Flemish port'. Such large companies would in turn attract other companies in trade, logistics or other processing industries.
VNCW will focus next year on bringing companies together within the chain. The association is also appealing to the government to "improve the competitive position of the Dutch chemical chain".
"While in the Netherlands we mainly talk about sustainability, transparency and safety, investments are made just across the border," says Luciën Govaert, president of the VNCW. "It is very good to talk about these topics, but when the business activity then moves across the border something goes thoroughly wrong."
The chairman believes that in practice, parties are still too often on opposite sides. "That is a strange approach to business. Taking safety as an example, I find that almost everyone wants, as do the regulators, that it is safe at the company. The interests of different parties are often not far apart. The government visits many companies and sees a lot. By pointing out good practices to companies, a lot has already been gained."
