(Sponsored content) Tuesday, July 20, 2021 | The Times | 5 BELGIUM

A SPECIAL PRODUCTION OF: by Synergy Media Specialists www.sms-bridges.com

terms of our political, economic and cultural efforts and this in- An excellent year for Belgium and Japan cludes arranging high-ranking Nippon Express: Delivering the visits and consultations be- Insights from country has important ports The pandemic is, of course, tween our two governments. such as Antwerp and Bruges a sad story. However, it has I understand next year the goods in the heart of Europe Ambassador Makita and during the pandemic, the shown to the world, including Belgian government intends to Shimokawa Brussels Zaventem airport Japan, that Belgium is at the send an economic mission to elgium is a major gateway proved to be a very important center of cutting-edge high Japan and I trust this will re- to the European continent elgium and Japan are cel- hub for the transport of vac- technology, medicine, chemis- inforce our close ties and shed and beyond. The country’s ebrating 155 years of dip- cines. With other important try and innovation. new light on our bilateral rela- Brole in the pan-European net- lomatic relations. Bridges airports such as Liege and A company in Belgium has tionship in terms of commerce work led to Nippon Express, a B(by Synergy Media Specialists) Charleroi, Belgium plays an provided us with vaccines in and economic growth. leading Japanese logistics pro- spoke with Japanese Ambas- important role in European large quantities. Initially the vider, establishing a subsidiary in sador Makita Shimokawa on Union and international trans- vaccines provided to the Japa- What message do you have for Belgium in 1983. the long-standing relationship portation. nese population were solely our readers? Brussels Airport and the Port between both countries and In terms of the European from Belgium manufacturing of Antwerp are the two most im- Belgium’s role and strengths Union, Belgium is where new facilities before other coun- The pandemic has given portant logistics hubs in Belgium. within the European Union. regulations are agreed upon tries began manufacturing and Belgium and Japan occasion The city of Liege, in east Belgium, and economic policies are im- distributing vaccines to Japan. to rethink and redevelop our and Ostend, a coastal city in the

Bridges: How would you char- ©Japanese Embassy plemented. Japanese compa- This shows that Belgium has a bilateral relationship. Tech- west, are increasingly becoming acterize current relations be- nies, even those without manu- real strength in this area and nology on both sides has more important. tween Belgium and Japan? Makita Shimokawa, facturing facilities in Belgium, explains why new investments enabled us to interact digi- Nippon Express Belgium estab- Ambassador of Japan to the are interested to come to Bel- and mergers are taking place tally and I hope that as we lished an office in Liege this year. Kingdom of Belgium Shimokawa: In terms of eco- gium to follow discussions on between Belgian and Japanese come out of this pandemic, or It is the first Japanese forwarder ©Nippon Express Belgium nomic ties, people-to-people economic developments which companies, particularly in ar- indeed even while we are still to set up operations in the region. exchanges and an appreciation living in exceptional circum- may affect their European eas such as medicine, but also in it, we can learn to develop “Close to the Netherlands and Nippon Express Belgium President Tsuyoshi Ogihara and Michael Kamm, of one another’s cultures, the stances due to the pandemic. business. With high standards in green energy and offshore our relationship and find the German borders, Liege has be- General Manager of the Business Development Division bilateral relationship between As we enter the post-pandemic of education and technology, wind generation plants. merits and strong points of one come a very important economic both countries is excellent. The world, I hope we will make up Japanese companies are invest- another. region,” said Tsuyoshi Ogihara, Nippon Express Belgium has “The coronavirus pandemic re- Japanese imperial family and for the past year and work to- ing in Belgium and expanding What is your vision for the When I first arrived in Bel- president of Nippon Express Bel- continued to grow its non-Japa- sulted in a shortage of air cargo the Belgian royal family share wards making our excellent re- their research and develop- future of the embassy in Bel- gium, I wanted to bring the gium. nese client base. Today over 60% availability and our new service close ties and this important lationship even better. ment facilities in the country. gium? economic and political rela- “We want to ensure we are close of the company’s turnover comes allows us to provide space to cus- relationship is very dear to our One such Japanese company tions between Japan and Bel- to our major customers in the from non-Japanese customers. tomers,” Ogihara said. hearts. What is Belgium’s role as an with a long history in Belgium We intend to catch up on gium to a higher level. The chemical, automotive and phar- “We have strong relations with In response to rising demand This year also happens to investment destination and recently announced to open a missed opportunities due to the pandemic provided a push maceutical industries.” our global customers, many of for trans-Atlantic air cargo be the 100th anniversary of European headquarters for new research and development pandemic. We still face obsta- to our efforts to increase our Michael Kamm, general man- whom we have worked with for transport, in May Nippon Ex- the visit of the late Emperor Japanese companies? center in the city of Gent. cles in terms of the movement cooperation and I am hope- ager of the Business Develop- over 20 years,” Ogihara said. press Belgium established a Showa to Belgium when he of businesspeople and tourists. ful that we will continue to ment Division, said: “Belgium is “This makes us quite unique round-trip charter service be- was crown prince in 1921. One aspect is Belgium’s What are your insights on the Depending on the situations in strengthen our relationship in a highly important pharmaceuti- amongst Nippon Express subsid- tween Ostend-Bruges Inter- While this is an excellent year role as a hub for international pandemic and Belgium’s role Japan and Belgium, we would the years to come.  cal player in Europe and we have iaries in Europe.” national Airport and John F. for both our countries, we are transportation and traffic. The in it? like to get back on track in www.be.emb-japan.go.jp made significant investments In an effort to strengthen the Kennedy International Airport . on a global corporate level in or- import and export gateway “We constantly listen to the der to develop solutions for our functions for both Liege and needs of our customers to provide pharmaceutical customers. Today Ostend, the company recently them with bespoke transport we are able to deliver solutions launched chartering services solutions and we will continue to Belgium: A European Union logistics hub across multiple geographic and between Liege and Narita Airport leverage our strengths to provide business segments and we are for air cargo import and export the best service,” Ogihara said.  TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS ready to plug in pharma.” operations. www.nipponexpress.com

Why Belgium • State-of-the art multimodal Infrastructure • Geographically positioned in the heart of Europe • 80% of European purchasing power is within an Conti-Lines: Committed to 800-km radius of Brussels • Belgium is a gateway to 500 million European customers growth in the Japanese market

Maritime history onor, reliability, trust • Maritime tradition spanning two centuries and respect: These are the key values • Adjacent to the North Sea and the English “Hwhen doing business in Japan” Channel, one of the world’s busiest sea routes said Jean-Frederic Brion, execu- • Conti-Lines, a family-owned shipping company tive chairman of Conti-Lines. with close to a century of history, has been Airports “Exactly because of these values working with Japanese companies for over 70 • Six major airports — which are paramount in the  years Liege — Nippon Express recently opened Japanese culture and in the way an office in Belgium’s premier cargo airport they do business — our company  MODES OF TRANSPORT Antwerp is drawn towards the Japanese  Brussels market.”  Established in 1923, Conti- Rail Brussels South Charleroi  Lines, a subsidiary of Conti7 • A pioneer in the development of the European Kortrijk-Wevelgem PHARMACEUTICAL HUB  Maritime Holding Group, is a railway network Ostend-Bruges • Japan’s ANA Cargo launched three direct family-owned shipping company CHEMICAL HUB with a rich tradition of owning Road flights per week between Brussels and and operating ships. in October 2020 • After the Netherlands and Luxembourg, Belgium • Europe’s largest and the world’s second-largest Offering first-class specialized • Air cargo from Belgium to Japan indicates maritime transportation ser- has the highest motorway infrastructure density integrated petrochemical cluster pharmaceuticals accounted for 42.4% of vices using a diversified fleet of (58 km/1,000 sq. km) • Eight of the world’s 10 largest chemical trade in 2019 and 44.9% during the first eight handysize to ultramax dry bulk companies operate in Flanders, including Japan’s vessels, the company has worked months of 2020 Sea Kaneka and Nippon Shokubai closely with Japanese partners for • Connected by two major rivers (Scheldt and • Ranked No. 3 among 27 European Union more than 70 years and these re- ©Conti-Lines Meuse) “Our location and international sea and airports states, Belgium spent €3.6 billion on lationships continue to evolve. It • Four sea ports make our country a true strategic hub and pharmaceutical research in 2018 all started with Kennedy Hunter The team at Conti-Lines is dedicated to Japanese trade.  Port of Antwerp — second-largest port in gateway to the European market. As a result, (a group entity of Conti7) being Europe and 14th-largest container port in the region around the Port of Antwerp grew into COVID-19 VACCINE MANUFACTURING HUB a dedicated agent for a Japanese “In the next five years we expect rough seas. Today we are in a good car carrier business in the early to see a major upturn in our ac- position and we look forward to the world the second-largest chemical cluster in the world  Port of Zeebrugge — International Car • Most of the 1.3 billion COVID-19 vaccines 1950s. tivities and it is an exciting time further developing our business and Europe’s largest petrochemical center. All Conti-Lines has been charter- for us. To reach this point in its and establishing even closer ties Operators, a 100% subsidiary of Japan’s of this is highly appreciated by Japanese Pfizer Tech hopes to deliver in 2021 will be ing OSK vessels to Latin journey, Conti-Lines has ‘sailed’ with our friends in Japan.”  Kaisha (NYK), operates from companies and plays an important role produced in the factory town of Puurs, a few America on a regular basis since exceptionally well, even through www.contilines.be here for several sectors and investors.” kilometers north of Brussels Airport 2003.  North Sea Port (Ghent) — Motor Professor Gilbert Declerck, president • The world’s first flight carrying COVID-19 In 2005, both companies fur- Europe Logistics is located here of the Belgium-Japan Association & vaccines departed Brussels Airport on ther strengthened their business  Port of Ostend Chamber of Commerce Nov. 27, 2020 venture by setting up an operat- ing partnership for carrying Japa- nese steel from leading producers and traders to markets in South America and Africa. “In recent years, our relation- Our Information Services tainly a plus in these current ship has widened, resulting in Division (ISD) is also an im- times. increased tonnage and a rise in Honda sees a cultural fit in Belgium portant pillar of our European business we do together,” Brion IT activities. Our IT associ- What message do you have explained. ith operations in ates contribute to solution regarding Belgium-Japan re- “We have purchased second- Belgium dating back delivery, ISD planning and lations? hand vessels from Japanese own- to 1978, Honda Mo- Honda, along with service management. ers and entered into long-term Wtor Europe Logistics (HMEL) other Japanese When Honda decided to es- chartering contracts with them. transports Honda cars, mo- What are Belgium’s econo– tablish its first overseas fac- Over the years, our relationship torcycles, power products and companies, continues mic strengths? tory in Belgium in 1962, the with major Japanese trading industrial engines to Honda company clearly saw a “cultur- houses steadily intensified and, dealers and distributors across to flourish today in Belgium has several al fit.” Honda, along with other as such, our commitment to the Europe. Belgium.” strengths. First of all, there is Japanese companies, contin- Japanese market has significantly The Japanese car giant’s Eu- the geographical advantage. ues to flourish today in Bel- strengthened.” ropean headquarters for prod- Belgium is located in the cen- gium. This proves that the cul- With major growth seen across YOSHIAKI NISA uct logistics and parts sales President ter of Honda’s customer po- tural fit we share as countries the global shipping industry is located at one of Europe’s Honda Motor tential, right in the middle of and societies is very strong since January, Brion is bullish largest ports: the North Sea Europe Logistics (HMEL) the so-called Blue Banana (the and indeed, future-proof. about the future.

Port. ©HMEL Liverpool-Milan axis). From Belgium and Japan show “We see a great deal of potential In 2014, HMEL merged with there, we can deliver to 80% of great resemblances in their for Conti-Lines to expand further. the Honda factory, which was Bridges: How important is we have used barges for the Honda’s customers within 24 capability to adapt to changes We have always had a broad cargo established in 1962, in Aalst, Belgium within Honda’s Eu- transport of certain catego- hours. All products and parts in their environments. This base and are now capitalizing on on the Dender River in Bel- ropean business? ries of spare parts. We handle reach us via the ports of Rot- has not changed over the years this strength by enhancing our gium. Last year HMEL’s sites around 25,000 parts orders on terdam and Antwerp and are and is a solid foundation on tonnage capacities, reaching out were certified as Sustainable Nisa: HMEL is at the heart of a daily basis. shipped from there by truck or which to base our future rela- to new customers and increasing Development Goal Pioneers logistics for all spare parts and Next to our operational im- barge. Another strength and tionship.  the number of routes we offer. by the United Nations for product lines. Our warehouses portance, HMEL contributes one not to be underestimated, www.hondamotoreuropelogistics.com These specific and challenging their sustainability initiatives. and parking areas are located significantly to Honda’s Euro- is the people. Belgians have a tasks are entrusted to my son Jean Bridges (by Synergy Media in the North Sea Port and are pean turnover, mainly through very pragmatic approach and (director and a third-generation Specialists) spoke with HMEL easily accessible by boat, truck sales of spare parts and indus- a “can-do” mentality. They family member) and his profes- President Yoshiaki Nisa. and train and in recent years, trial engines. like challenges, which is cer- sional and highly qualified team.”

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