Located in the heart of Europe, Belgium has a strategic position and can help Peruvian agricultural export products enter Europe.
A delegation from the European country recently presented in Peru the benefits of the Port of Bruges, which include a shorter travel time from Peru to Europe (16 days compared to the 21 that it takes to transit to Rotterdam), a large terminal of refrigerated containers for the management of perishable products, connectivity to the main markets in Europe, such as Germany and France, without the congestion of other ports, as well as on-site phytosanitary inspections to improve distribution.
Emmanuel Van Damme, the commercial director of the Port of Bruges, said the port currently received commercial vessels from Callao, Pisco, and Paita with products that mainly include avocados and asparagus, and to a lesser extent coffee and rice.
"We offer a boutique service and Peruvian exporters feel they are our number one customer, not the 1,000th customer, as in other ports. We offer the possibility of doing all the necessary container treatment, as well as physical inspection, near the warehouse. We have 900 thousand cubic meters of refrigerated storage and clear access and exit roads. There is no congestion, so trucks can reach France or Germany very fast. In fact, they can arrive in France in an hour and a half and to England every three hours, as there is an exit by boat," he explained.
Another South American country of importance to Bruges is Brazil, which imports a large number of forest products into Europe through this route.
He also said that, each day, more than 4 thousand trucks left the terminal, where 20 thousand people work.
The Ambassador of Belgium in Peru, Koenraad Lenaerts, highlighted the commercial link between Belgium and Peru and stated that a quarter of Peruvian exports to his country corresponded to agricultural products.
"The world knows the quality that Peruvian products have. That's why Peru must have a transport and logistics service of that level," he added.
Source: agraria.pe