Philippine Embassy, Port of Antwerp Push for Stronger Port Cooperation

BRUSSELS 19 May 2025 — Philippine Ambassador to Belgium Jaime Victor B. Ledda met with senior officials of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges International (PoABI) on 14 May 2025 to explore new opportunities for collaboration between Philippine port authorities and one of Europe’s leading maritime hubs.

The meeting, held at the Port House in Antwerp, discussed ways to expand existing cooperation in training, port development, and sustainable infrastructure development.

PoABI officials expressed their interest in expanding the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), which focused on capacity-building through the APEC training center. With the agreement set to expire later this year, the port is looking to widen the partnership to include technical advisory support and joint planning for modern, sustainable port infrastructure.

The port’s new training offering on energy transition was also discussed, with PoABI open to providing scholarships to Filipino participants. PoABI further expressed interest in conducting a technical mission to the Philippines to meet with agencies such as the PPA, MARINA, DOTr, DTI, and BOI.

During the meeting, the Philippine side shared the government’s efforts to integrate renewable energy into port development, particularly in underserved island provinces, highlighting the broader push to align with global sustainability goals. Ongoing coordination with the European Commission’s Global Gateway initiative was also mentioned as a potential channel for future cooperation.

The meeting signaled strong high-level support for enhancing port cooperation between the two countries. Officials welcomed the momentum, describing it as a timely step toward a stronger and future-focused partnership. END

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