Todays presented coalition agreement shows that the new cabinet clearly supports the Dutch industry. The agreement contains good starting points for strengthening the Rotterdam industrial cluster and thus emphasizes the economic and strategic importance of the port and industry for the earning capacity and resilience of the Netherlands. Rotterdam and the region are ready to contribute energetically and ambitiously as partners of the national government to the further elaboration and implementation of this.
The Municipality of Rotterdam, Province of South Holland, Port Authority Rotterdam, Deltalinqs and Economic Board South Holland note that the cabinet is making important choices that directly connect to the joint efforts of the Rotterdam port community in recent times. With the abolition of the national CO₂ tax, the focus on lower electricity costs and a stable long-term policy, an important step is taken towards a level European playing field. The continued commitment to the area-specific nitrogen approach in the Rotterdam port and industry also inspires confidence. This is essential to connect nature restoration and economic development and thus create space for permits.
The Rotterdam port is the place where national ambitions come together: where policy, investments and infrastructure intersect and where the energy and material transition can be realized on a large scale. With the largest integrated industrial and chemical cluster in the Netherlands, a unique energy and logistics infrastructure and a strong knowledge base, the region has a strong starting position to shape this transition. With the Rotterdam Port Vision and the start decision for the NOVEX research into solutions for the lack of space in the port and improving the living environment in the region, we are taking important steps together with the national government to make this transition succeed.
At the same time, the urgency is great. Companies now face crucial investment decisions. The commitment in the coalition agreement is promising, but success depends on quick, concrete implementation and a clear timetable. Speed and predictability are decisive to unlock investments and strengthen the competitive position of the port.
Port alderman Robert Simons: “The coalition agreement shows that our joint lobby has had an effect. We may consider this an important step forward together. Now it comes down to speed: companies in our port must quickly feel and notice this in their daily practice. Rotterdam is ready to start implementation immediately together with the cabinet.”
Arne Weverling, deputy for Port and Industry: “The new coalition agreement contains good proposals for strengthening the Rotterdam port and industry. Now we must work together to solve the problems with the overloaded power grid, nitrogen and the too high energy costs compared to neighboring countries. The national government and the region need each other for this. Only by making choices together can we ensure a good investment climate and keep the port and industry economically strong.”
Boudewijn Siemons, CEO Port Authority Rotterdam: The agreement shows that the coalition parties want to tackle a number of major, acute problems, such as nitrogen, grid congestion, the high energy price for industry and resilience. This is crucial for the Netherlands. The Port Authority is concerned about whether sufficient financial resources will be available for industrial policy, for example to reduce the energy price for large consumers to the level of neighboring countries.
National government and region are already working intensively together within the NOVEX framework on the future of the Rotterdam port. The region sees the coalition agreement as an invitation to further intensify and accelerate this cooperation, aiming for investment certainty, a predictable spatial course, targeted investments in energy and CO₂ infrastructure, grid reinforcement and hydrogen, key technologies and value chains, and continued attention to an attractive and healthy living and working environment.