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As owner and managing director of the Argos Group
and this port's Man of the Year, it gives me great
pleasure to have the privilege of writing the
introduction to the 2008 edition of Rotterdam Port
Information. The Port of Rotterdam has played an
important role in the 25 years I have been active as
an entrepreneur in the energy industry. Before that
period in my life, as a native of Rotterdam, I knew the
port from the outside only. However, the romantic
notions I already held back then of the port as a
vibrant place where a no-nonsense mentality held
sway, have all proven to be since.
Entrepreneurs, employers, employees, port
authorities and politicians all find the vibrant
Port of Rotterdam worthy, and always wanting, of
their efforts. The past few years have seen a lot of
changes and more is yet to come. These are
challenging times for this port, times of opportunity
but also of emerging threats. Our mission is to ensure
the adequate handling of both.
Whilst we strive to achieve these goals, a Rotterdam nononsense
mentality and plain old common sense number
amongst our most indispensable assets.
My interests lie mainly in the
energy sector, specifically the oil
industry. This sector has a lot of
changes in store for it in future
years. The demand for oil is still
on the rise and alternative fuels
such as biodiesel, bioethanol
and biomass are quickly gaining
ground. In my opinion, this will benefit Rotterdam's
position as an important transfer point for energy
related products and Europe in general. The booming
world economy, the growth of India and China, the
construction of the Second Maasvlakte and the policy
of modernization Rotterdam recently introduced will
all have significant consequences and pave the way
for changes yet to come.
The carbon dioxide debate will also begin to have a
positive impact on business soon.
This will lead to new initiatives in the reduction of
carbon dioxide emissions, but will also result in
increased employment. Congestion on road and rail
networks, and near transfer and storage facilities,
will be a topic of increased interest.
Current policies in this regard will finally bear fruit,
after years of frustration.
Our wish or, more accurately, our demand is that the
government will prove itself a constructive partner in
solving this problem and will realize that sluggish
bureaucracy dulls of the Port of Rotterdam's
competitive edge.
To be brief: we have come to the end of an era that
has brought success and prosperity, but we are at the
dawn of a new one, in which we at the very least will
have to maintain our current level of accomplishment.
Peter Goedvolk
Managing Director of the Argos Group
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