One hundred business representatives have supported Valenciaport’s actions in infrastructure, sustainability and innovation to continue to be a hub of reference for Spanish economic activity in the Mediterranean
The president of the Port Authority of Valencia (PAV), Aurelio Martínez, highlighted the importance of Valenciaport’s connectivity for companies, which allows them to access very diverse markets all over the world at very competitive costs
Eva Serrano, vice-president of the Madrid Chamber of Commerce: “The Port of Valencia is a key player for the Spanish and Madrid economy”
The conference ‘Valenciaport. Port of Madrid’ organised by the Chamber of Commerce of Madrid and the PAV was held today
València, November 22th, 2022.- Connectivity, competitiveness, efficiency, effectiveness, intermodality, operability, sustainability, capacity, proximity, digitalisation …are some of the characteristics that Spanish businessmen highlight about Valenciaport, their strategic ally for their import/export operations and to strengthen their presence in international markets to generate wealth and employment in the Spanish economy.
Valenciaport presented its range of infrastructures and services to around one hundred business representatives at the conference ‘Valenciaport. The Port of Madrid’ organised by the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of Madrid and the Port Authority of Valencia (PAV), in a demonstration of debate and transparency before shippers, shipping companies, exporters and importers and the rest of the logistics community. The event was inaugurated by the vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of Madrid, Eva Serrano, who emphasised that “the Port of Valencia is a key player for the Spanish and Madrid economy. 60% of the containers of Madrid companies enter and leave through Valencia, and Valenciaport supports our business fabric by bringing goods closer through actions such as the intermodal station or the rail corridor between Valencia and Madrid”.
The vice-president of the Chamber explained that “the aim of the conference is to contribute to the dissemination of the services of the Port of Valencia, the leading port in the Mediterranean in goods and container traffic; and to facilitate the presence of Spanish companies in international markets by making use of the services and infrastructures of a leading port in a highly competitive world to be able to face the complex global competitive scenario”.
The president of the PAV, Aurelio Martínez, then held a dialogue with Pilar Caro, director of the Conexus Foundation, in which the importance of the Valencian port for the Spanish economy was discussed. Valenciaport’s area of influence represents 55% of Spain’s GDP and 40% of Spanish export/import goods traffic by sea is carried out from the Valencian precinct, a percentage similar to the combined passenger traffic of the airports of Madrid and Barcelona. “Our competitive advantage lies in factors such as reduced stopover times, service quality, rail and road connections, accessibility, the commitment to rail with almost 100 trains a week to/from Valencia, loading and unloading capacity and, of course, the connectivity of Valenciaport”, said Aurelio Martínez.
The best-connected Spanish port
During his speech, the head of Valenciaport highlighted the connectivity data of the Port of Valencia, the best connected in Spain and among the top 20 in the world according to UNCTAD. “This connectivity is key because of the important economic effect for companies in their exporting and importing work, a fundamental aspect to reduce costs, accessing very diverse markets all over the world at very competitive costs”.
In fact, 31% of Valenciaport’s traffic is with the Far East, which also plays a very important role with the Mediterranean countries and with the United States, the second country in terms of trade relations with the APV ports. Martinez stressed the “importance of reinforcing our position as a Mediterranean port hub in order to provide the best service to the companies in our area of influence”. In this sense, he recalled that the Port of Valencia is also key to the installation of new business projects in the Valencia Region, such as Ford in its time or the Volkswagen battery plant in Sagunto.
The president of the PAV also highlighted its commitment to sustainability and decarbonisation, for which it is going to invest 130 million euros in the coming years within the framework of the strategic objective Valenciaport 2030, zero emissions. “We are committed to sustainability out of conviction and because it makes us more competitive. We have already started up actions such as the solar installations in the ports of Valencia and Gandia, which will allow us, as well as using renewable energies, to reduce energy costs, as the profitability of these plants is achieved in the short term”.
Aurelio Martínez also explained to the Madrid businessmen the new infrastructure projects such as the new container terminal that will increase the capacity of the Port of Valencia and adapt it to the needs of the advancing world economy or the passenger terminal awarded to Balèaria, which will concentrate the flow of passengers from regular lines and cruise ships in a modern, sustainable infrastructure that meets the needs of people. Finally, the president of the PAV highlighted “the commitment that Valenciaport is making to promote a technological hub in the area surrounding the Port of Valencia to attract talent and generate new business opportunities for the Valencian economy”.
At the service of business
The event continued with two panels, the first on ‘Capacity, connectivity and service’ and the second on ‘Customer-focused strategy’. The first of these, moderated by Manuel García, head of Business Intelligence at the PAV, was attended by: Ignacio Ballester, Deputy Country Manager of MSC Spain; Javier Cubas, Valencia Branch Office Manager & Global Key Accounts Manager Spain, COSCO Shipping; and Francesc Sánchez, general manager of the PAV.
Ballester stressed that “we are going to develop important projects both in Valencia and Madrid with a view to improving customer services, favouring local cargo, which is key for all stakeholders”. Along these lines, the MSC representative pointed out that “the new north container terminal in the Port of Valencia is a substantial improvement for the entire productive fabric. The investments we are going to make will serve to make the port more efficient in terms of sustainability”.
For his part, Javier Cubas highlighted the commitment to the Spanish business fabric with “the three direct services between the Port of Valencia and the main ports of China and Vietnam, which continue the route with the ports of Northern Europe, providing the best service for export/import”. In addition,” continued Cubas, “we have two daily trains between Madrid and Valencia, a key strategic axis for the company”.
In his speech, Francesc Sánchez, focused on the work of the PAV to be an attractive centre for companies and for large companies and shipping companies to want to invest. “For them, the connection with our hinterland is fundamental to attract cargo and the capacity of the precinct so that large ships can operate”.
Innovation and digitalisation at the service of the business fabric
In the second of these, moderated by Cristina Rodríguez, head of Commercial and Clients of the PAV and with the title ‘Strategy focused on the client’, the following will take part: Maria José González, Country Manager, Raminatrans SL; Nuria Lacaci, general secretary of the Spanish Shippers’ Association; Pedro Catalán, managing director of CSP Logitren; and Víctor Giner, head of Digital Transformation of the PAV.
The head of Raminatrans stressed the importance of road transport for the Port of Valencia and for the companies that operate through it to deliver goods. For this reason,” said María José, “we have to continue working together to improve relations between all the agents involved in the logistics chain”. Pedro Catalán pointed out that “the Port of Valencia is doing very well in its commitment to intermodality and the promotion of the railway. Both the PAV and the companies are working to boost the train as a strategic factor for sustainability”.
For her part, Nuria Lacaci has shown the shippers’ interest in committing themselves with the Port Community in digitalisation and decarbonisation investments. “We want to be integrated in the Power Community Systems; and we want to participate in everything that involves reducing the carbon footprint. Our clients ask us for environmental commitments that we share with them; and this is a commitment to quality that we assume as our own, as does the Port Authority”. Along these lines, Víctor Gíner, pointed out that “digitalisation is a priority in the PAV’s strategic plan, pioneers in tools such as ValenciaportPCS. We are going to continue to be very ambitious, improving all these actions and increasing the number of actors involved. In fact, we are going to integrate shippers into the PCS”.