Region

Portiz's member companies are located in the province of Zeeland, the centrally located delta in Northwest Europe is an important link between the main ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp.

Due to its central location and the presence of deep waterways, logistics services are highly developed. But the process industry, (petro) chemistry, food industry and energy sector are also well represented. The Zeeland ports include the Sloe area (Vlissingen and Borsele), the Zeeuws-Vlaanderen Canal Zone (Terneuzen) and adjacent areas in Zeeland. These are part of the North Sea Port District and form an essential part of the region's logistics and industrial infrastructure.

Unique cross-border economic cluster

North Sea Port, merged in 2018, is a unique cross-border, integrated port company stretching from Vlissingen, Borsele and Terneuzen to Ghent. This merger has created a powerful port organisation that plays an important role in the region.

Together with the port of Ghent, the Zeeland ports form a major node for cargo transhipment by sea and inland navigation. In 2021, total cargo traffic was around 130 million tonnes. These activities also create significant employment, with around 100,000 jobs directly or indirectly related to the ports.

Zeeland's ports have strong international connections and play an important role in global trade. The economic impact of Zeeland's ports is significant. In 2021, added value of €12.6 billion was realised. This underlines the ports' crucial role in the regional and national economy.

Portiz works closely with VOKA-VeGHO, the Association for Ghent Port-Related Enterprises, in representing the interests of the cross-border economic cluster.

Competitive strength

Zeeland's industrial companies are distinguished by their high quality, energy intensity and diversity. The region offers plenty of spatial opportunities and the companies are frontrunners in their sectors. Innovation is a key driver for these companies. In addition, the location by the sea and the presence of well-equipped seaports are an important contribution to regional employment.

It is vital for industry and ports to remain competitive in a rapidly changing world, in which access to climate-neutral forms of energy combined with smart ICT systems is increasingly becoming a crucial factor for competitive strength and business opportunities.

For Zeeland's industry and ports, it is essential to be able to use electricity grid reinforcement, hydrogen and/or CO2 storage facilities in a timely manner and at equal cost like other Dutch industries.

The Portiz HRM community consists of HR directors and managers of our Portiz members in Zeeland, including a number of HR representatives of large employers who are members of VNO-NCW Zeeland. The community consists of a group of over 40 HR professionals who meet three to four times a year to discuss strategic and current issues. During these meetings, the focus is on gathering knowledge and exchanging best practices from the participating companies. The members share their expertise, insights and experiences in order to learn from each other and improve HR practices within the participating companies.