Rotterdam Announce Silk Road Partnership

In a bid to boost trade links with Europe, on the back of the ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative, the Port of Rotterdam has established a strategic partnership with the Bank of China, according to the Journal of Commerce.

The Rotterdam Port Authority said: “This collaboration will allow the partners to support each other in identifying, attracting and developing business opportunities in, among other areas, logistics, containers, shipping and rail infrastructure.

“Public and private sector parties in China are investing in, among other things, logistics infrastructure that is intended to further strengthen the country’s ties with emerging economies in Eurasia and Europe.

“Rotterdam sees a role for itself in this network as a key logistics hub.”

The economic belt strategy has so far obtained US$50 billion in financial backing out of 65 loan commitments since 2013.

Xi Jinping, China’s president outlined plans for a maritime transport initiative in 2013, which is anticipated to generate around $2.5 billion in trade volumes.

China has also recently acted on plans to acquire two Kenyan ports in a bid to expand on its global dominance under the One Belt, One Road initiative.