Participation in organisations and projects

INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO)

2016 marked the end of the Port of Barcelona's second term holding the chairmanship of the organisation, although it continues to be a member of the Executive Committee and chairs the Port Governance Committee. These responsibilities allow it to follow closely the European Commission's actions in the transport area, such as the proposed revision of the European ports policy.

International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH)

The Port has continued to hold the presidency of the International Association of Ports and Harbours and the vice presidency of its Trade Facilitation Committee and PCS. The IAPH is the only forum recognised as a global spokesperson for the port sector, with its ports bringing together around 80% of global container traffic and more than 60% by weight.

Intermed

In collaboration with the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean, this association comprising the ports of Barcelona, Genoa and Marseilles organised the first Medports Forum in Marseilles, involving 80 professionals from 25 Mediterranean ports, experts and other stakeholders.

Medcruise

This year the Port continued as a member of the Board of the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports.

Other organisations in which the Port plays an active role are: Association Internationale Villes et Ports (AIVP), Association of European Vehicle Logistics, Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME), Coffee Federation, European Intermodal Association, FERRMED, Interferry and the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC). que cuentan con una participación activa del Port son: Association Internationale Villes et Ports (AIVP), Association of European Vehicle Logistics, Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME), Coffee Federation, European Intermodal Association, FERRMED, Interferry y World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC).

RELATIONS WITH ORGANISATIONS LINKED TO THE CHINESE MARKET

It is essential for the Port of Barcelona to maintain a close relationship with the Chinese market, which is its principal trading partner in container traffic, with a share of 22%.

This is the reasoning behind the China Barcelona's European Logistics Centre (BARCELOC) project developed by the Port of Barcelona and Catalonia Trade & Investment which this year was joined by Barcelona City Council as a partner. In 2016 the Port was visited by several Chinese delegations and has worked to identify internationalised Chinese companies, that is ones that already export and/or already have investments in the European market. It also performed promotional activities, especially in China, taking part in fairs such as the Transport Logistics (Shanghai), China International Logistics & Transportation Fair (Shenzhen) and the Canton Fair.

As part of the work of the Logistics Chair of the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in Shanghai, sponsored by the Port of Barcelona, and as a result of the cooperation agreement between the telematic platforms of the ports of Barcelona and Shanghai, PortIC and Shanghai E&P International, this year we continued with the pilot project to develop the Track & Trace container information exchange service to make the transport chain visible to its respective importers and exporters.

Taking part in national and international organisations and projects fosters knowledge exchange

NATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

Within Spain, the Port is a member of the Spanish Association for the Promotion of Short Sea Shipping, the Spanish Coffee Federation (FEC-ANCAFE), Barcelona European Finance Centre and the Spanish Association of Natural Gas for Mobility (GASNAM).

It also participates in the UPC Agri-Food Cluster and innovative business groupings (AEI) of Barcelona-Catalonia Logistics Centre (BCCL) and the Catalan Maritime Forum.

INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS

Among the projects listed below, in which the Port of Barcelona takes part and which received EU financial assistance, we would highlight to new ones that kicked off in 2016: RePort and CarEsmatic. We were also awarded a subsidy by the European Commission, through the INEA agency, for the projected new rail access to the Port of Barcelona (New Southern Rail and Road Access to the Port of Barcelona. Phase 2. Connection Works), representing a contribution of up to € 36.1 million, which is 30% of the eligible costs of the project, of which € 21.5 million correspond to the APB and € 14.6 million to ADIF (the other project partner).