Six years after signing their initial international cooperation agreement, the Port of Montreal and HAROPA PORT have announced that they are renewing it with the primary objective of strengthening the trade corridors between Canada and France. The agreement was signed on April 28 by Martin Imbleau, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Montreal Port Authority, and Stéphane Raison, General Manager of HAROPA PORT, during an official visit to Paris by Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante.
The Montreal Port Authority (MPA) and France’s leading port complex (Le Havre, Rouen, Paris) share numerous characteristics and similarities, most notably their geographical positioning on logistics corridors adjacent to major trade and industry catchment areas.
Sharing a desire to consolidate their ties, undertake a process of reflection, implement measures and promote mutually beneficial approaches, the international cooperation agreement signed by the two port organizations has five core focuses: marketing and developing off-port logistics clusters; energy efficiency and sustainable development; infrastructure for the long term and innovation; job attractiveness and diversity; and collaboration between maritime administrations and maritime trade corridors.
“The Port of Montreal and HAROPA PORT maintain preferential commercial ties that have been substantially strengthened since the entry into force of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement,” declared Martin Imbleau, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Montreal Port Authority. “In addition to our historical relationship, our two port organizations share similar geographical realities, common challenges for the future and a mutual desire for far-reaching collaboration.”
“The renewal of this agreement is important in signaling a strengthening of cooperation and relations between two very similar ecosystems, those of the Seine Axis and the St Lawrence,” indicated Stéphane Raison, General Manager of HAROPA PORT. “We are setting out to implement a number of innovative initiatives to promote the greening of transportation between France and Canada in order to propose a decarbonized logistics offering to our customers and partners.”
Photo from left to right: Cédric Virciglio, Strategic Planning Director at HAROPA PORT and Martin Imbleau, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Montreal Port Authority.
(Photo André Cathy)
