India Tour from HAROPA Port – Maritime Gateway

Back in India for the first time since the Covid pandemic, HAROPA PORT in Mumbai today concludes its visit to the country that started in Delhi earlier in the week. In the presence of former French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, France’s leading river and seaport presented the latest developments in the port since the 2021 merger and shipping sector, alongside its destinations that are likely to be of interest to Indian organizations in industry and logistics. The aim is to strengthen the already close ties between the two countries.

A green corridor between France and India

France and India share a determination to accelerate green transition, and HAROPA PORT’s Green Corridor, a pillar of the leading French port’s strategic project, is in line with India’s goals. Its ability to move goods from all over the world to the heart of France’s largest consumer hub makes it a particularly attractive partner for Indian players looking to build a more successful logistics chain. In fact, the modal shares of rail and river transport increased from 12% to 13.3% in 2022 for containers leaving Le Havre.

Turnkey plots of land close to major European industrial and consumer centers

In recent years, the European ports of the North Range have been subject to high pressure on the real estate supply: available land for new logistics and industrial facilities in port ecosystems is becoming increasingly scarce and the applicable laws are becoming ever stricter. HAROPA PORT is one of the very few real estate managers able to offer real estate to private companies. The port has 3m sq. m. of developed properties and 6,000 hectares of building land along the Seine axis, covering almost 1 million square meters. Storage area currently in planning. HAROPA PORT will market an average of 100 hectares for industrial and logistics use this year. Such opportunities are all the more valuable as the regions concerned serve the largest consumer catchment area in France.

A digital corridor for more transparency, more relief and ecological change

Finally, the port described its latest technological innovations: it is the first French port to switch to 5G, making changes in the Port Community System aimed at harmonizing the digital tools for port management along the Seine axis and focusing on the Prepare port One-Stop-Shop S-WiNG and S)ONE 100% digital and paperless processes and solutions, the development of the software program Easyport to facilitate the handling of port goods, a plan for digital partnerships with the Port of Rotterdam as part of the MAGPIE project In order to consolidate the port’s environmental competence, AI was put at the service of port call forecasts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, among other things.

With these many innovations, HAROPA PORT wants to gain in efficiency, speed and flexibility, offer its customers more transparency and promote ecological change.

HAROPA Port and India: expanding trade

As a reminder: In 2022, against the background of an international environment characterized by numerous crises, total traffic through HAROPA PORT grew despite a declining European market. In container traffic in particular, HAROPA PORT has demonstrated remarkable resilience by gaining market share in the Northern Range and improving its modal shares on the Seine Axis.

Sea trade (container traffic) with India has also continued to grow in recent years, averaging 10-12% per year.

As part of this tour, HAROPA PORT met players from the automotive, pharmaceutical and fresh food sectors in particular, who are likely to have a special interest in the decisive advantages of the fourth largest northern European port.

Cédric Virciglio, Strategic Planning Director of HAROPA PORT, and Kris Danaradjou, Deputy General Manager of HAROPA PORT: “The dynamism and diversity of trade between Indian ports and HAROPA PORT positions India as a strategic market particularly well connected with shipping companies. Our commercial approach aims to strengthen flows in growth sectors such as textiles, automotive components and chemicals, positioning HAROPA PORT as the best gateway to the Northern French market and exploring new sectors for trade such as fresh produce and cereals.”