The Port of Antwerp in Belgium will work with the Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) on skill enhancement in areas such as maritime infrastructure and port management in India.
The partnership will also work to bring the best practices in the maritime sector into India.
The two signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), a first such tie-up between a European port and an Indian chamber of commerce.
Focus area
Marc van Peel, Chairman, Port of Antwerp, and T. Shivaraman, President, MCCI, signed the agreement in the presence of Princess Astrid of Belgium.
The skill enhancement initiative has been a focus area of the chamber, and the partnership will help address this issue in areas such as maritime infrastructure, port management and allied services, said a release.
The chamber seeks to extend this technical education as a major aspect of the MoU, it added.
The port and the chamber will work as partners in bringing the best practices to the sector through the MCCI.
In return, the Antwerp Port will help Chennai be in touch with Europe via the port.
A delegation from the chamber visited the Port of Antwerp and other Belgian ports in May 2013 to understand the advanced marine infrastructure facilities in that country.
Three more MoUs were signed at the event.
IM Gears, an automotive manufacturer, will set up a subsidiary in Belgium by the year-end.
It signed a contract with Herfurth Logistics to cover inbound clearance and distribution activities in Belgium.
Incubatiecentrum Arsenaal Brussels signed an agreement with Technopark-Technology Business Incubator, Thiruvanthapuram, to provide incubation support to information and communications technology companies from each other's region by offering infrastructure and services.
The MoU will help in promotion and development of small and medium size companies in Kerala and Brussels, says the release.
Hari Logistics signed an agreement with Dedoncker P&G.
Similarly, IL&FS Water signed a pact with Vito Technology.