Jan Peter Balkenende, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, opened Europort 2009 out of the ordinary. He steered his virtual vessel into the harbour of Rotterdam and kicked off the four day exhibition in Ahoy Rotterdam.
Balkenende was impressed by the scale of Europort 2009. During his round on the exhibition floor, he was very interested in the total presentation of every maritime discipline. He observed the need for a maritime meeting place is shown to be larger in a hard economical climate like this.
Sjef van Dooremalen, Chairman of the Maritime Innovation Council, asked the Prime Minister in his speech to continue investment in high-quality infrastructure.
Balkenende gave an affirmative answer: “Success depends on constant innovation. But above all it depends on confidence in the future and the belief that imagination can become reality.”
