Patrick Van Cauwenberghe, international trade networks manager of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, received a badge of honour from Italy for his merits in trade relations. Italy is the main partner for the port in short-sea trade with the UK.
For once, Patrick Van Cauwenberghe was the guest of honour at the Italian embassy in Brussels. He received from the hands of ambassador Federica Favi the honorary decoration ‘Ordine della Stella’ (Order of the Star) in the degree of ‘Cavaliere’ (Knight). This award is given to people of great merit in promoting friendship, cooperation and strengthening ties with Italy.
Patrick Van Cauwenberghe (56) is international trade networks manager of Port of Antwerp-Bruges and in this position he plays a diplomatic role between the port authority and international partners. The man from Ghent obtained a master’s degree in economics (UGent), a master’s degree in financial management (Vlerick Business School) and a master’s degree in business administration (Case Business School, London). After his studies, he worked at the National Bank of Belgium for two years. He has been continuously employed by the port since 1994, first with the Bruges Seaport Company (MBZ) and, since the merger in 2022, with Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
Doing Kapellekes
“Italy is very important to Port of Antwerp-Bruges and the same applies vice versa,” says Van Cauwenberghe. “We often go on missions there and maintain good contacts. For example, in the autumn I had the opportunity to address the Italian players in Rome and Brussels. As a member of the general assembly of the association of European ports ESPO, I often come into contact with Italian president Zeno D’Agostino. The numerous networking moments and study visits in Rome, Naples, Palermo… include ‘doing chapels’ along ports, shipowners and industrial shippers. I feel honoured that the dossier for my badge of honour was supported by so many people.”
During the years of talks with the UK and European member states on the Brexit, Van Cauwenberghe sat along at the diplomatic tables. That did not escape the Italians either. “Port of Antwerp-Bruges acts as their bridgehead towards the UK. Within our 31 million tonnes of UK-related cargo last year, Italy was country number one. The corridor between the UK and Italy is mainly through us, both by road and numerous rail links. From Zeebrugge, for example, there are train services to Milan, Trieste and other destinations as far south as Bari.”
Culture and gastronomy
Throughout his career, van Cauwenberghe visited Italy both professionally and privately. “It is a beautiful country with a rich culture and wonderful gastronomy. I speak the language only a little but I can mostly understand and read it, thanks to six years of Latin in secondary school.”
In 2024, he will have been working for the port authority for 30 years. “During that period, you accumulate a solid backpack of experiences and contacts. That experience is useful for maintaining international relations. Recently we received managers from the world’s biggest ports, yesterday the new diplomacy trainees visited, in the coming days we have talks with people from the Middle East, in October there is a mission to Poland, and so on. In short: every day we work on our international relations.”
