Cocaine and other drugs are among the biggest problems in the port of Rotterdam, according to Victor van der Chijs, the new chairman of the association of port entrepreneurs. At the annual dinner of his organization Deltalinqs, he received applause with his remark: ,,Everyone who takes a line every now and then has blood on their hands!’
The Rotterdam mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb and the king’s commissioner Jaap Smit heard with entrepreneurs at the table in the RDM Onderzeebootloods how the new harbor manager expressed his concern about the enormous drug transports. Van der Chijs hopes to strengthen public-private partnerships to be able to stop the drugs: “We want to increase the chance of being caught so great that Rotterdam is no longer on the list of favorite destinations.”
Other problems include the constant cyber threat, inflation, staff shortages, the nitrogen crisis, and so on.”
harbor chief Allard Casteleinchemistry chairman Bernard Wientjes and local administrators listened carefully to the new harbor man.
Minister Micky Adriaansens, Commissioner Jaap Smit (m.) and Bernard Wientjes, chairman of the trade association for the chemical industry VNCI.
Photo Mirjam Lems
In particular, Van der Chijs spoke about the climate goals. “We advocate a Crisis and Recovery Act 2.0, with a positive name: the Transition Act,” he said. “A law for the timely achievement of the climate goals, which will enable the Netherlands to realize the largest transition since the Industrial Revolution.” There are only 8 years until 2030. In his view, a kind of moon landing is needed as in 1969: ,,That was also realized in 8 years; with imagination, guts and national pride.”
Minister Micky Adriaansens (Economic Affairs and Climate) also stated emphatically that he wanted to do more together: politicians, governments and entrepreneurs.