Barge to Business

Europe’s biggest inland navigation conference of 2012
Part of Barge to Business 2012 at the Aula der Wissenschaften in Vienna, the Conference spanned two days and drew participants from across the broadest spectrum of Europe’s inland navigation sector, from the world of business to the most senior EU transport policymakers, from logistics managers to waterways authorities, and from independent skippers to the brains behind the latest technological innovations.
A very strong line-up of speakers was present, including Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Regional Policy; Jean-Eric Paquet, Director European Mobility Network (DG-MOVE); Karla Peijs, European Coordinator Priority Projects no. 18 and 30; and Brigitte Grouwels, the Minister of Public Works, Transport, IT and the Port of Brussels in Belgium’s Brussels regional government, as well as representatives of the ports of Vienna, Berlin, Paris, Antwerp and Constanta; plus Hapag Lloyd, Imperial, Rhenus Logistics, Mainrom Line, BLG Logistics, Borealis, Agrana and many more.
The sessions covered a wide range of topical issues, such as new technologies and  innovation in logistics, improving connectivity between road, rail & water, shipping agricultural products and, of course in Vienna, the growing use and development of the Danube.

Barge to Business 2012 offered a for logistics managers wanting to find out how to “add water” to their supply chain, and for waterway operators in the Danube region to reach out to new markets.
During the two days of Barge to Business, decision-makers attended appointments with waterway services providers to find greener and optimised waterway solutions for transporting their goods. These appointments were arranged in advance. Also on hand were local and national development advisors to give shippers guidance on setting up multi-modal transport projects, and to offer technical support. This concept has a proven track record of efficiency, and its focused approach provides an excellent practical counter-point to the theoretical part of the conference.
Pre-scheduled Business to Business meetings in speed dating style offered a meeting platform for logistics managers wanting to find out how to “add water” to their supply chain, and for waterway operators in the Danube region to reach out to new markets.