As part of the visit he met with NIBULON’s General Director, Hero of Ukraine Oleksiy Vadaturskyy.
Having familiarized himself with the capacities of NIBULON shipbuilding and repair yard and NIBULON’s transshipment terminal, the diplomat stressed that everything was based on positive thinking and respect for employees there. The Ambassador named NIBULON an example of successful entrepreneurship in Ukraine and particularly in Mykolaiv, a pioneer of Ukrainian industry.
The diplomat was impressed by NIBULON’s shipbuilding program, in particular the modernization of the capacities of the shipyard and the construction of its own fleet,
“This company is bringing out the best of Ukrainian entrepreneurship, notably in Mykolaiv. Shipbuilding is the tradition and history of the city, and NIBULON is contributing to the fact that this expertise and this heritage will not disappear”, Mr. Jacobs said.
The shipbuilding history of Mykolaiv has been repeatedly mentioned that day. Oleksiy Vadaturskyy noted that Belgian industrialists were involved in the creation of one of Mykolaiv shipbuilding plants in 1895, “la Société Anonyme Chantiers Navals, Ateliers et Fonderies de Nicolaieff”. Thus, a copy of the unique book “Society of plants and shipyards of Mykolaiv” (1911) became NIBULON’s symbolic gift to the Ambassador of Belgium.
Oleksiy Vadaturskyy thanked the Ambassador for his support and for his concern for the economic development of our country. In particular, he noted that implementation of NIBULON’s investment program was the result of cooperation with the leading institutions of the EU countries.
Luc Jacobs and Oleksiy Vadaturskyy exchanged views about the development of river transportation in Ukraine and introduction of laws on inland water transport. In particular, the Ambassador was informed on the participation of the EBRD, the World Bank and the EIB in a working group on development of the given draft laws. The Ambassador of Belgium expressed his interest in the current situation in the field of river transportation and in the legislative framework currently under discussion. Ukraine needs legislation that effectively contributes to the development of inland water transportation and Ukrainian shipbuilding. Both of them shared the view that best practices in EU countries and the USA on inland waterways development can be a source of inspiration. The diplomat expressed his readiness to share Belgian experiences regarding inland waterways and efficient intermodal transport solutions and to encourage the Belgian business community to pro-actively study investment opportunities in Ukraine in this domain.
A successful long-term cooperation unites NIBULON and Belgium. In particular, Oleksiy Vadaturskyy said that NIBULON would export 30 thousand tons of corn to the Belgian company “Vanden Avenne” (Port of Ghent), which produces bioethanol, in May. In addition, the company will have added 30 Volvo trucks (Ghent, Belgium) to its truck fleet by the beginning of a new marketing year.
At the end of the meeting Mr. Luc Jacobs admitted that he was delighted with his visit to NIBULON, “It was for me really a discovery of a business reality in Ukraine I wasn’t sufficiently aware of. I have visited NIBULON today for the first time. I had heard about NIBULON good things, positive things, and now I have been able to see for myself. After conversation with Oleksiy Vadaturskyy I was impressed by him and his team”.