On October 11, Geert Bourgeois, Minister-President of the government of Flanders; Claire Tillekaerts, CEO of Flanders Investment and Trade; and accompanying delegates visited the NYK head office and met with NYK board counselor Koji Miyahara, senior advisor Takao Kusakari, and senior managing corporate officer Koichi Chikaraishi.
During the meeting, Kusakari, who serves as the president of the Japan-Belgium Society, offered his appreciation for the visit on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Belgium and Japan, and also 120 years since the start of NYK???s first European liner service between Yokohama and Antwerp. He also mentioned that NYK will continue to seek collaboration and cooperation with the government of Flanders through the ports of Zeebrugge and Antwerp, and others in Belgium. Minister-President Bourgeois thanked NYK deeply for the employment opportunities offered by the company and its contribution to the Belgian economy.
NYK also introduced the guests to Auto Eco, the world's first LNG-fueled pure car and truck carrier (PCTC), delivered in September from the shipyard to United European Car Carriers (UECC), which is equally owned by NYK and Wallenius Lines.
NYK will continue its efforts to provide services that satisfy our various customer needs, as a bridge not only between Belgium and Japan but also the remainder of Europe and the world.