the United Kingdom Major Ports Group exhorts the government of London to giving support to the national portualità



The United Kingdom Major Ports Group (UKMPG), the association that represents 41 commercial ports that together they enliven beyond 70% of the traffic of the goods totaled from the harbour ports of call of the United Kingdom, has asked the government of London for giving support to the national portualità. "The ports - the director of the UKMPG, Richard Bird has explained - I am of vital importance for the United Kingdom, but not always they receive the attention that deserve. We are not in we look for of subsidies, but we need other forms of support of the government so that we can continue to supply the competitive service and high-quality that with justice is demanded by our customers and the Country".

"The harbour industry - James Cooper has confirmed, managing director of Associated British Ports (ABP), the group that manages 21 of the 41 ports that are under responsibility of the UKMPG - gives an enormous contribution to the economic well-being of the United Kingdom, but it could be made very more and we have urgent need of the support of the government in order to return this possible one".

In occasion of the conference of the held parties Labourist and Conservative in recent days to Manchester and Birmingham, the association has introduced the new manifesto "Ports4Prosperity" that it evidences as the ports of the United Kingdom have a central role in promoting the national increase enlivening 95% of the commercial exchanges of the nation, supporting job 400.000 places and contributing every year with beyond 21 billion pounds to the national economy.

In "Ports for the increase" are characterized five essential points so that - second the UKMPG - the ports of the United Kingdom can continue to represent one of the main engines of increase of the economy and the national well-being. For the association it is necessary in the first place to do so as that the job of the European Union is addressed to favor the activity of the ports and not to hinder it. "With the exception of how much it happens in many other Member States of the EU - it has explained the UKMPG - the ports of the United Kingdom operate on commercial base and in great part without subsidies. The EU - it has found the association - must make more in order to promote a loyal and not subsidized competition between the main international ports. Other measures of the EU, which the proposal of regulations on the harbour services in the European Union - it has denounced the UKMPG - would impose bureaucracy, would create uncertainty and place to risk investments and places of work". For the association the proposal of regulations on the harbour services currently to the examination of the institutions of the European Union can constitute "a serious threat" for the British harbour industry and therefore the UKMPG has exhorted the government to defend the national interest blocking the proposal or excluding the United Kingdom from its field of application and therefore from the plans of the EU commission. "These measures - it has emphasized the British association - must be rejected".

The second point of previews the improvement of the street and railway connections with the ports. "The Parliament - it has remembered the UKMPG - considers that better street and railway connections with the ports would have to constitute a priority. We are in agreement. Better street and railway connections with the ports return the total market access for the enterprises easier and the exporter, favor the increment of the exchanges, increase the increase and create more places of work".

Moreover - for the association - it is necessary to develop an only strategy for the ports. "The ports - it has observed the UKMPG - are essential for the commerce, the competitiveness and the increase. That's why an approach integrated by the government is important. The governmental departments would have to work better from each other and with the industry in order to maximize the benefit brought from the ports to the nation".

The fourth point previews the creation of a system of planning that supports and promotes the investments. "A better system than planning is from the side earth that they give that sea - it has explained the association - will allow with the ports to invest when and where it is necessary. Moreover it can concur to unblock all the potential one of the ports in order to contribute to re-balance the economy and to guide the increase hauled from the exports. The ports - second the UKMPG - can be ideal places for the new industrial centers of production and distribution. The pianificatorie decisions must be based on information updated and taken care of on the market question".

At last - for the association - it is necessary to promote the development of the professionalities and safety in harbour within. The UKMPG has found that safety in the ports is improved remarkablly during the last few years, but - second the association - a lot still remains to make and "the government can contribute through the support to the formation and the apprenticeship and strong partnerships in matter of health and safety".

Receiving slid monday to Birmingham "Ports4Prosperity" the undersecretary to the Transports with delegation to the ports, John Hayes, has rimarcato that "the government is conscious that the harbour field of the United Kingdom offers to an important contribution to our economic increase. I am proud - it has added - to have rinsaldato a grip collaboration with such field through the plan of strategic partnership for the ports developed jointly with the industry and all the government".