On May 29th, APEC Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Center celebrated its 20,000th alumnus at the prestigious Errera House in Brussels, in the presence of the Minister-President of Flanders, Jan Jambon, Secretary-General of the Department of Mobility and Public Works, Filip Boelaert and Managing Director of APEC, Kristof Waterschoot. A milestone 47 years after the first training.

Since its establishment 47 years ago, APEC has developed into a leading international training institute for port and maritime affairs. Our training courses, customised courses, study visits and lectures focus strongly on the interactive exchange of knowledge and best practices. This dynamic approach often takes place in the iconic Port House in Antwerp, where participants from all over the world gather to debate and innovate.

In a world where trade dynamics are constantly changing, collaboration and innovation are essential. Our courses are designed to respond quickly to changing conditions and developments in ports worldwide, From economic trends to ecological issues and digital advances.

The impact of our alumni in this pursuit is invaluable: they carry and spread the brands of Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Flanders. The expertise and skills they gain here are passed on and have a direct positive impact in ports worldwide, contributing to the global economy, as well as to the Flemish and Belgian trade.

The 20,000th alumnus, Mr Bruno Eduardo Neves Januzzi (regulatory specialist at ANTAQ – Agência Nacional de Transportes Aquaviários, Brazil), attended the Port Management & Concessions training course. No fewer than 23 participants took part in this training, coming from Angola, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Mozambique, Seychelles, Suriname and Vietnam.

Bruno Januzzi – regulatory affairs specialist at ANTAQ, Brazil and 20,000th alumnus:

‘It’s an honour to be the 20,000th alumnus. The opportunity to be here, learning about the reality of one of the world’s largest ports, with centuries of history and a reference on developing operational and management solutions, is a milestone in our careers.’

APEC is supported by a global network of port experts, Port of Antwerp-Bruges, CEPA and the Departement Mobiliteit en Openbare Werken. Together, we continue to build a more efficient, resilient and sustainable maritime sector.

We also like to extend our gratitude to the testimonial speakers Mr Pirro Vengu, CEO of Port of Durres, Mr Eduardo Nery, General Director of ANTAQ – Agência Nacional de Transportes Aquaviários and Mr Hélder Zandamela from the Ministry of Transport & Communications Mozambique.