Other confirmed speakers include Frans van Seumeren (Chairman, Rolldock, Roll-lift, Barge Master), Gilbert van den Brink (Managing Director, Wintershall) and Bram van Mannekes (former Secretary-General, NOGEPA). Mark Dierikx, Director-General Energy of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs has been invited to join the discussion.
The central theme of the program is The offshore sector – A driving force of economic growth. Contributing EUR 1.9B in added value to the Dutch economy, the offshore sector is one of the largest growth generators of the maritime cluster. The sector is characterized by an overall increase in turnover, production value, added value, export value and employment.
To be able to keep adding value to the economy, the industry faces a number of challenges. The sector is in dire need of highly educated people making it increasingly difficult to fill technical positions. Continuous research and innovation are required to maintain and expand the industry’s strong international position. Finally – the industry would greatly benefit from consistent energy policy.