A delegation from the Port of Rotterdam, a main gateway to the European market, is set to meet with government officials and businesspeople during a visit here next week.

The four-day visit, organized by the Indonesia-Netherlands Association (INA), will include a full-day seminar and visits to a number of Indonesian ports. Among the topics to be discussed during the visit will be the latest developments in the shipping and logistics sectors, and the services that Rotterdam port can offer Indonesian shippers.

INA director Elmer Bouma told The Jakarta Post that during their meetings with government officials and executives of shipping companies and freight forwarders, the delegates from Rotterdam would discuss a wide range of topics related to port management, as well as recent developments in international container services, international bulk services and distribution systems in Europe.

During the Feb. 15 seminar, which will be officially opened by Jakarta Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo, the delegates will discuss services at Rotterdam port so as to help Indonesian exporters improve efficiency in shipping goods through the port.

Delegation leader Capt. Kees Weststrate will give a talk on the role of the Port of Rotterdam in Europe, hinterland connections and port management, while the project manager of the United Nations-Economic Commissions for Europe, Hans Jansen, will speak about the production and transportation of biomass from Southeast Asia to Europe.

Biomass is a growing source of energy in the world, offering new export possibilities for Indonesia.

Rotterdam is an important port of entry to Europe for Indonesian products. In 2004, total container traffic from Indonesia to Rotterdam, and vice versa, increased by 40 percent to 66,521 TEU (20-foot equivalent units).

The Port of Rotterdam said in a press statement that container movements in the port jumped by more than 12 percent to 9.3 million TEU in 2005.