Currently, the world is in transit to a hopefully better future, carrying valuable cargo of sustainability conscience for all aspects of life. In the meantime, essential everyday items along with valuable cargo are safely and efficiently distributed globally through Luxembourg’s high-reaching logistics sector.
Words Vicky Koffa
Already well on its way back to organizing significant events, Luxembourg has managed to secure F&L – The European Freight & Logistics Leaders’ Forum, one the foremost gatherings of leaders in international freight logistics. The major conference, to be held at the Grand Duchy from 11 to 13 May 2022, will allow supply-chain stakeholders to exchange thoughts and discuss current and future challenges, as well as network.
Luxembourg – with its modern interconnected infrastructure, advanced expertise, and unique location – will provide the opportunity to F&L international senior business leaders working across the freight logistics and supply chain industry to make meaningful connections with researchers and academics. “Luxembourg has been chosen to host the 2022 forum not only for its beauty, history, and welcoming people”, says F&L Secretary General Philip Evans, “but also because the country offers state-of-the-art intermodal solutions and expertise in digitalization and innovation.”
Multimodality in Transport
Evans has done his homework on Luxembourg’s growing logistics sector before bringing the F&L association conference there. The small country’s airport, for example, boasts global high rankings – 6th largest freight airport in Europe and the 25th largest in the world. Cargolux, Europe’s leading all-cargo carrier based at the airport, facilitates quick and efficient distribution of cargo. Combining this with Luxembourg’s central location in Europe and a network of highways to the rest of the continent, the result is an elevated system which businesses and associations can benefit from.
The secret of its success, though, lies within the additional forms of transportation which are just as advanced as the airport. This multimodality combines extensive rail motorway services in the south (including a rail link to China), operated by CFL Multimodal, as well as the river port of Mertert which offers warehousing and services based on tri-modal, waterway-oriented transport logistics to other inland and North Sea destinations. Two logistics parks, Eurohub Centre and Eurohub South, complete the picture with their recently expanded warehouses.
Above all, what stands out in the sector is the country’s expertise in special types of cargo that require delicate handling and storage. The Luxembourg High Security Hub near the airport offers maximum security, controlled temperature and humidity storage conditions for valuable goods such as artwork, vintage wines, or jewelry, among others.
This fine-tuned inter-connected logistics network offers security and added value to associations in this field to create networking, best practices, and business opportunities. Academic connections can also be a part of this, as the Luxembourg Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain Management at the University of Luxembourg has a Master’s program which encourages partnerships between students and companies through research projects.