Early one morning in late April, the government launched the port partnership in a scenic setting overlooking the Øresund. Oceankaj at Nordhavnen is far away, deserted and far out - and three ministerial cars with an entourage of spin doctors and more arrived at the place where cruise ships usually dock.
No one could help but notice a Porsche with the fourth protagonist of the day, Christina Grumstrup Sørensen, a senior partner at Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP). The partnership at CIP has moved her up to an exclusive club of the very few female Danish billionaires.
The three ministers, Minister of Business and Industry Morten Bødskov (S), Minister of Transport Thomas Danielsen (V) and Minister of Climate, Energy and Utilities Lars Aagaard (M), were able to present their choice of chairwoman of the port partnership Christina Grumstrup Sørensen in front of a freezing crowd a few moments after their arrival.
The task of the port partnership is to map the transition needs of the Danish commercial ports, which will support economically sustainable ports on the path to, for example, the green transition and accompanying industry. The partnership's work will in turn result in a number of recommendations to the government.
In addition to the chairman, representatives from a number of interest organizations were appointed on the same occasion, all of whom are part of the Danish port world in one way or another.
The organizations are the trade organization Danish Ports, CO-Industri, which has two seats, Green Power Denmark, Danish Business, Danish Industry, Dansk Offshore, Danish Shipowners, Danish Maritime, KL, the Hydrogen Industry, Insurance and Pension, the Danish Fisheries Association, Danish Shipping and Port Companies.
Most organizations have more professionals than one member There are a total of 19 more people, only Dansk Offshore and Dansk Erhverv are providing the individual member.
Forgot the environmental organizations
While the various companies operating in the Danish ports have been remembered through their industry organization, the environmental organizations are not present in the port partnership.
The task is otherwise clearly described as follows:
"The partnership must, as far as possible, estimate relevant effects of their recommendations, including regarding the economy, climate and environment."
This is surprising to the independent environmental organization Rådet for Grøn Omstilling.
- It is a shame that we have not been asked. The partnership would have benefited if we had been involved. We work for a better air environment in the ports, and we hear a lot from people who live in the ports about problems. It affects people, and it also affects nature, explains Kåre Press-Kristensen, senior advisor at the Danish Council for Green Transition.
His area of expertise is ports, and DOI.dk caught up with Kåre Press-Kristensen on a FaceTime connection to a port conference on the port of Alexandria in Egypt. He also has a reason why it would have been good if the Danish Council for Green Transition or another environmental organization had been part of the partnership.
- Something good comes out of not agreeing. Disagreement is healthy, because it creates development. It is a very Danish thing to meet with those you don't agree with. And then we already work together with the organizations in the partnership. That's why I'm surprised that we haven't been invited. We want to help benefit the environment, says Kåre Press-Kristensen.
DOI.dk has been in contact with other environmental organizations that have not been offered a place in the port partnership either.
The banks were also forgotten
Although the economy is a central part of the work, the banks are not represented. Restructuring the ports can even mean very large expansions of individual Danish ports, for example, the Port of Hanstholm has been expanded for around 650 million DKK, and the Port of Rønne will cost around one billion DKK before the expansion is finally complete. With the green transition, it is not at all impossible that even more expensive expansions are ahead of some Danish commercial ports. Therefore, it seems strange that the banks are not part of the port partnership.
At Finans Danmark, Director of Mortgage & Property Financing Peter Jayaswal is aware of the financing challenge that many Danish ports face, and Finans Danmark would have liked to participate in the port partnership.
- We would have said yes if we had been asked to participate. We are helping to finance the development that is underway in the ports, and we are fully aware of the major task of financing the green transition, says Peter Jayaswal.
Banks can offer more loan options that help solve the societal task of financing.
- All financing options must be available, if more risk-taking capital is needed, then it will typically be the pension companies. We can help with mortgage and bank loans. Where mortgages can be used, it is really cheap, says Peter Jayaswal.
The pension companies already have a place in the port partnership through Forsikring og Pension.
However, Finance Denmark has had contact with the Minister of Business and Industry previously.
- We have been to a roundtable with the Minister of Business and Industry together with a number of organizations. We also hope that we will be considered again, says Peter Jayaswal, who is also willing to help the port partnership.
The impartial research was also forgotten
In the research world, CBS Maritime deals with ports, and one man in particular is well-known in the Danish port world. That is Henrik Sornn-Friese, who is an associate professor, PhD and center director for CBS Maritime. The researcher himself, however, sees himself more as one among several with expert knowledge in the port area at CBS Maritime.
The center manager believes that the partnership came as a surprise, but he stands by one thing.
- It is important that you listen to the research. Sometimes initiatives like the port partnership come suddenly, and that does not have to be bad for that reason. I think it is very positive that there is focus on the development of Danish commercial ports. The ports are important, and we depend on well-functioning ports in society, says Henrik Sornn-Friese, who leaves one thing in no doubt:
- We are ready to help the partnership if we are asked.
Henrik Sornn-Friese also has a number of pieces of advice for the port partnership.
It is possible for the partnership to get help from outside, as the “Terms of Reference for the Partnership on the Development of Danish Commercial Ports” also states:
“The partnership may involve additional relevant actors as needed”.
DOI.dk has been in contact with the Ministry of Business and Industry to get a comment on why environmental organizations, banks and research are not part of the port partnership from Minister of Business and Industry Morten Bødskov (S). The secretariat and chairmanship of the partnership are with the Ministry of Business and Industry. The ministry has not yet returned with a comment.
Read response from the Ministry of Business and Industry here.
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