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The regional logistics industry met for the traditional forum of the Logistics Cluster Region Basel. Around 100 logistics professionals from companies, associations, politics, and authorities exchanged views on the relevance of public and private logistics infrastructures for our region.
(Basel/Münchenstein) “Logistics generates around 1.9 billion Swiss francs in gross value added annually as the second key industry in the region with over 800 companies, thus significantly contributing to the economic success of our region. It provides 12,000 jobs and over 500 training positions. Therefore, it is crucial that we provide optimal conditions for logistics in the Basel region,” said Martin Dätwyler, Director of the Chamber of Commerce of both Basels. Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Stölzle, Professor of Logistics Management at HSG St. Gallen, impressively highlighted the challenges currently facing the logistics industry in his keynote speech: “With globally disrupted supply chains, worldwide shortages of handling and transport capacities, and the almost non-existent predictability, the logistics industry is facing a situation that has never been experienced before.”
Prerequisite for the Success of the Basel Economic Region
The subsequent panel discussion made it clear how significant the importance of logistics infrastructures in the region is. Martin Haller, Chairman of the Board of Gateway Basel Nord, pointed to the increasing importance of trimodal infrastructures: “The future lies in the networking of transport modes.” Jürg Röthlisberger, Director of the Federal Roads Office ASTRA, explicitly confirmed this by pointing out: “It is an illusion to believe that road and rail infrastructure can be expanded according to demand. Without close cooperation among the transport modes, we will no longer be able to manage traffic demand in the future.”
Patrick Leypoldt, Managing Director of Agglo Basel, emphasized how important strategic planning for transport infrastructures is. “Therefore, for the fourth agglomeration program, we have also included freight transport for the first time, and it will also be an important part of the fifth agglomeration program.” Thomas Kübler, Head of Location Promotion Baselland, pointed out the particular challenge regarding logistics spaces and properties: “Freight transport needs centrally located logistics spaces for the efficient bundling of goods and for ecological reasons. The logistics industry is competing for these attractive spaces with other, often more financially powerful users.”
Josef Jäger, Director of CTW Freight Forwarding, impressively reiterated at the end of the discussion round: “If we as a company and SMEs had not invested early and repeatedly in logistics infrastructures, we would not be as successful today.”
Gateway to Switzerland for Goods Flows
In the end, the high-profile discussion panel was unanimous. The transport and logistics infrastructures, such as the road and rail networks, the EuroAirport, the Swiss Rhine ports, the storage and silo capacities, the multimodal transshipment terminals, as well as the logistics infrastructures of companies are not only prerequisites for the success of the Basel economic region but are also of great importance for the entire Switzerland. It is essential to ensure that these can develop in a future-oriented manner so that the Basel region remains a successful business location and the gateway to Switzerland for goods flows.
Therefore, the Logistics Cluster Region Basel supports the two motions submitted to the Grand Council and the Cantonal Council, which demand a regional logistics space concept.
Photo: © Loginfo24 / Image Caption: The MS “Grindelwald” in the harbor basin I of the Swiss Rhine ports Basel (Where precisely this existing logistics infrastructure is up for discussion starting in 2029…)
