Audible response

Danish Ports Association's consultation response regarding the proposal for a law on a single entry point for the establishment and expansion of production facilities and on the state designation of industrial parks

Danish Ports acknowledges the opportunity to submit a consultation response regarding the proposal for an act on a single entry point for the establishment and expansion of production facilities and on the state designation of industrial parks.

Danish Ports agrees with the purpose of creating a faster and smoother regulatory process for the establishment and expansion of production facilities and increased government focus on designating areas for industrial parks with good access to the necessary infrastructure. As some of the country's most attractive industrial and commercial areas, industrial port areas will often meet the purpose of the Act.

General remarks

  • Danish Ports believes that the proposal contributes with a much-needed tightening and modernization of the regulatory processes, which can benefit many companies. Danish Ports also welcomes the red carpet principle for production companies.
  • However, the one-stop shop for production companies and net zero projects should also include permits and approvals for the commercial port company itself, as fast regulatory processes here are crucial for an overall fast regulatory approval of an expansion/change for a production company located at a commercial port.
  • Therefore, Danish Ports will find it extremely positive in the upcoming process, where the Minister for Business and Industry, cf. this bill, sets out detailed rules for which projects can be designated as strategic net-zero projects, that commercial ports in relation to green technologies will be categorized as "strategic net-zero projects". The Minister of Business and Industry can thus promote strategic net-zero projects that, according to the EU regulation of 2024 on net-zero industry, can develop hubs to accelerate net-zero technology (areas with a concentration of companies engaged in a particular technology). It would be obvious to categorize and identify the development of commercial ports as hubs and strategic net-zero projects in the case of production and handling of e.g. wind turbine components or other net-zero technologies such as P2X, hydrogen plants and similar.
  • Commercial ports are home to production facilities primarily related to the green transition. To provide production companies with the best conditions, it is essential that the infrastructure is in order. In terms of ports, this means that there must be enough space at the ports, that they must have sufficient carrying capacity, that the shipping channels must be deep and straight enough, and that the access roads on land must be wide enough with sufficient carrying capacity and capacity. This infrastructure is a necessary prerequisite in industrial parks close to commercial ports.
  • The Danish commercial ports therefore also need fixed case processing ceilings and greater predictability in the processes that production companies must go through when ports want to establish or expand facilities for companies at the port. It can take up to 10 years to get approval to expand a commercial port, but only 2 years to build it. This is a strategic challenge in the international competition to promote commercial ports in Denmark and the key industries they facilitate, as outlined in the 2024 Port Partnership.
  • The professional management of commercial ports are fully aware that businesses in ports must have the best possible conditions.
  • The Blue Denmark has an annual turnover of over DKK 400 billion and employs around 100,000 people. The ports and port-related industries alone account for more than 31,000 jobs, and with related jobs the figure is 55,000. 75% of all Danish imports and exports take place here.
  • Danish commercial ports account for over five percent of the total production value in Denmark and 3.5 percent of the total annual value added. This means that a port-related workplace generates twice as much income as other Danish industries.

Sincerely,
Camilla Rosenhagen