Marseille, November 25th — HES International, together with the Netherlands Business Support Office (NBSO) Lyon, welcomed the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Marseille, Mr. Jan Versteeg, for a strategic meeting focused on further strengthening business ties between France and the Netherlands.
A key focus of the discussions was the further strengthening of business ties between the two countries, illustrated by HES International’s expansion in Fos-sur-Mer in July 2025, a strong example of how Dutch companies can successfully grow in the region through close collaboration with local partners.
HES International’s Group COO Jeroen van der Neut highlighted the rationale behind the expansion: “We see a positive economic outlook for the region across key European industrial segments such as steel and cement, which was a major driver behind our decision. Of course, this would not have been possible without the excellent partnerships we have built with the ecosystem of local, regional and national stakeholders.”
Participants of the meeting included representatives from the GPMM (Grand Port Maritime de Marseille), the GMIF (Groupement Maritime et Industriel de Fos), the UMF (Union Maritime et Fluviale), as well as Dutch Honarary Counsul Camille Trillat, all key actors in the port ecosystem who play a central role in developing Fos-sur-Mer into a globally attractive logistics hub.
The Ambassador emphasized the importance of Franco-Dutch cooperation, noting: “Initiatives like this show how collaboration between our two countries can create real, sustainable economic value. Fos-sur-Mer is a strategic gateway, and partnerships of this kind strengthen our shared ambition for long-term growth.”
The meeting concluded with an agreement to continue reinforcing this collaboration. The Embassy, NBSO Lyon, HES International, and local partners reaffirmed their commitment to facilitating Franco–Dutch cooperation and to working together to position Fos-sur-Mer as the Mediterranean logistics hub of choice for key, resilient industries.
ABOUT HES INTERNATIONAL
HES International is the leading European seaport infrastructure operator for dry and liquid bulk products. Our companies hold a unique independent position in the supply chain of bulk goods for a wide range of products providing first class access to Europe's deep draft terminals and excellent hinterland connectivity by barge, rail and truck. With 14 terminals in 4 countries at strategic located ports in Europe we are an important switch in the continuous delivery of essential building blocks for our everyday life needed to develop, sustain and improve the world around us. Our professional staff ensure that bulk commodities are safely stored, handled and processed 24/7 for customers from all corners of the globe. We have a strong ambition to further broaden our product portfolio and also want to respond optimally to the opportunities that the energy transition offers us.
HES International is headquartered in Rotterdam and has already been carefully handling bulk raw materials since 1908. Macquarie Asset Management, via Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 5, and West Street Infrastructure Partners III, managed by the Goldman Sachs Asset Management Infrastructure business, each indirectly control 50% of the shares of HES International B.V. For more information, please visit www.hesinternational.eu.
ABOUT NBSO Lyon
NBSO Lyon is part of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and connected to the Dutch Embassy in France, supports Dutch companies in successfully entering and operating in the dynamic South East France region by providing market insights, access to local networks, guidance on French regulations and assistance with trade fairs and events, enabling entrepreneurs to fully seize opportunities in this innovative and promising region.