Dear colleagues,
2021 is halfway! As expected, the Covid-19 pandemic also affected our lives to a great extent during these first six months. And yet it was different. The development of the various vaccines has ensured that the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel is really beginning to show. In most European countries, the vaccination campaign has now reached its top speed with a positive impact on the infection rate and a rapid return to a more normal life. I would like to express my admiration and gratitude to all experts and employees of AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and by extension all others who have put their heart and soul into the search for 'the right formula'. Also a special word of thanks to all those volunteers in the various vaccination centres.
At BESIX, we have put the particularly difficult year of 2020 behind us and we are now fully focused on 2021. For various reasons, this year also presents a number of challenges. In our BU International, a marine project in Mozambique was abruptly halted, and in the Netherlands two major projects (A15 and GOL) are significantly delayed by permit problems.
The situation in BU Europe is mixed. Luxembourg and France are on track to meet their budgets. Flanders and Brussels are doing very well this year and could even exceed their budgets. Wallonia has delivered very good results in recent years, but 2021 is more difficult, mainly because of ongoing discussions about additional work on two projects. Unfortunately, the Netherlands is having another difficult year. In addition to delays on two important projects, we have had to adjust the financial outlook for the A16 in Rotterdam significantly, and in a negative way. We are working hard to turn this situation around but, as always, BESIX wants to be cautious. I am sure that, under the leadership of Nic and his team, we will be able to return to the level of past successes in this very attractive market, but we must also dare to draw the right lessons.
We have worked extremely hard on our projects: in 2021 we will have more turnover than forecast. I would like to thank you all very much for this, it is and remains the most important reason why I work for BESIX with so much pride, but above all with pleasure. Outsiders often do not realize the superhuman creativity and efforts that are required to design, prepare, execute and deliver our projects. Over the past few months and in the second half of this year, many of our projects will be delivered in each of the regions, including, among others:
- In the Netherlands: Renovation of the Stationspostgebouw in The Hague, the realisation of the Terraced Tower and the construction of the Theemswegtracé, both in Rotterdam.
- In France: The construction of Airport Promenade in Nice and the Neuilly-sur-Seine hospital complex in Paris.
- In Wallonia: The widening of the railway line between Waterloo and Braine-l'Alleud, including the renovated station in Waterloo and the modernisation of 3 locks along the Charleroi-Brussels Canal.
- In Flanders and Brussels: the Quatuor building in Brussels, the De Meersen project in Ypres that combines new construction with renovation, the bicycle parking under the station square in Leuven and the Diegem-Zaventem bicycle highway.
The second half of the year will also be marked by the return to 'normality'. As far as I am concerned, this will be a better normal in which we realise, now more than ever, how much of our (professional) happiness depends on working together. To emphasise this, I would like to ask (with a little coercion 😊) all project managers to treat their team to a cosy get-together shortly after the summer, obviously taking into account the relevant corona measures. This will highlight the pleasure of working together to achieve great things. Do not forget to involve your colleagues from the support services (Legal, Insurance, QHSE, People, BED, Communication, Procurement and Finance) or our internal clients working for BESIX RED or Concessions & Assets, who assist you day in and day out with great dedication. Only together can we achieve success in our sector.
Finally, I would like to wish everyone a fantastic summer during which you can recharge your batteries. Enjoy it to the fullest with family and friends. You have all more than earned it.
See you very soon,
Jan