Trade mission Rotterdam-Singapore major success

During the last week of April, alderman Robert Simons and CEO of Port of Rotterdam Allard Castelein joined 14 local companies on a trade mission to Singapore. The occasion was the Singapore Maritime Week, the yearly conference of the international maritime community and SEA Asia, a leading conference on the maritime industry.

The purpose of the mission was to enhance the trade between companies in Rotterdam and in Singapore. But also, to attract investors from Singapore and to exchange knowledge between both maritime hubs. It is an ambition of Rotterdam to be the unchallenged maritime capital of Europe. Singapore has been one of the leading maritime cities in the world for years, and Rotterdam and Singapore have always shared a good bond.

Dialogue with local representatives

The party from Rotterdam engaged in numerous informative and useful dialogues with representatives of the local government and companies. In doing so, they sought for opportunities that can help advance the maritime sector in Rotterdam, but also for opportunities that can contribute to the energy transition and the digitalization of the maritime sector. Simons spoke to local board members of both public and private parties. Moreover, he visited PSA (a global leader in the field of terminals in ports), NUS Enterprise (the entrepreneurial branche of the National University of Singapore) and Wilmar (market leader in Asia in the field of agricultural materials – also active in the port of Rotterdam).

During the maritime conference SEA Asia, the party from Rotterdam was informed about innovations in the maritime industry. Also, knowledge was exchanged on how to attract and keep personnel – as this is also a pressing issue for the maritime industry in Singapore.

The Municipality of Rotterdam looks back on a fruitful trade mission, useful for both the local entrepreneurs in Rotterdam as well as the municipality itself. Special thanks go out to ambassador Anneke Adema, the Port of Rotterdam, and the Rotterdam Maritime Board, for preparing, collaborating and supporting the trade mission.