Press release

Hamburg and Singapore agree on joint innovation and internationalisation strategy

29 October 2024
As part of an official trip by the First Mayor of Hamburg, Dr Peter Tschentscher, with a delegation from business and science to South Korea and Singapore, an important Joint Workplan Agreement has now been signed between the business development agencies Hamburg Invest and Enterprise Singapore. The aim of the agreement is to promote innovation and internationalisation with a particular focus on the areas of transport and logistics.

The signing of the agreement took place in the presence of First Mayor Dr Peter Tschentscher and Singaporean Minister Grace Fu. The signatories are Dr Rolf Strittmatter, Managing Director of Hamburg Invest, and Tan Soon Kim, Deputy Managing Director of Enterprise Singapore.

"The cooperation between the business development agencies of Hamburg and Singapore gives new impetus to the international relations of Hamburg companies and strengthens the position of the Hanseatic city in the Asian region," says Mayor Dr Peter Tschentscher.

Hamburg and Singapore are two of the world's leading cities in the field of logistics and trade. Both cities are important port metropolises and share similar economic and strategic challenges, particularly in the areas of innovation, technology and sustainable urban development. Singapore, the world's second largest port, is pursuing a new growth strategy in offshore wind and precision medicine.

The Joint Workplan Agreement is intended to further intensify cooperation between the two cities. It aims to support companies in their internationalisation and drive forward innovation projects. The focus is on the areas of transport and logistics, as well as renewable energies and digital technologies.

"Singapore and Hamburg are ideal for working together as partners on many levels," says Dr Rolf Strittmatter, Managing Director of Hamburg Invest. "Both city states have significant port and trade infrastructures and have positioned themselves as pioneers in innovation and sustainability. The agreement will further strengthen existing economic ties and create new opportunities for businesses, networks and innovation."

Mr Tan Soon Kim, Deputy Managing Director of Enterprise Singapore, added: "This agreement with Hamburg is a significant step and demonstrates our commitment to further expand our cooperation. As the world's leading port and logistics centres, Hamburg and Singapore offer ideal conditions for close cooperation in the areas of transport, logistics, renewable energy and innovation. It will also promote exchange between companies in both cities and open up joint opportunities in the growing Southeast Asian market."

An important supporter of the cooperation is Ralf Schmidt, who has been active as an honorary HamburgAmbassador in Singapore since 2015. Ralf Schmidt has made a decisive contribution to strengthening the partnership between Hamburg and Singapore in recent years.

Innovation and internationalisation strategy valid for 2 years

Over 400 Hamburg-based companies are already active in Singapore, including well-known companies such as Jungheinrich and Apoqlar. At the same time, 25 Singaporean companies have branches in Hamburg, including Razer and TeleMedC.

Plans include annual business missions and networking meetings between the cities as well as the exchange of best practices and co-innovation projects. The agreement comes into force immediately and is initially valid for two years, with the possibility of an extension. Six-monthly meetings are also planned to assess progress and discuss new initiatives.

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