Singapore and the Netherlands Sign MOU

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Directorate-General for Freight Transport (DGFT) of the Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management. The MOU was signed by Mr Chen Tze Penn, Director-General, MPA and his Dutch counterpart, Mrs Jacqueline Tammenoms Bakker, Director-General, DGFT. The signing ceremony took place on 9 Jul 02 at the headquarters of the DGFT at the Hague, Netherlands. This MOU follows on the Letter of Intent on maritime co-operation signed between Transport Minister Yeo Cheow Tong and the Dutch Minister of Transport, Tineke Netelenbos in 2000. The MOU provides a framework for the MPA and the DGFT to co-operate in areas such as maritime policy, maritime safety and security, marine environment protection, maritime technology research and development, maritime training, and innovation in shipping, ports and logistics. Under the MOU, co-operation could take the form of regular dialogues on maritime and port issues of mutual interest, implementation of joint projects, exchange programmes involving scientists, researchers, trainers and other experts in the maritime field, and joint organisation of maritime training courses, seminars and conferences. Singapore had previously concluded a MOU on Maritime R&D, Education and Training with Norway, another leader in maritime technology, in March 2000. The signing of this latest MOU on maritime co-operation with the Netherlands represents another milestone in the MPA’s efforts to strengthen links between Singapore and the leading countries in maritime technology research and development to boost Singapore’s development as a maritime R&D center.