In an ambitious move to champion sustainable maritime solutions, Norway has announced the initiation of a multi-year green maritime export program targeting Singapore and the broader Southeast Asian region.The Singapore Green Maritime High Potential Opportunities (HPO) program, spearheaded by Innovation Norway and supported by Team Norway in Singapore, is designed to assist a group of Norwegian companies in securing contracts exceeding 500 million kroner in export opportunities within green maritime technologies in the region.
Strategic partnership for a greener future
Norway and Singapore, both leading global maritime hubs, have a long history of collaboration as maritime innovation partners and have common challenge in the pressing need to decarbonise the shipping industry. “This HPO program zeroes in on two critical components of the Maritime Singapore Decarbonization Blueprint 2050 – the decarbonisation of domestic harbour crafts, and the development of future marine fuels, including hydrogen, ammonia, methanol and biofuels,” explains Arne-Kjetil Lian, Director of Innovation Norway in Singapore.
Electrifying domestic harbour craft
With over 1,600 diesel-powered vessels operating within its waters, Singapore’s ambition for harbour craft and pleasure craft sectors to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and to have all new harbour crafts to be fully electric, capable of using pure biodiesel, or be compatible with net-zero fuels such as hydrogen by 2030 represents significant opportunities for Norwegian companies with the relevant technologies and solutions.
Waiver of port dues for low and zero carbon fuelled harbor crafts and other government incentives aims to accelerate this transition, creating a ripe market for Norway’s proven solutions in electric mobility for harbour and ferry services.
Pioneering future marine fuels
The campaign also focuses on contributing to a sustainable supply chain for alternative marine fuels. Norway’s expertise in ammonia and hydrogen technologies positions it as a key player in building the infrastructure required for the next generation of marine fuels, including bunkering technologies as well as handling, safety, and storage solutions.
Singapore is currently the world’s largest bunkering port and its transition to alternative marine fuels offers new business opportunities for Norwegian companies.
Strong support for Norwegian enterprises
The High Potential Opportunities (HPO) program provides Norwegian businesses with a comprehensive support package, covering everything from market advisory, strategic positioning at key events, project identification, looking for local partnerships to sourcing for funding and financing.
Participants will get the support to engage with local stakeholders, government bodies, and profiling at industry events, while also benefiting from marketing and networking opportunities facilitated by Innovation Norway and the broader Team Norway network. The Norwegian Business Association Singapore, with its more than 120 member companies, warmly welcomes the HPO announcement and opens the doors to its business community in Singapore. “This will enrich the business community to the benefit of us all,” says NBAS President, Leonard Stornes.
Norwegian companies welcome to join
The HPO program is managed by project lead Daniel Seow, Senior Market Advisor at Innovation Norway Singapore, and Arne-Kjetil Lian, Head of Innovation Norway’s Singapore office and will also involve the regional Innovation Norway offices as well as its Green Maritime business development team.
Their combined expertise in maritime internationalization and business cooperation between Singapore and Norway offers invaluable insights and leadership to participating companies.
Starting with Singapore, the initiative has eyes set on expanding to Malaysia and Indonesia, tapping into the vast potential of Southeast Asia’s maritime sector.
“The HPO program operates through a collaborative private-public partnership model. We encourage Norwegian companies, whether already established in Singapore or considering entry into the green maritime sector in this region, to engage with us regarding the HPO program.” says project lead Daniel Seow
Disclaimer:
I authored this article for the Norwegian Business Association Singapore (NBAS), under a paid assignment as the Interim Executive Director through Miasin. Initially published on nbas.org.sg on February 16, it has been republished on www.miasin.no with permissions from both Innovation Norway (IN) and NBAS. The article draws from information provided by Innovation Norway and includes interviews with Arne-Kjetil Lian, who heads the Innovation Norway office in Singapore, Daniel Seow from IN Singapore, the project manager for the green maritime export initiative to Singapore and the Southeast Asia region, and NBAS President Leonard Stornes. If you are interested in more information about the Singapore Green Maritime High Potential Opportunities (HPO) program, please contact Project Manager Daniel Seow via email at daniel.seow@innovationnorway.no.
The photo is credited to Brand Norway.
