Successful Finish maritime trade mission to the Netherlands
The three day Finish maritime trade mission to the Netherlands (October 8-10) proved to be successful. The programme showcased the strong potential for collaboration and business opportunities between the Finish and Dutch maritime clusters. The mission was led by the Finish Minister of Economic Affairs (Wille Rydman) and organised by Marstrat under the banner of Business Finland.
During the trade mission the first steps were taken towards intensified bilateral cooperation (on a political level) in sectors such as shipbuilding, emissions-free maritime technology, and Arctic maritime knowledge. In addition the visit proved to be helpful in generating business leads for the attending companies.
Opportunities for bilateral cooperation and lead generation
The three day programme included an insightful seminar during which Kees van der Staaij, Dimitri van Rijn, and Jeroen de Graaf outlined the maritime strategy of the Netherlands. Minister Wille Rydman and other Finnish representatives (Ambassador Ilkka-Pekka Similä, Tuija Karanko, Dick Heidelberg, and Katja Eriksen) highlighted the expertise that the Finish maritime industry has on offer in the area of innovation and sustainability.
Next to this Minister Rydman emphasised his two key objectives:
- Enhancing the competitiveness of the European marine industry: By leveraging each country’s strengths, both Finland and the Netherlands aim to improve the overall competitiveness of the European maritime industry. This would involve optimising supply chains, developing cutting-edge technologies, and ensuring that Europe remains at the forefront of maritime innovation.
- Increasing Supply Chain Independence: Given the global disruptions in supply chains, such collaboration can make European maritime supply chains more resilient, self-reliant, reducing dependency on non-EU suppliers.
To facilitate interactions and generate leads the mission included insightful site visits at Royal IHC, Damen Yachting, Damen Naval, Oceanco and MARIN (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands).
Broader impact
The trade mission underlines the importance of Finland’s and the Netherlands’ commitment to enhancing cooperation in maritime industries. With sustainability, technological innovation, and supply chain resilience being central.
In summary, the mission highlighted the strategic alignment in the areas of maritime technology and sustainability efforts of two leading European maritime nations. Both Finland and the Netherlands stand to benefit from intensified cooperation, sharing expertise to enhance competitiveness in a rapidly evolving global industry.
Marstrat
Marstrat was hired by Business Finland to organise the visit. Marstrat partners Hein Velema and Harry Doze thank Business Finland as well as the Embassy of Finland and all participants for their input and insights.