This year exhibition in Singapore was renamed from the SingaPort to Asia Pacific Maritime. It always brings together the maritime and logistics industry, and presents an opportunity for industry players to network, renew business ties and forge new and strategic alliances, said Dr Yeo Ning Hong, Chairman of PSA Corporation. Today, Singapore ranks among the top international maritime centers of the world and some 400 shipping lines provide links to more than 700 ports worldwide. Over 40 per cent of the world's tonnage is owned by Asian interests, while some estimate that 70 per cent of the world's shipbuilding activities takes place in Asia.

Government agencies such as the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), the Trade Development Board and the National Technological University have worked closely with the shipping community to build a vibrant maritime cluster. Since the beginning of this year, several initiatives have been launched to further develop Singapore into a premier International Maritime Centre. MPA and the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have joined hands to set up an R & D centre, which will initiate and undertake research to develop port and maritime-related technologies and IT applications. Besides managing the joint R&D projects of MPA and NTU, it will also identify opportunities for R&D collaboration with other local and foreign institutions and industry partners. The formal establishment of the MPA-NTUMaritime Research Centre highlights our commitment to invest and promote R & D in port and maritime technology.