Distinguished Guests,
Friends and Partners,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening.

2    A very warm welcome to all of you, and thank you for joining us this evening.

3    I would also like to thank our sponsors for making this event possible, and our overseas guests who have crossed oceans to be with us.

4    This year, MPA marks our 30th anniversary. But our maritime story goes back much further. When MPA was first formed in 1996, we brought together three entities: the Marine Department of then-Ministry of Communications, the National Maritime Board, formed in 1973, and the regulatory functions of the Port of Singapore Authority, whose roots go back to 1913. One year after MPA was formed, PSA was corporatised in 1997, and we look forward to celebrating PSA’s 30th anniversary next year too.  

5    As we mark this milestone, we wanted to celebrate with the people who helped shape Maritime Singapore – many of whom have been with us from the beginning.  

6    That is why all of you here, our closest industry partners, are our Guests of Honour tonight. Tonight is dedicated to you, and to the role you have played in our shared journey.

7    Maritime Singapore’s success has always been a shared endeavour. For the past three decades, our shipping companies, maritime services firms, industry organisations and partners have worked alongside MPA to turn Singapore into a global maritime hub.    

8    Two decades ago, around 80 shipping groups chose Singapore as their regional hub. Today, we have more than 200 shipping groups here, contributing close to 5 billion SGD in annual business spending in Singapore. 

9    Last year, Singapore achieved record vessel arrival tonnage, container throughput and marine fuel sales, while the Singapore Registry of Ships became the fourth largest in the world. 

10    We have these achievements today because you chose Singapore. You invested here, grew your businesses with us, created jobs and opportunities, and championed Maritime Singapore around the world. 

11    Together, we showed what is possible when government and industry share the same ambition. 

12    And ours is a partnership where we strengthen one another. Singapore provides a trusted and competitive base for you to pursue your ambitions and grow. In turn, your investments, expertise and confidence have helped propel Maritime Singapore onto the world stage. Tonight is our opportunity to say a very big thank you to all of you.

The Next Chapter

13     As our industry navigates profound changes, the trust we have built over the years will remain our strongest anchor.  

14    MPA will continue to earn this trust by helping companies navigate these shifts. From building a more connected maritime ecosystem to preparing for a multi-fuel future, we are committed to listening, collaborating, and driving new opportunities for our industry to succeed. 
Our Maritime Community 

15     Tonight, I would also like to take the opportunity to profile MPA’s three affiliates – the Singapore Maritime Foundation, or SMF; the Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration, or SCMA; and the Singapore Maritime Institute, or SMI – all of whom want to work closely with all of you. 

• SMF is chaired by Mr. Hor Weng Yew and led by Executive Director, Ms. Tan Beng Tee. SMF brings government and industry together, promotes Singapore as an international maritime centre, and builds the talent pipeline that will sustain our future growth. 
• SCMA is chaired by Justice Chao Hick Tin and led by newly minted Executive Director Ms. Tan Woei Tyng. SCMA strengthens Singapore’s position as a leading centre for maritime dispute resolution by providing internationally recognised and cost-effective arbitration services. I thank the many companies that have adopted SCMA arbitration clauses over the years, and encourage more to come on board.
• SMI is chaired by Professor Low Teck Seng. SMI connects industry, academia and government to turn maritime research into practical solutions. Through its work in areas such as next-generation ports, smart shipping and green technologies, SMI is developing solutions for our future.     

Conclusion 

16    Before I close, I invite everyone to explore the highlights from our “Voyage Beyond: Reimagining Maritime Singapore” exhibition. We mounted this exhibition in 6 heartland spots around Singapore earlier this year, and we are delighted to bring it here tonight to celebrate a maritime heritage that many of you helped shape.  

17    I also hope that you will use this evening to reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and discover new opportunities to work together. 

18    In tribute to all of you, we have also prepared a small gift to express our sincere appreciation for the trust, friendship and partnership you have extended to us over the years. 

19    So let me end with a toast, and a short but heartfelt message that you will also find attached to the flowers I will be giving out later: Anchored in Trust, Growing together. Thank you for championing Maritime Singapore!