Rotterdam Vice Mayor and the accompanying businesses to visit Ho Chi Minh City to enhance collaboration on Climate Adaptation & Port Development

News item | 05-06-2024 | 03:38

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – May 5, 2024 – Vice Mayor Vincent Karremans of Rotterdam, The Netherlands, accompanied by Dutch companies from Rotterdam, will visit Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) from June 5th to 7th, 2024. This visit, the first under the renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed June 2023, focuses on strengthening collaboration in climate adaptation and port development between the two cities.

The primary aim is to strategically exchange knowledge with HCMC authorities on essential topics such as citizenship awareness to enhance the climate resilience of both cities, as well as sustainable port development, in partnership with the private sector.

Rotterdam: A Global Leader in Climate Adaptation


Rotterdam, known for its proactive approach to climate adaptation as a low-lying delta city, collaborates extensively with knowledge institutions and the private sector. The city’s innovative solutions, including the addition of greenery through large city projects, tidal parks, and water squares, offer practical models that could be adapted for Ho Chi Minh City. The renewed MoU facilitates the exchange of expertise, allowing both cities to leverage private sector innovation to address climate challenges effectively and innovatively.

“This visit marks a significant step in the ongoing partnership between Rotterdam and Ho Chi Minh City, demonstrating the commitment of both cities to building a sustainable and resilient future. Sustainable practices are essential not only for protecting the environment but also for ensuring the long-term viability and competitiveness of global trade hubs”, said Consul General Daniël Stork.

​Port of Rotterdam: connecting the world – building a sustainable port

The Port of Rotterdam Authority believes that ports have a role to play in decarbonisation and promoting renewable energy sources. As Europe’s biggest port and a major maritime hub, Port of Rotterdam Authority aims to connect with other ports and cities to explore opportunities to develop a more sustainable maritime sector. This collaboration is particularly important as Rotterdam serves as Vietnam’s leading gateway to Europe, with direct shipping connections, highlighting the strategic importance of this partnership.

Program Highlights

The delegation’s visit to HCMC will feature several key activities designed to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange:

Meeting with the Vice Chairman of HCMC: High-level discussions with the Vice Chairman of HCMC will take place to solidify strategic collaboration between the cities. This meeting will cover mutual interests in climate resilience, sustainable urban development, and economic cooperation, aiming to strengthen the partnership and explore new avenues for joint initiatives.

Climate Adaptation Task Force Meeting: The task force will convene to address two critical topics: a general presentation on climate adaptation efforts and strategies for enhancing citizenship awareness, and capacity building for both citizens and city officials. This meeting will focus on sharing best practices, developing educational programs, and implementing community engagement initiatives to improve climate resilience at the local level.

Ports development and sustainable mobility task force meeting: A dedicated meeting with HCMC will focus on sustainable port development initiatives and green mobility. Discussions will revolve around strategies for decarbonizing transport, enhancing renewable energy use, and promoting circular economy practices within port operations. This meeting aims to inspire and identify areas for collaboration between the Port of Rotterdam and HCMC's port authorities, and share experiences on green mobility within the maritime sector.

Cycling Activity: A cycling event will be organized to promote sustainable urban mobility combined with a healthy lifestyle. This activity will feature the participation of representatives of the HCMC People's Committee. The cycling event will highlight the benefits of cycling as an environmental-friendly mode of transportation and encourage community participation in sustainable practices. It will also provide an informal setting for further interaction between the delegation and local participants, fostering a spirit of partnership and shared commitment to sustainable urban development.

Site Visit in Thu Duc: The delegation will visit Thu Duc to discuss and explore the impacts of climate change and urban development strategies. This visit will provide an opportunity to observe and understand the local challenges and to share Rotterdam’s innovative solutions for climate adaptation, such as the implementation of green infrastructure and nature based solutions to flood management.

Lecture and Q&A Session at the University of Economics HCMC: Vice Mayor Vincent Karremans will deliver a lecture titled "From Studies to Success: Charting Your Career Path." This session will provide students with insights into career opportunities in the fields of climate adaptation, sustainable development, and port management. The Q&A session will allow students to engage directly gaining valuable advice and perspectives on their future career paths.

“This visit marks a significant step in the ongoing partnership between Rotterdam and HCMC, demonstrating the commitment of both cities to building a sustainable and resilient future. Sustainable practices are essential not only for protecting the environment but also for ensuring the long-term viability and competitiveness of global trade hubs”, said CG Daniël Stork.

 

Rotterdam Vice Mayor Vincent Karremans
Photo:  Vice Mayor Vincent Karremans of Rotterdam, The Netherlands

 

Thông cáo báo chí tiếng Việt vui lòng xem tại: 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/18Y8107T5pKk8xrcI9avvLcBjJXN4zMMF?usp=sharing

For media inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Anne Bui, Senior Communication Officer

Consulate-general of the Netherlands in Ho chi Minh City

Questions via e-mail

 

​About Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a leading city in climate adaptation, known for its innovative solutions to urban challenges. Through collaboration with knowledge institutions and private sector partners, Rotterdam has implemented projects such as tidal parks and water squares, setting a benchmark for global climate resilience.


About Port of Rotterdam Authority

Founded in 1932, Port of Rotterdam Authority N.V. is the infrastructure developer and manager of the Rotterdam industrial port complex which covers 8,000 hectares over more than 40 km and handles roughly 440 million tonnes of cargo. Port of Rotterdam Authority is a limited liability company with the Municipality of Rotterdam and the Ministry of Finance of the Netherlands as its two shareholders. The company focuses on planning, development, commercialisation, and maintenance of port infrastructure. It is also the harbour master in the port and is therefore responsible for ensuring safe and secure operations in the port. As a major industrial port complex hosting dozens of industrial processing facilities and handling roughly 13% of Europe’s energy imports, the Port Authority recognises that it must take a pro-active role in decarbonising and promoting development of renewables with several projects already underway.