Singapore presents itself as a stable hub

Singapore wants to become even more attractive as a hub for supply chains between Europe and Asia in the future. To achieve this, the Southeast Asian island state is increasingly focussing on partnership-based cooperation in the region, expanding its logistics infrastructure and training specialists in sustainable logistics and AI applications.

‘Supply chains are about networks. We don't see ourselves as competitors, but as partners,’ said Justin Goh, Deputy Director Supply Chain of the state development agency Enterprise Singapore at a trade fair conference on Monday. He referred to the agreement on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, which the heads of government of Malaysia and Singapore agreed at the beginning of January, as the most recent example.

‘We have a large network in Southeast Asia and beyond,’ emphasised Law Chung Ming, Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Logistics Association (SLA). The SLA trains employees of its 700, mostly medium-sized member companies on sustainability issues and AI. According to the head of the association, companies are currently investing more in equipment and expertise for the cold chain sector.

According to Jaisey Yip, Vice President of the Cargo Business Division, Changi Airport is also expanding its cold chains together with the pharmaceutical industry and improving ground handling. Among other things, the airport’s cargo facilities will be extended to the Changi East Industrial Zone by the mid-2030s. This will increase handling capacity from the current 3 to 5.4 million tonnes per year. At the same time, measures are aimed at ‘better connecting the air cargo community’. Since August 2024, for example, ‘Truck Dock Slot Booking’ has enabled truck transporters to book time slots for loading and unloading in advance.

The Singapore container port, which handled 40 million TEU for the first time in 2024, is to be expanded by port operator PSA to handle 65 million TEU by the 2040s. With a view to global crises, Kelvin Tan, Global Head of Sales at PSA BDP, advises: ‘Don't panic, stay calm, have a plan, make friends’ – in Singapore. (kk)