Singapore and Shandong Sign 10 Green Tech Deals

Two economic powerhouses just doubled down on building a cleaner, smarter future together.

Singapore and China's Shandong province signed 10 new agreements on March 31, covering everything from green technology and biofuels to tourism and youth exchanges. The deals were inked at the 26th Singapore-Shandong Business Council meeting in Jinan, marking more than three decades of growing partnership between the city-state and China's third-largest provincial economy.

The numbers tell an impressive story of collaboration. Since the business council launched in 1993, bilateral trade between Singapore and Shandong has jumped 35 times to reach $10.68 billion in 2025. Today, 657 Singaporean companies operate in Shandong with investments totaling $11 billion, while over 300 Shandong firms use Singapore as their gateway to international markets.

Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow and Shandong Governor Zhou Naixiang co-chaired the meeting, addressing more than 100 government officials and business leaders. Both emphasized the importance of connection in an increasingly fragmented world.

The green economy took center stage at the meeting. Singapore's 3E Memtech showcased its nano-filtration membranes that purify water using less energy than traditional methods. The technology already treats 25 percent of drinking water in Shandong's Feicheng city and is now being adapted to extract plant sucrose for biodegradable plastic production.

Chinese companies are equally enthusiastic about the partnership. State-owned Shandong Hi-Speed Group plans to install at least 300 megawatts of renewable energy outside China by 2030. After acquiring 27 solar power stations in Singapore in 2025, the company has projects lined up in Laos, Cambodia, South Korea, and Oman.

The collaboration extends beyond business into education and culture. Over the past two years, more than 80 Singaporean students visited Shandong on immersion trips, while over 40 Shandong students completed internships in Singapore through Business China's Youth Interns Exchange Scheme.

Both leaders outlined ambitious plans for deeper cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital trade, biomedicine, and elderly care services. Shandong's digital economy now accounts for more than half of the province's GDP, creating vast opportunities for tech-savvy Singapore firms.

The Ripple Effect

This partnership shows how international cooperation can tackle global challenges like climate change and sustainable development. When a Singapore water treatment company teams up with Chinese scientists to create biodegradable plastic, or when Chinese renewable energy firms expand across Southeast Asia through Singapore, everyone wins.

The agreements bridge not just economies but people, creating opportunities for students, workers, and families across both regions.

Building bridges matters more than ever, and Singapore and Shandong are proving that partnership and progress go hand in hand.