Maritime UK Solent has joined forces with Canada’s Ocean Technology Council of Nova Scotia (OTCNS) to support economic growth on the international stage.
The organisations today (11 March 2024) signed an agreement which sets out their joint intention to strengthen investment, share future maritime business opportunities and ensure each region’s maritime businesses are connected.
Maritime UK Solent Chair Anne-Marie Mountifield said: “This exciting collaboration with Nova Scotia will allow us to explore more opportunities for our maritime clusters to work together and prosper.
“The joint signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) marks a new era in international cooperation for us which will undoubtedly highlight the Solent’s maritime strengths and innovation on a global scale. We welcome this new development and look forward to our regular participation with OTNCS moving forward.”
Chris Bourque, Executive Director at OTCNS said: “OTCNS is looking forward to a long and fruitful relationship with Maritime UK Solent and expanding international business relationships.”
The collaboration between the two regions is a result of a sister city international economic partnership between Halifax and the City of Portsmouth, formalised in January 2023, to expand on both cities’ work to develop ocean sector opportunities.
Leader of Portsmouth City Council, Councillor Steve Pitt said: “I am delighted that the relationship that Portsmouth has developed with our sister city Halifax in Nova Scotia is growing into a significant economic partnership not only between our two cities but across our region. This partnership holds real opportunities for the economies of both our great cities.”
The signing of the MOU follows a successful online event on 4 March which brought together maritime businesses across the Solent and in Halifax, Nova Scotia as a result of a collaboration between Halifax Partnership, Invest Nova Scotia, Portsmouth City Council and Maritime UK Solent.
The well-attended International Maritime Business Showcase: Maritime Security event was the first of a series of online events. Attendees heard from Halifax Mayor, Mike Savage and Portsmouth City Council Leader, Councillor Steve Pitt and from eight organisations working in marine security: Red Penguin Marine, Subsea Craft, Griffon Hoverwork and Sirius Analysis, all from the Solent region; and Deep Vision, Spiri Robotics, Jasco Applied Sciences and eOceans from Halifax.
“As global leaders, we are excited to partner with the City of Portsmouth and Maritime UK Solent to develop new business and innovation opportunities that will strengthen our ocean sectors and generate economic growth in both our regions,” said Halifax Mayor Mike Savage.