Nantong hosts a green and smart ship technology matchmaking conference on Sept 16. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

A Finland–Nantong green and smart ship technology matchmaking event was held on Sept 16 in Nantong, bringing together representatives from Finland's maritime cluster, Nantong's shipbuilding and offshore engineering companies, and local government departments.

The event featured keynote speeches, company pitches, and matchmaking discussions on green shipping, smart vessels, low-carbon energy and digital technologies.

Joonas Heiskanen, consul general of Finland in Shanghai, addressed the event. He noted that of the 250 Finnish companies that have established operations in China, most are based in the Yangtze River Delta region. They have long been rooted in China and grown alongside Chinese partners and customers, showing that Finnish companies are reliable and trustworthy business partners.

The maritime industry is one of Finland's most strategically important pillar industries, while Nantong is a key base for China's shipbuilding and offshore engineering sectors, he said. That is why Finnish maritime companies have taken part in the Nantong shipbuilding and offshore engineering exhibition for three consecutive years. Nantong's growing shipbuilding strength and market demand for green and smart vessels have opened broad space for cooperation with Finnish companies, he added.

During the keynote session, the Finland Chamber of Commerce introduced Finland and its maritime cluster, while China Merchants Heavy Industry shared insights into green and smart ship technology development and the manufacturing challenges involved.

In the company pitch session, representatives from Wartsila, Marioff, and other Finnish companies presented on topics including new fuel power systems, hybrid marine energy, and ship automation and digitalization.

Nantong is a national high-tech shipbuilding base and a national ship export base. In 2025, the city's shipbuilding output accounted for about one-eighth of China's total, while offshore engineering equipment accounted for about one-third, keeping the sector among the country's top tier.

The global shipbuilding and offshore engineering industry is at a critical juncture in its green transition and smart upgrading. Finland has world-leading technological expertise, as well as research and development systems. It also has practical experience in green shipping, smart vessels and polar ships, which aligns closely with Nantong's need to upgrade its industry.