ROTTERDAM, the Netherlands, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The port of Rotterdam, with its strategic location and smart infrastructure, plays a significant role for not only the city but also many European countries, according to Ahmed Aboutaleb, mayor of Rotterdam.
Aboutaleb made the remarks while meeting with foreign journalists based in the Netherlands at the Rotterdam City Hall on Wednesday.
Accounting for about 7 percent of the Dutch GDP, the port provides employment for 150,000 people on a daily basis, said the mayor, adding that nearly half a million jobs in Europe are indirectly linked to the port's activities.
It's a strategic port for the economies of Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and also part of France, he said. "We go back up to Romania with barges to bring goods and products, so it's a very, very important port."
Rotterdam serves as a crucial shipping point for the ingredients for the steel and the auto industry in Western Germany, he added.
Acknowledging the global benchmark for smart cities, Aboutaleb admits that Rotterdam is not yet the leader in this domain.
"In my opinion, Rotterdam Port is not the smartest in the world. Singapore is the smartest, and we are following," he said.
However, Rotterdam is actively working to close the gap, engaging in "a lot of exchanges" with Singapore to share knowledge and experiences, he said. ■
