President Johann N. Schneider-Ammann in Singapore
Bern, 12.07.2016 - President Johann N. Schneider-Ammann has been received in Singapore for a state visit. This is in recognition of the close cooperation between Switzerland and Singapore and comes ahead of the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations. Singapore is Switzerland’s most important trading partner within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
On Tuesday, 12 July, the president held official talks with President Tony Tan Keng Yam, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Vice Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang.
The topics discussed included new avenues for business cooperation and the promising development of collaboration in the fields of science and education. In view of the upcoming ASEM Summit in Ulaanbaatar at the end of the week, there was also an exchange of views on possible developments in Europe following the UK’s decision to leave the EU and possible consequences for Singapore and Asia.
One of the topics addressed during the discussion between Mr Schneider-Ammann and the trade minister was the free trade agreement between the EFTA states and Singapore, which came into force in 2003. The agreement functions well and is one of the reasons for the high level of satisfaction among Swiss businesses in Singapore.
Singapore is Switzerland’s most important trade and investment partner in ASEAN. Singapore’s role in ASEAN was considered in depth, particularly in view of the recently established ASEAN Economic Community. Further topics discussed included the future dialogue partnership between Switzerland and ASEAN, which is supported by Singapore, and cooperation in the field of finance.
State Secretary Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, the director of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and State Secretary Jörg Gasser, the head of the State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF), also took part in the official discussions.
The president, who is being accompanied on his trip by a business delegation, will give a speech at the Swiss-Singapore Business Forum on ‘SkillsFuture - Developing a future ready workforce’. In addition, a specially cultivated variety of orchid was named after the Swiss president at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, where such ceremonies for eminent guests have a long tradition.
Further stops in Seoul and Ulaanbaatar
Singapore is the first of three stops on the president’s trip to Asia. Mr Schneider-Ammann will pay an official visit to South Korea until Thursday, 14 July, where he will meet with President Park Geun-hye and open the 3rd Swiss-Korean Life Science Symposium. The last stop on the trip is Ulaanbaatar, where the 11th ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Summit is taking place on Friday and Saturday, 16 July. Switzerland has been a member of this forum for dialogue since 2012. ASEM has 53 members and holds summits every two years, alternating between Europe and Asia.
Address for enquiries
EAER Information Service
058 462 20 07, info@gs-wbf.admin.ch
Publisher
Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
http://www.wbf.admin.ch
