Untitled - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

OUR VISION
To be an excellent Foreign Service that safeguards
and advances Singapore’s interests.
OUR MISSION
MFA is committed to:
Contributing to the
formulation and implementation
of Singapore’s foreign policy
to advance our national
interests.
Making friends and being a
responsible and constructive
member of the international
community, including sharing
Singapore’s developmental
experience with other
countries.
Providing efficient and
responsive consular
assistance to Singaporeans
at home and abroad.
Pictured here is “Singa”, one of a pair of handcrafted stone
sculptures from Bali. The mythical creatures stand guard at the
Old Tanglin Officers’ Mess (OTOM) Entrance of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs building, where guests are received.
OUR HISTORY
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) was established in 1965, the
same year as Singapore’s independence. Led by the first Foreign Minister
Mr S Rajaratnam, the challenge facing the Ministry was to expand
Singapore’s international space and safeguard Singapore’s sovereignty. It
therefore sought to win international recognition and promote friendly
relations with other countries. From six overseas missions in 1966,
the Ministry today has 49 overseas missions worldwide. Singapore’s
international standing has gone from strength to strength. It has also
contributed constructively to regional and global development while
participating in various humanitarian efforts.
MFA LANDMARK EVENTS
1960s
9 August 1965
Independence of Singapore.
Formation of MFA. Mr S Rajaratnam
is appointed Singapore’s first
Foreign Minister.
21 September 1965
Singapore is admitted as the
117th member of the United Nations.
15 October 1965
Singapore is admitted as the
22nd member of the Commonwealth.
17 January 1966
Singapore signs the convention on the
International Maritime Organisation (IMO)
and becomes a member of the IMO.
3 August 1966
Singapore officially becomes the
104th member of the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
World Bank.
8 August 1967
Founding of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN). The ASEAN
Declaration is signed in Bangkok.
1970s
September 1970
Singapore is admitted into
the Non-Aligned Movement.
14-22 January 1971
Singapore hosts the 18th Conference
of the Commonwealth Heads of
Government Meeting (CHOGM).
15-16 April 1971
Ministers of the governments of Australia,
Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the
United Kingdom establish a new defence
mechanism called the Five Power Defence
Arrangements (FPDA).
20 July 1973
Singapore joins the General Agreement
on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
23-24 February 1976
The first ASEAN Summit is held in Bali,
Indonesia. The Treaty of Amity and
Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia is
signed by all ASEAN Heads of State and
Government. An ASEAN Secretariat is
also established.
1978
A watershed year for ASEAN marked
by its official recognition as an important
regional organisation by the major powers.
The first minister-level meetings of the
ASEAN-US dialogue are held in August
1978 and the ASEAN-EEC dialogue takes
place in November 1978.
1990s
2000s
Singapore establishes diplomatic relations
with the People’s Republic of China.
Singapore launches the Initiative for
ASEAN Integration (IAI) to assist the
integration of new member countries,
Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam
(CLMV), into ASEAN. The flagship
project is the setting up of a training
center in each of the CLMV countries.
3 October 1990
1992
Launch of the Singapore Cooperation
Programme.
January 1992
Singapore hosts the 4th ASEAN Summit,
which agrees to launch the ASEAN Free
Trade Area.
11 February 1993
The APEC Secretariat is established
in Singapore.
2000
10 October 2000
Singapore is elected as a non-permanent
member of the United Nations Security
Council (UNSC) at the 55th session of
the UN General Assembly.
14 November 2000
2 January 1994
Singapore signs the Agreement between
New Zealand and Singapore on a Closer
Economic Partnership (ANZSCEP).
It is Singapore’s first bilateral Free Trade
Agreement (FTA).
1980s
Prof S Jayakumar becomes
Foreign Minister.
1 January 2001
Mr S Dhanabalan becomes
Foreign Minister.
26 February 1994
1 June 1980
March 1981
Singapore’s Permanent Representative
to the UN, Ambassador Tommy Koh,
assumes the Presidency of the Third
United Nations Conference on the
Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
13 September 1988
Mr Wong Kan Seng becomes
Foreign Minister.
6-7 November 1989
Singapore joins the Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) and attends the
grouping’s first Ministerial Meeting held in
Canberra, Australia.
1994
ASEAN creates the ASEAN Regional
Forum (ARF).
Singapore and China sign the Agreement
on the Joint Delvelopment of Suzhou
Industrial Township.
1 September 1999
Singapore hosts the inaugural meeting
of the East Asia-Latin America Forum
(EALAF) for senior officials of the
27 participating countries. (The EALAF
was renamed the Forum for East Asia-Latin
America Cooperation (FEALAC)
in 2001.)
Singapore starts its first two-year term
in the United Nations Security Council.
26 June 2002
Singapore concludes an FTA with the
European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland
and Liechtenstein. This is the first FTA
between an European regional grouping
and an Asian country.
6 May 2003
Singapore concludes and signs the
US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
(USSFTA). This is the first FTA between
the US and an East Asian country.
7 October 2003
The 9th ASEAN Summit in Bali agrees
to establish an ASEAN Community.
13 August 2004
Mr George Yeo becomes
Foreign Minister.
28 April 2005
18 November 2007
Singapore signs the Regional Cooperation
Agreement on Combating Piracy and
Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia
(ReCAAP).
Singapore and China sign the Framework
Agreement on the Development of
An Eco-City in the People’s Republic
of China.
20-22 June 2005
18-21 November 2007
08 November 2009
Singapore hosts APEC 2009, followed by
the 1st ASEAN-US Leaders’ Meeting.
2010 till Present
03 January 2010
Singapore signs the Comprehensive
Economic Cooperation Agreement
(CECA)with India. It is India’s first
ever CECA, and Singapore’s first
comprehensive bilateral economic
agreement with a South Asian economy.
Singapore hosts the 13th ASEAN Summit.
During the Summit, ASEAN Leaders sign
the ASEAN Charter and the ASEAN
Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint.
With the Charter, ASEAN moves a step
closer towards becoming a more rulesbased and effective regional grouping,
while the Blueprint guides ASEAN
towards the realisation of a single market
and production base by 2015.
17 November 2005
7 January 2008
6 August 2010
ASEAN and the US issue the Joint Vision
Statement to launch the ASEAN-US
Enhanced Partnership.
Singapore is the first ASEAN country
to ratify the ASEAN Charter.
Singapore opens Consulate in Batam,
Indonesia.
19-20 September 2006
Singapore hosts the IMF-World
Bank Meetings.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ)
awards the sovereignty of Pedra Branca to
Singapore.
Mr K Shanmugam becomes
Foreign Minister.
14 January 2007
15 December 2008
MFA Consular launches its Twitter
account @MFASgConsular.
Singapore hosts the inaugural
Asia-Middle East Dialogue (AMED).
29 June 2005
ASEAN signs the Cebu Declaration on
the Acceleration of the Establishment
of an ASEAN Community by 2015.
15 January 2007
ASEAN signs a Free Trade Agreement
in services with China.
4-6 September 2007
Singapore hosts the IMO Meeting
which establishes the Co-operative
Mechanism for Safety of Navigation
and Environmental Protection in the
Straits of Malacca and Singapore.
23 May 2008
The ASEAN Charter officially enters
into force at a special gathering of the
ASEAN Foreign Ministers held at the
ASEAN Secretariat.
10 March 2009
Singapore and Indonesia sign treaty
related to the Delimitation of the
Territorial Seas of the Two Countries
in the Western Part of the Strait of
Singapore.
9 May 2009
President S R Nathan’s State Visit to Japan.
This is the first State Visit by a Singapore
President to Japan.
2 August 2009
MFA launches new eRegister portal.
Singapore opens Consulate-General in
Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
11 January 2010
MFA launches its Twitter account
@MFAsg .
12 – 13 April 2010
Singapore attends the inaugural Nuclear
Security Summit in Washington DC.
21 May 2011
17 June 2011
1 July 2011
Singapore and Malaysia fully implement
the Points of Agreement on Malayan
Railway Land in Singapore.
18 July 2011
Singapore opens Trade Office in
Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa.
It is Singapore’s first Trade Office in
Sub-Saharan Africa.
31 August 2011
Singapore hands over the waterworks
under the 1961 Water Agreement to
the Johor water authorities upon the
expiry of the 1961 Water Agreement
on 31 August 2011.
22 September 2011
Singapore concludes its first Universal
Periodic Review (UPR) with the adoption
of Singapore’s National Report at the
18th Session of the Human Rights Council
(HRC) in Geneva.
22 August 2012
MFA Consular launches its smartphone
app MFA@SG.
3 September 2012
Singapore opens embassy in Brasilia,
Brazil. It is Singapore’s first embassy in
Latin America.
14 August 2013
Singapore opens Consulate-General in
Muscat, Oman.
OUR ORGANISATION
MFA is currently divided into 11 Directorates which deal with
political and economic matters, and 7 Directorates which oversee
matters relating to protocol and consular issues, and the Singapore
Cooperation Programme among others. The Corporate Affairs
Directorate oversees organisational and resource management while
the Human Resource Directorate and Diplomatic Academy manage
the development of personnel and training.
Our complete staff directory can be accessed at the Singapore Government Directory Online
www.sgdi.gov.sg.
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE OF MFA HQ
MINISTER
SECOND MINISTER
SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE
SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY
PERMANENT SECRETARY
SENIOR ADVISERS
AMBASSADORS-AT-LARGE
Deputy Secretary
(SEA + ASEAN)
SEA 1 SEA II
ASN
TCD
Deputy Secretary
(International)
Deputy Secretary
(Asia Pacific + IOs)
AM
ANZP
NEA
IE
IO
EUR
ME
SAA
CON
Deputy Secretary
(Management)
PA
PRO
IM
IAU
SMA
CAD
HRD
DIRECTORATES
SEA I
SEA II
ASN
IE
IO
Southeast Asia I
Southeast Asia II
ASEAN
International
Economics
International
Organisations
AM
Americas
ANZP Australia, New Zealand
& The Pacific
EUR
Europe
ME
Middle East, North Africa
& Central Asia
NEA
Northeast Asia
SAA
South Asia &
Sub-saharan Africa
CON Consular
PAD
PRO
IMD
CAD
HRD
Public Affairs
Protocol
Information Management
Corporate Affairs
Human Resource
SMA also covers Properties
Management and Development
TCD
Technical Co-operation
Others
CCO
DA
IAU
Climate Change Office
MFA Diplomatic Academy
Internal Audit Unit
CCO
DA
OVERSEAS MISSIONS
A third of MFA’s staff serve in 49 Overseas Missions in Asia, Europe,
North America, the South Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.
Embassies
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Abu Dhabi
Ankara
Bangkok
Beijing
Berlin
Brasilia
Brussels
Cairo
Doha
Hanoi
Jakarta
High Commissions
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
Manila
Moscow
Paris
Phnom Penh
Riyadh
Seoul
Tokyo
Vientiane
Washington
Yangon
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Bandar Seri Begawan
Canberra
Kuala Lumpur
London
New Delhi
Pretoria
Wellington
Permanent
Missions
Consulates
General
1. Geneva
(UN/WTO)
2. Jakarta
3. New York
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Chengdu
Chennai
Dubai
Guangzhou
Ho Chi Minh City
Hong Kong
Jeddah
Johor Bahru
Mumbai
San Francisco
Shanghai
Xiamen
Muscat
Consulates
1.
2.
3.
4.
Batam
Dhaka
Medan
New York
NON-RESIDENT AMBASSADORS
Since 1982, Singapore has developed an extensive system of
Non-Resident Ambassadors (NRAs) as a means of expanding its
diplomatic representation. Singapore’s NRAs are based in Singapore
and travel to their countries of accreditation on a regular basis.
Given Singapore’s limited resources as a small country, such
a system has allowed us to transcend the manpower and financial
limitations on setting up resident Missions. To date, Singapore has
accredited NRAs to more than 50 countries and international
organisations around the world.
FUNDAMENTALS OF SINGAPORE’S FOREIGN POLICY
As a small state without natural resources,
Singapore has established a foreign policy
that is conducive for cultivating external
bilateral relations.
We believe in:
- promoting good relations with
our immediate neighbours in all
spheres based on mutual respect
and sovereignty
- welcoming trade with any state
for mutual benefit and in
maintaining an open market
economy
- standing by our friends who
have supported us in our times
of need
- playing an active role in
international organisations like
the UN
- being fully committed to ASEAN
- maintaining a credible military
defence as the fundamental basis
for an effective foreign policy
- continuing to work for the
maintenance of a free and open
multilateral trading system
“My country by the very nature of its historic experience is aware that in the contemporary world a
developing country must learn to cherish independence without denying the reality of interdependence of
nations. Our abhorrence of dependence on others should not drive us into embracing the dangerous myth of
absolute sovereignty. In order to learn to live in peace with other countries there must be willing acceptance
of the need for interdependence. The cultural and political development of my country has for decades been
based on free intercourse and exchange of ideas drawn from many races, from many continents.”
S Rajaratnam, 21 September 1965
Minister for Foreign Affairs, 1965 - 1980
(from left) Singapore’s Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong and Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Istana Bogor on 13 March 2012. They witnessed the signing of two memoranda of
understanding and renewed a third, aimed at strengthening links on this front. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam with the ASEAN foreign ministers posing for photographs at the
20th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) in Phnom Penh on 2 April 2012. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak meeting Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong outside the Prime Minister’s Office
in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on 5 January 2012 for a Leaders’ Retreat. Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah called on President Tony Tan Keng Yam on 16 February 2012 at the Istana. He was in Singapore to attend the
Singapore Airshow 2012.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
ASEAN and Southeast Asia
Strong bilateral ties and regional cooperation
through the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) are key conduits through which
Singapore pursues its goal of achieving prosperity
and stability in Southeast Asia.
Singapore, a founding member of ASEAN, is a firm advocate
of ASEAN cooperation and integration. Singapore played a key
role in drafting the ASEAN Charter which will make ASEAN a
more effective, cohesive and rules-based organisation. Singapore
supports the establishment of the ASEAN Community by 2015
to better position ASEAN to face global political and economic
challenges.
ASEAN Member States also cooperate well in other international
fora; we have a shared commitment to regional stability and
economic development.
Relations between Singapore and Brunei are excellent. Both
countries share close ties at all levels, and cooperate extensively
in a wide range of areas including defence, finance, health and
education. Both countries commemorated the 45th anniversary
of the Currency Interchangeability Agreement in 2012.
Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1974, ties between
Singapore and Laos have grown steadily. There is close
cooperation at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels, and
relations are kept up by a steady exchange of visits.
Singapore and Malaysia share a broad and multi-faceted
relationship. Economic ties are robust, and there are regular
high-level political exchanges. The bilateral relationship reached
a historic milestone in 2011 with the full implementation of the
Points of Agreement on Malayan Railway Land in Singapore.
This has paved the way for further cooperation in areas such as
transport connectivity, tourism, and the environment.
Singapore established diplomatic ties with Myanmar in 1966.
Through the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP), Singapore
has provided extensive technical assistance to support Myanmar’s
development. These will be extended and customised through the
Singapore-Myanmar Technical Cooperation Programme.
Singapore and the Philippines have long-standing ties dating back
to the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1969. Interactions
have remained strong and multi-faceted, and both sides continue
to explore avenues for closer cooperation.
Singapore and Cambodia share warm historic ties. Cambodia
was one of the first countries to recognise Singapore following
its independence in 1965. Both sides cooperate closely within
ASEAN and in international fora.
Singapore and Thailand enjoy close and enduring ties, particularly
in the economic and people-to-people sectors. These are
enhanced through the Singapore-Thailand Enhanced Partnership
framework.
Singapore and Indonesia are close neighbours, bound together
by geography, history and long-standing people-to-people links.
Both countries are each other’s major trading partners, and
Singapore has consistently been among Indonesia’s top foreign
investors. Defence ties are strong and robust. Singapore and
Indonesia also share common strategic views on ASEAN and
the region.
Singapore-Vietnam relations are strong, with regular high-level
political exchanges and substantial economic cooperation. The
Singapore-Vietnam Connectivity Framework Agreement and the
flagship Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks are strong symbols of
the bilateral economic cooperation between both sides.
“In a situation where the predominance of a single great power was replaced by the contention of several
great powers in a fluid, shifting balance of power, a quiescent foreign policy was a standing invitation to
disaster. To crouch still in the hope of remaining unnoticed, and thus unthreatened, was only to risk being
trampled upon. Nor could we find security by seeking the protection of one or the other of the big powers…
When the gods of international politics contend, they help only those who help themselves. History is littered
with the rubble of states who have lacked the will to take their fate into their own hands.”
S Dhanabalan, 27 November 1981
Minister for Foreign Affairs, 1980 - 1988
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Northeast and South Asia
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations
between Singapore and China in 1990, bilateral
cooperation has grown beyond economics and
politics to education, culture, and science and
technology.
Singapore enjoys strong and substantive relations with China,
anchored by frequent high-level exchanges, robust economic ties,
and growing people-to-people linkages. Bilateral cooperation is
multifaceted, with a wide range of cooperation projects in diverse
fields. Besides the two government-to-government flagship
projects, the Suzhou Industrial Park and the Tianjin Eco-city, and
seven provincial business councils in Shandong, Sichuan, Liaoning,
Zhejiang, Tianjin, Jiangsu and Guangdong, Singapore and China
also concluded the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
(CSFTA) in 2009, which is China’s first comprehensive bilateral
FTA with an Asian country. Going beyond the traditional
parameters of economic cooperation, both sides have also
enhanced cooperation in areas such as finance, education,
culture, and social management, with new initiatives such as the
Singapore-China Forum on Social Management, the education
and research collaboration between the Singapore University of
Technology and Design, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
and Zhejiang University, and the China Cultural Centre in
Singapore. The arrival of the giant pandas, Jia Jia and Kai Kai,
is another symbol of the close ties between the peoples on
both sides.
Singapore and Japan enjoy an excellent and multi-faceted
relationship that has deepened over the years. Relations were
further boosted by the signing of the Japan-Singapore NewAge Economic Partnership Agreement (JSEPA) in January 2002.
The Japan Creative Centre, which was launched in Singapore in
2009, has helped to enhance understanding of Japan’s culture
and technologies. Bilateral cooperation has also been expanded
to include cooperation to combat diseases such as SARS and
avian influenza, as well as joint anti-piracy exercises between the
coast guards of both countries. Building on the strong bilateral
relationship, both countries also provide technical assistance
to third countries, through the Japan-Singapore Partnership
Programme for the 21st Century (JSPP21).
Singapore enjoys warm and friendly relations with South Korea
with a regular exchange of high-level visits and robust economic
ties. Trade and investment links between both countries were
further strengthened with the signing of the Korea-Singapore
Free Trade Agreement (KSFTA) in 2005, which marked a key
milestone in bilateral relations. People-to-people ties have also
grown steadily through an increase in cultural exchanges between
the two countries.
Singapore’s relations with India are excellent and broad-based,
spanning the political, defence, economic, educational, and
cultural spheres. Our political leaders and officials share warm
and friendly relations, with frequent high-level visits between
both countries. The conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic
Cooperation Agreement (CECA) in June 2005, which today
forms the foundation of bilateral economic ties, marked a
milestone in Singapore-India relations. Other highlights include
the establishment of the Joint Ministerial Committee for Bilateral
Cooperation, the India-Singapore Strategic Dialogue, and the
India-Singapore Parliamentary Friendship Group. Singapore also
maintains friendly relations with the other countries in South
Asia, namely, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and
Sri Lanka. Relations are marked by cooperation at international
fora and high-level visits. In recent years, a common outlook and
shared interests have led to broader and deeper ties with these
countries. Trade relations have also strengthened from year
to year.
(from left) Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao held a bilateral meeting in November 2011 during which they reaffirmed the excellent state of relations between their two
countries. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong shaking hands with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak during the G20 Seoul Summit 2010 held at the National Museum of Korea. Looking on are Madam Ho Ching,
wife of Prime Minister Lee and Madam Kim Yoon-ok, wife of President Lee. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon toasting Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong with a bottle of Newater at the Istana on 23
March 2012. He called it “something far more valuable” than a glass of wine. Mr Ban was in Singapore for a two-day visit. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife Ho Ching meeting India Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur in the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace, in New Delhi on 11 July 2012, during his official visit to India.
“Singapore does not have any ambition of playing a major role in international affairs. We know our strengths
and our limitations. We do not seek a leadership role whether in ASEAN or any other international forum.
We want only to live in peace and to secure a better life for our citizens. But we have always acted whenever
our interests need to be protected. And we shall continue to do whatever is necessary to protect our national
interests. We owe our people nothing less.”
Wong Kan Seng, 15 November 1988
Minister for Foreign Affairs, 1988 - 1994
(from left) Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong speaks with US President Barack Obama during the meetings at the 2009 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta who
was in Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue, calling on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana in June 2012. Mexican President Felipe Calderon calling on President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the Istana on 10
September 2012. Mr Calderon was on a three-day visit in Singapore. Accompanying them are Madam Margarita Zavala, Mr Caledoron’s wife and Mrs Mary Tan, President Tan’s wife.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Americas
Singapore and the United States of America have
shared a long-standing, robust and multifaceted
relationship since the establishment of diplomatic
relations in 1966. The relationship is underpinned
by the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
signed in 2003 and the Strategic Framework
Agreement signed in 2005.
Since then, the scope of cooperation between both countries
has broadened to encompass areas such as counter-proliferation,
information technology, health, and education. The bilateral
relationship was further enhanced through the institutionalisation
of the US-Singapore Strategic Partnership Dialogue in 2012. The
Singapore-US Third Country Training Programme was established
in 2012 to extend joint technical assistance to developing
countries, especially those in ASEAN.
Singapore and Canada also enjoy warm and friendly relations.
In July 2012, Singapore took over the Country Coordinatorship
for ASEAN-Canada relations and is committed to strengthening
ASEAN-Canada relations.
In addition, relations with Latin America as a whole are growing,
as evident from the regular meetings and exchanges of highlevel visits. Economic cooperation between Singapore and Latin
America has also increased significantly. Singapore’s trade with
Latin America has more than doubled since 2005 to reach
US$30.1 billion in 2011. Singapore has concluded Free Trade
Agreements with several Latin American countries, namely, Costa
Rica, Peru, Panama, and Chile through the Trans-Pacific Strategic
Economic Partnership (TPP), which Canada and Mexico also
joined as negotiating partners in 2012. Singapore’s stock of direct
investment into Latin America grew 7.7% annually from 2006
to US$35.6 billion in 2010. Since 2004, International Enterprise
Singapore has organised an annual Latin Asia Business Forum,
which is the premier platform for fostering investments, trade,
and thought leadership between Asia and Latin America.
Singapore’s engagement of Latin American countries has also
expanded to other non-economic areas such as science and
technology and education. Singapore has shared our
development experience with Latin American countries through
the provision of technical assistance under the Singapore
Cooperation Programme.
One of the main mechanisms promoting Singapore-Latin
America relations is the Forum for the East Asia-Latin America
Cooperation (FEALAC). FEALAC was mooted by then-Prime
Minister Goh Chok Tong in 1998 to provide a platform where
Asia and Latin America can explore avenues for cooperation
in the political, economic, social, cultural and academic areas.
Projects initiated by Singapore under FEALAC include our annual
FEALAC Journalists’ Visit Programme (JVP), which has been
ongoing since 2000, and the Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF).
These projects have helped to promote better understanding
between the two regions.
“Singapore’s future is inextricably linked with that of Southeast Asia. A strong and vibrant ASEAN
strengthens the region, creating optimal conditions for economic recovery and growth. We remain
committed to ASEAN and will work with other members to help the organisation meet new challenges.”
Prof S Jayakumar, 8 October 1999
Minister for Foreign Affairs, 1994 - 2004
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Europe
Singapore enjoys excellent relations with Europe.
Economic relations, in particular, are long-standing
and robust. For example, the European Union
(EU) is Singapore’s second-largest trading partner
and largest overall foreign investor.
Singapore, on its part, is the EU’s largest trading partner and
investment destination in ASEAN. Singapore serves as a regional
hub for many European companies in the Asia-Pacific, with close
to 9,000 European companies based here. Economic relations
will be further enhanced once negotiations for the EU-Singapore
FTA (EUSFTA) are concluded.
Singapore’s strong relations with Europe are underpinned by the
regular exchange of visits by leaders, as well as close cooperation
in many areas, such as trade and investment, defence, science
and technology, culture, etc. For example, Singapore and France
recently signed the Strategic Partnership Agreement in October
2012. Singapore has also deepened its engagement of the
emerging European economies such as Russia and Turkey, with
platforms such as the annual High-Level Russia-Singapore InterGovernmental Commission, the Russia-Singapore Business
Forum and the Turkey-Singapore Business Council serving to
foster closer relations both at the government and business
levels. The Singapore Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, was also
opened in 2012.
Singapore also works closely with Europe at forums such as the
Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the ASEAN-EU Dialogue
Partnership. ASEM, which was conceived by then-Prime Minister
Goh Chok Tong in 1995 and since expanded to 51 countries, has
promoted dialogue and deepened region-to-region linkages and
cooperation. Singapore also hosts the Asia-Europe Foundation
(ASEF), which promotes greater mutual understanding between
Asia and Europe through intellectual, cultural and peopleto-people exchanges. Since its inception in 1997, ASEF has
implemented over 500 projects and has reached out to more
than 15,000 direct participants.
Middle East
Singapore enjoys warm and friendly ties with
countries in the Middle East. Singapore’s
intensified engagement of the region began when
then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong made a
series of high-level official visits to Egypt, Jordan
and Bahrain in February 2004.
Since then, besides numerous high-level visits on both sides,
Singapore has expanded its diplomatic presence in the Middle
East with the opening of new embassies in Doha, Qatar in 2006
and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in 2007. Singapore also
established a Consulate-General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in
2012 and will open another Consulate-General in Muscat,
Oman in 2013.
Singapore has also developed formal mechanisms with Middle
East countries to broaden and deepen relationships, such as
the High Level Joint Committee with Qatar, the Singapore-Abu
Dhabi Joint Forum and the Singapore-Oman Joint Committee.
Singapore also engages in cultural exchanges through initiatives
such as the redevelopment of Muscat Street, the Jewel of Muscat
project and the King Abdullah Scholarship Program. Meanwhile,
Singapore continues to explore opportunities in the Maghreb
countries for new areas of cooperation.
Another platform for the two regions to come together to
discuss issues of mutual concern is the Asia-Middle East Dialogue
(AMED). The inaugural session held in Singapore in June 2005
resulted in cooperation on several tangible projects and the
formation of several open-ended working groups. For example,
to support human resource development in the region, two
AMED Regional Training Centres were established in Qatar and
Jordan respectively.
(from left) Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong hosted Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK) Rt Hon David Cameron to breakfast at the Istana during the latter’s stopover visit on 13 April 2012. Senior
Minister Goh Chok Tong calls on the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Al Maktoum and Crown Prince, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum who heads the Dubai Executive Council. German
Chancellor Angela Merkel with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana on 1 June 2011.
“In this new world, being small and being a city state is no longer such a great disadvantage… We have a
chance now to grow our links in all directions and enlarge our security and economic space. We do not know
how long this period of history favourable to us will last. In the meantime, we should work hard and quickly
to build new structures which keep the spaces open to our people. This is the reason why Singapore plays
such an active role in regional and international organisations”
George Yeo, 4 March 2005
Minister for Foreign Affairs, 2004 - 2011
(from left) New Zealand Prime Minister John Key inspecting the guard-of-honour on 18 April 2012 during his first official visit to Singapore. Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia, called on Singapore Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana during her two-day state visit to Singapore in April 2012.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Africa
Singapore maintains cordial and friendly relations
with the African countries. In recent years,
Singapore has witnessed increased interaction
with African countries through bilateral visits and
meetings at international fora.
Economic relations between Singapore and African countries
have also deepened. The inaugural edition of the Africa Singapore
Business Forum (ASBF) was organised by International Enterprise
Singapore (IES) and the Singapore Business Federation (SBF)
in July 2010. Following the ASBF, the Africa Business Group
(AfBG) was launched under the auspices of the SBF as a platform
to facilitate the exchanges between the Singapore business
community and their counterparts in Africa. The second edition
of the ASBF saw a successful run in August 2012, attracting over
200 participants from 34 African countries. Singapore also shares
its developmental experience with interested African countries
through training programmes and study visits under the Singapore
Cooperation Programme.
Australia, New Zealand and Oceania
Singapore established diplomatic relations with
both Australia and New Zealand soon after
independence in 1965.
Singapore’s relations with Australia are driven by substantial
mutual interests and deep bilateral ties in the areas of defence,
trade and investment, and education. These ties are underpinned
by a number of institutional frameworks and mechanisms,
the most important of which is the Singapore-Australia Joint
Ministerial Committee (SAJMC). Formed in 1996, the biennial
SAJMC provides a platform for both countries to share their
perspectives on issues of common interests and to advance
bilateral relations.
Singapore’s historical ties with New Zealand include close
cooperation in areas such as defence, trade and investment,
education, the arts and sports. Singapore’s first bilateral Free
Trade Agreement (FTA) was the Agreement between New
Zealand and Singapore on a Closer Economic Partnership
(ANZSCEP) signed in 1999. The signing was a milestone
in bilateral relations and set the foundation for even closer
collaboration between the countries.
Singapore has diplomatic relations with Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati,
Marshall Islands, Niue, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau,
Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu,
Tuvalu and Timor-Leste. Bilateral relations with the Pacific Island
countries are warm and friendly. Besides trade and investments,
Singapore also provides technical assistance to the Pacific Islands
through training programmes under the Singapore Cooperation
Programme.
“The US-China relationship will remain as one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world for
decades to come. A constructive relationship between the US and China will be essential for stronger global
collaboration at a time when the global economy is unstable ... Singapore has a strong equity interest in good
US-China relations ... Going forward, Singapore will continue to maintain strong and friendly relations with
both countries. We will also support the strengthening of regional platforms that will allow both the US and
China to work with the region and contribute to all our stability and growth.”
K Shanmugam, 6 March 2012
Minister for Foreign Affairs, 2011 - present
INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
The fundamentals of Singapore’s foreign policy include the need to remain useful and relevant to the
international community. Singapore has also sought, since independence, to uphold an international
system based on the rule of law. It is such fundamentals that drive Singapore’s support for various
international and multilateral organisations.
As a small state, Singapore has benefited significantly from
membership in the United Nations, and remains dedicated to the
organisation. Then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong underscored
this when he told the UN General Assembly in 1995, “Singapore
will continue to be deeply committed to the UN. Small countries
like Singapore need the UN, and must play a constructive role
in supporting it. We take the UN seriously, and will actively
help build consensus and facilitate agreement.” To demonstrate
Singapore’s willingness to take on additional responsibilities in
support of the UN and its activities, Singapore sought and was
elected, for the first time, to a non-permanent seat in the UN
Security Council from 2001- 2002. Singapore is a founding
member of the Forum of Small States (FOSS), an informal
grouping established in 1992 that now comprises 105 countries.
Singapore has been convening an informal grouping of small
and medium sized states known as the Global Governance
Group (3G). The 3G serves to foster dialogue between the
G20 member economies and the non-G20 economies. As
the coordinator of the 3G, Singapore has been invited to G20
meetings in previous years, such as the G20 Seoul Summit in
November 2010 and the G20 Cannes Summit in November 2011.
Similarly, as a small trading nation, Singapore strongly supports
an open, rules-based, multilateral trading system under the
World Trade Organisation (WTO). Singapore has been a
WTO member since 1 January 1995, and hosted the 1st WTO
Ministerial Conference (MC) in December 1996.
As a founding member, Singapore has also played an active role in
the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) since its inception
in 1989. Since then, APEC has grown to be the premier forum for
facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment
in the Asia-Pacific region. In addition, APEC continues to serve
as an essential platform to promote regional peace and security
through economic linkages. To this end, Singapore supports
APEC’s non-trade agenda, for example in the areas of technical
assistance and cooperation, human resource development,
counter-terrorism, and emergency preparedness.
Singapore has also been a member and an active participant
in the Commonwealth since independence in 1965. In 1971,
Singapore hosted the first Commonwealth Heads of Government
Meeting (CHOGM) held outside the UK. It produced a seminal
document known as the Singapore Declaration of Commonwealth
Principles. The Commonwealth’s relatively smaller size (currently
54 members), a shared language and similarities in political
institutions among member countries, makes it a useful forum
for its member states to discuss issues of common concern.
Singapore regularly participates in the Commonwealth Heads of
Government Meetings held once every two years. Singapore has
also contributed to the work of the Commonwealth through,
among others, the Commonwealth Youth Programme and the
Singapore-Commonwealth Third Country Training Programme
(TCTP) under the Singapore Cooperation Programme which
offers training courses to Commonwealth members.
The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Group of 77 (G77)
have long been key vehicles through which developing countries
discuss matters of common concern. Singapore believes that
these organisations will continue to be useful platforms for
members to voice their concerns and cooperate on issues of
mutual interest.
(from left) Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the APEC family photo session during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit on 13 November 2011 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Prime Minister
Lee Hsien Loong at the G20 Summit of Heads of State and Government on 3 November 2011 in Cannes, France.
(from left) Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the 2009 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the launch of the Asean China Centre on 17 November
2011 during the Asean-China Commemorative Summit in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Ministers & Leaders meeting at Hale Koa
Hotel in Hawaii.
INTERNATIONAL ISSUES
Singapore is committed to bilateral and multilateral cooperation in dealing with transborder issues such
as terrorism, pandemic diseases, environmental protection, energy security and non-proliferation.
Singapore strongly condemns all acts of terrorism and is
committed to the fight against terrorism. At various fora such as
the UN, APEC, Commonwealth, ASEM and ASEAN, we have
played a constructive role in strengthening international counterterrorism efforts. Singapore believes that practical cooperation
among countries and between front-line law-enforcement and
security agencies are the most effective means of achieving
tangible progress in counter terrorism.
Singapore also supports global efforts to bring about a peaceful
world environment through disarmament and the nonproliferation of weapons. In particular, Singapore takes an active
interest in disarmament through fora such as the UN and the
ASEAN Regional Forum. Singapore supports disarmament and
the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. We view
progress in nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation
in all its aspects as essential to strengthening international peace
and security. Singapore is party to the following international
disarmament and non-proliferation treaties:
•
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
•
Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty
•
Convention on the Prohibition of the Development,
Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons
and on their Destruction
•
Convention on the Prohibition of the Development,
Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological)
and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction
•
Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone
As a densely populated city-state, Singapore subscribes to
the principle of sustainable development and actively takes
part in international initiatives on the environment. Singapore
participated in the United Nations Conference on Sustainable
Development (Rio+20) in Rio de Janerio, Brazil from 20-22 June
2012. The Rio+20 Summit agreed on a plan to address issues such
as global environmental management, food security and “green
economy”. Singapore recognises that climate change is becoming
an increasingly important and immediate global issue that needs
to be addressed. Being an island nation also means that Singapore
is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including
warming temperatures and rising sea levels.
Singapore recognises that effective action and cooperation by all
countries is necessary to reduce global emissions and stabilise the
concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Singapore
is therefore committed to playing an active role in organisations
such as the UN, ASEAN and APEC on environmental and climate
change issues.
Singapore is a major refinery and petrochemical centre for
Southeast Asia. We are mindful that any disruptions to the
international suppy of oil could upset the world economy. Hence,
Singapore plays an active role in ensuring the security of the
Malacca Straits. To ensure its own security, Singapore has also
been studying ways to secure reliable, affordable and sustainable
sources of energy for the long term.
(from left) Singapore and the US signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a TCTP in February 2012 to jointly provide technical assistance to developing countries. Sharing Singapore’s urban development
experiences with course participants. Inaugural Singapore-Pacific Ministerial Study Visit on Public Administration and Sustainable Urban Development in August 2012. Singapore’s Initiative for ASEAN Integration
(IAI) training centre in Vientiane, Laos.
TECHNICAL COOPERATION
The Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) is the primary vehicle through which the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs extends its technical assistance to other developing countries.
The Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) was established
in 1992 to share Singapore’s development experience with its
friends around the world. Under the SCP, Singapore provides
technical assistance in the form of short courses, workshops
and study visits in areas where it has expertise in such as public
administration, economic development, civil aviation, human
resource development, urban planning and water management.
The SCP equips government officials from other countries with
the skills and knowledge they need to make a difference in their
home countries.
As a small state with finite resources, this is the most effective
and prudent way for Singapore to be a responsible global citizen
and give something back to the international community for the
assistance it had received in the past.
To date, the SCP has trained more than 80,000 people from
170 countries. Most of the SCP participants come from ASEAN
countries, and a significant component of the SCP goes to the
Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) to strengthen ASEAN.
Singapore also welcomes many SCP participants from China,
South Asia, Pacific Islands, Africa and the Caribbean Islands.
The SCP also collaborates with over 40 major countries (such as
the US and Japan), as well as reputable international organisations
and aid agencies (such as the International Monetary Fund,
United Nations Development Programme, and the World Bank)
to jointly provide technical assistance to others under our Third
Country Training Programme (TCTP) framework.
UNIQUELY SINGAPORE
According to the Sejarah Melayu or
Malay Annals, Sang Nila Utama (or
Sri Tri Buana), ruler of Palembang landed
at Temasek (or ‘water town’ as the early
settlement of Singapore was then known)
while seeking shelter from a storm.
Sighting an animal he took to be a lion,
he decided to establish a settlement
which he named ‘Singapura’ - Lion City.
The island became commonly known as
Singapura by the end of the 14th Century.
ANATOMY OF A COUNTRY
The History of Singapore
The history of modern Singapore dates
to the founding of the island city-state
on 6 February 1819, as a trading station
by Sir Stamford Raffles. Together with
Malacca and Penang, the two other British
settlements on the Malay Peninsula,
Singapore formed the Straits Settlements
under British control in 1826. By the
close of the 19th century, Singapore had
experienced unprecedented prosperity
and trade expanded eightfold between
1873 and 1913.
Following World War II, and the dissolution of the Straits
Settlements, Singapore became a Crown Colony on 1 April
1946. Self-government was then attained in 1959. In May that
year, Singapore’s first general election was held to choose 51
representatives to the first fully-elected Legislative Assembly.
On 16 September 1963, the merger of the Federation of
Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and North Borneo (now Sabah)
resulted in the formation of Malaysia. Singapore obtained its
full independence on 9 August 1965, when it was separated
from the rest of Malaysia. Singapore has been a sovereign,
democratic and independent nation since then.
The Land
Singapore consists of one main island and
some 63 offshore islands. At 714.3 sq km,
Singapore is the smallest nation in
Southeast Asia.
Apart from the main island, the larger islands include Pulau
Tekong, Pulau Ubin and Sentosa. Singapore has an equatorial
climate, which is warm and humid all year round.
The People
The population of Singapore stands at
approximately 5.3 million. The three main
racial groups comprise the Chinese (74.2%),
Malays (13.3%) and Indians (9.2%), and are
largely descendants of immigrants from
the Malay Peninsula, China, the Indian
sub-continent and Sri Lanka.
Other Singaporeans include the Eurasians – the descendants
of Europeans, primarily Portuguese and British, married to
Asians, and Arabs who came as traders, and eventually
married Malays. The official languages of Singapore are English,
Malay, Chinese (Mandarin) and Tamil. Malay is the national
language and English is the language of administration. The main
religions in Singapore are Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity
and Hinduism.
Over time, the development of a distinct identity as
Singaporeans, accompanied by the retention of traditional
practices, customs and festivals has resulted in a uniquely
Singaporean cultural heritage.
ANATOMY OF A COUNTRY
The Government
Singapore is a republic with a parliamentary system of
government based on the Westminster model. The Constitution
of Singapore provides for three organs of state: the Executive
(Cabinet), the Legislature and the Judiciary.
The Constitution also provides for a President who is
the Head of State, and is elected for a six-year term. The
President is empowered to veto government budgets and
key appointments to public office. He can also examine the
Government’s exercise of its powers under the Internal
Security Act and religious harmony laws, and in investigations
into cases of corruption.
Under Article 24 of the Constitution, the Cabinet is
responsible for all government policies and the day-to-day
administration of the affairs of the state. The Cabinet is led
by the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the President, as
the Member of Parliament who commands the confidence
of the majority of the Members of Parliament. The Cabinet
is collectively responsible to the Parliament.
The unicameral Parliament is elected by General Election
every five years. Members of Parliament (MPs) are
elected into Parliament on a first-past-the-post basis and
represent either Single Member or Group Representation
Constituencies (GRCs). At least one member of a GRC must
belong to a minority race and all members of the group must
be from the same political party or alliance.
The Constitution also provides for the appointment of
other MPs not elected at a General Election. Up to nine
Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs) from
opposition political parties can be appointed. Constitutional
Provisions also exist for the appointment of up to nine
Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs) to ensure a
wider representation of community views in Parliament.
NMPs are appointed by the President for a term of
two-and-a-half years on the recommendation of a Special
Select Committee of Parliament chaired by the Speaker.
The present Twelfth Parliament consists of 87 elected
MPs, three NCMPs and nine NMPs.
The third organ of state provided for under the
Constitution is the Judiciary, consisting of the Supreme
Court and the Subordinate Courts. The Chief Justice is
the head of the Judiciary. The Supreme Court is made up
of the Court of Appeal and the High Court, and hears
both civil and criminal matters.
SINGAPORE – CONNECTING THE WORLD
Small and Open Economy
Singapore is a small, open economy that is highly dependent on trade.
In 2012, Singapore’s total merchandise trade amounted to
S$985 billion and its merchandise trade to gross domestic
product (GDP) ratio was nearly 300 %, one of the highest in
the world. As part of our commitment to working with likeminded countries to further the cause of free trade, Singapore
has also developed an extensive network of Free Trade
Agreements, Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreements and
Investment Guarantee Agreements.
Manufacturing and services are the twin engines of the
Singapore economy and accounted for about 21% and 69%
of the GDP respectively. Within the manufacturing sector,
electronics and biomedical manufacturing clusters accounted
for more than half of the sector’s value-added. Among the
services sectors, wholesale & retail trade, business services,
and financial & insurance sectors are the key sectors.
Singapore’s principal exports include petroleum products,
electronic components, telecommunication equipment, data
processing machines and pharmaceuticals.
At the heart of Singapore’s thriving business ecosystem
is a unique blend of competitive strengths. These include
comprehensive air, sea and IT infrastructures that provide for
the seamless flow of goods and services to markets around
the world. Singapore also consistently scores high marks in
global and regional rankings of the factors that matter to
businesses, including political risk, ease of doing business and
corporate governance.
Singapore is also an effective springboard for companies
venturing into and out of Asia and has built up its position as a
“Home for Talent” from which companies to access, develop
and deploy talent, in Asia and globally.
SINGAPORE – CONNECTING THE WORLD
Key Economic Sectors
Biomedical Sciences (BMS) is a key cluster in
the manufacturing sector. Singapore is home
to six of the world’s top 10 pharmaceutical
companies’ manufacturing facilities, and one
of the key strategic manufacturing locations
of the global BMS industry.
The finance & insurance sector is also an important sector
of Singapore’s economy. As an international financial centre
which serves investors worldwide, this sector constitutes
about 12% of Singapore’s GDP, and provides jobs to 5.5% of
the workforce. Singapore has attracted a diverse mix of more
than 700 financial institutions, and is now recognised as the
world’s third largest foreign exchange trading centre.
Tourism is another contributor to the Singapore economy.
In 2012, visitor arrivals rose 9.5% to reach 14.4 million while
tourism receipts grew 3% to S$23 billion.
Aided by sophisticated port facilities and shipyards, Singapore
has developed into a premier International Maritime Centre
where ships hub and ancillary services in shipping, commerce
and logistics flourish. Singapore is currently the world’s busiest
container transhipment hub and receives more than 130,000
vessel calls every year. We are connected to more than 600
ports in over 120 countries.
As one of the world’s busiest and well-connected air hubs,
Changi Airport is served by some 108 airlines flying to close to
260 cities in more than 60 countries worldwide and handles
about 6,800 weekly scheduled flights. Further adding to our
status as a world-class airport, Terminal Three was completed
in 2008, with Terminal Four slated to be opened by 2017.
Further expansion to Changi’s airport and aerodrome
infrastructure is also being planned, with a new Terminal
Five slated to start operations in the mid-2020s. Singapore
is also a fervent supporter of free and open competition in
the aviation sector, having signed air services agreements
with more than 110 countries, including various multilateral
Open Skies Agreements (OSAs). [Note: figures from
CAAS, as at August 2013]