Singapore, EU have common grounds to forge deeper links, says Tan See Leng
Singapore, EU have common grounds to forge deeper links, says Tan See Leng
SINGAPORE – Singapore sees opportunities to deepen collaboration with the European Union, such as in digital trade and the green economy, Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng told guests at the European Chamber of Commerce Singapore's (EuroCham) annual general meeting.
Both Singapore and the EU have strong digital ecosystems, and are committed to achieving net-zero carbon neutrality by 2025, said Dr Tan, who is also Second Minister for Trade and Industry.
The groundwork is there, with the EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement signed in 2024. The pact, the first bilateral digital economy agreement between the EU and an Asean country, provides greater certainty and clarity for Singapore businesses and citizens to engage in cross-border trade in the area, said Dr Tan.
He added that Singapore and the EU could find joint opportunities in green finance, standards, technology and innovation.
The event on April 22 at Jen Hotel Tanglin was attended by more than 100 members of the chamber, as well as the EU ambassador to Singapore, Ms Iwona Piorko, and Mr Jens Rubbert, president of the European Chamber of Commerce.
In a fireside chat with Mr Rubbert, who asked how Singapore plans to keep itself attractive to European investments, Dr Tan said Singapore offers consistency through a stable political environment.
Referring to the Singapore general election's Nomination Day, which falls on April 23, Dr Tan said: 'I know we are on the eve of the hustings. We (the ruling party) certainly hope that we will come back. But regardless of who's in charge, this consistency is in our civil service, our civil servants.'
And while Singapore is not a low-cost location due to its limited land size, it compensates with efficiency and a transparent tax regime. Singapore also has a reputation for safety, credibility, and openness to global talent, he added.
Dr Tan also urged the EU to consider trade agreements with members of Asean.
'The good thing about Asean is that we actually still have a population pyramid,' he said, citing as examples Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, which have growing and educated youth populations.
At the regional level, Singapore would like to work more with the EU under the umbrella of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). CPTPP and the EU account for 30 per cent of global output.
The EU ranks second as Singapore's trading partner for services and fourth for goods, while Singapore is the EU's largest trading partner in Asean. The two parties have a bilateral free trade pact, and trade more than €130 billion (S$195 billion) in goods and services between them as at 2022.
Amid global trade tensions, Dr Tan stressed Singapore's commitment to open trade, and called for continued engagement with European businesses, which has added to job growth for Singaporeans.
There are over 14,000 European companies in Singapore, many using it as a regional hub, logistics and distribution centre.
Dr Tan added that foreign firms make up 20 per cent of companies here but provide nearly a third of jobs and a significant share of high-paying positions, while also supporting local small and medium-sized enterprises that mostly hire locals.
These firms contribute an 'outsized share' of higher-paying jobs, employing six in 10 residents who earn a gross monthly income of above $12,500, he said.
The Government invests in developing local talent through initiatives like Workforce Singapore's Career Conversion Programmes and the Overseas Market Immersion Programme (OMIP), with support from EuroCham.
It also attracts global talent via schemes such as the Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass, with about 3,000 passes issued in 2024.
In his closing remarks, Dr Tan said Singapore remains a credible, consistent and committed partner, with clear, transparent and predictable rules.
'What you see is what you get... The protection of your IP (intellectual property) is in a safe, stable, secure environment. And we will always be open to global talent,' he said.
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Asia News Network
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- Asia News Network
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Straits Times
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- Straits Times
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Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan (left) in a conversation moderated by Associate Professor Simon Tay at the 17th Asean and Asia Forum on Aug 5. SINGAPORE – The recent armed clash between Cambodia and Thailand was a setback not only for peace in the region, but also Asean's credibility, said Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. The territorial dispute raised questions about Asean's ability to prevent and manage crises, and Dr Balakrishnan said while such disputes are not uncommon in South-east Asia, he emphasised that violence can be avoided. When it does occur, it reflects a failure of leadership, said Dr Balakrishnan, who also cautioned against letting matters deteriorate into catastrophe , as the region faces rising geopolitical tensions and an increasingly fragmented global economic landscape. Speaking at the 17th Asean and Asia Forum organised by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs on Aug 5, Dr Balakrishnan described the Cambodia-Thailand conflict as a serious blow for the grouping. 'There's no need to put lipstick on this. This is a setback, a major setback, not just for peace and stability, but for credibility in Asean,' he told an audience of about 300 diplomats, academics and business leaders at the Parkroyal on Beach Road. Countries in the region have long lived with unresolved territorial disputes between them , which Dr Balakrishnan noted 'is not a short list'. But he stressed that the existence of such disputes does not mean they must result in violence. ' Just because you have got areas which have not yet been delimited or which are in contention, does not mean it has to lead to violence, and the fact that violence occurs is a failure of diplomacy, and arguably complicated when leadership is hamstrung,' he said. The solution, said Dr Balakrishnan, is for nations to f irst take care of their own societies – a point he has often made by emphasising that foreign policy begins at home. He noted that a backlash against globalisation and trade, including the weaponisation of tariffs and supply chains, often stems from domestic insecurity and a loss of confidence that existing systems are delivering fair outcomes for all segments of society . 'If your home front is not settled, it is very difficult to conduct economic or diplomatic (policy),' he said. Dr Balakrishnan's comments came after a ceasefire was brokered on July 28 in Malaysia, who is this year's Asean chair, following five days of clashes between Cambodia and Thailand. The fighting left more than 40 dead and displaced over 300,000 people along their shared border. The incident remains one of the most serious armed confrontations between Asean member states in recent years. Asean Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, who spoke in a separate session at the same forum, said Malaysia's chairmanship played a key role in calming tensions. 'The decisive decision by the Asean chair to intervene has been remarkable,' he said, adding that defence ministers from both sides have resumed talks in Kuala Lumpur and that progress is being made. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Aug 5 that Putrajaya is prepared to deploy a monitoring team to the border if requested by both Thailand and Cambodia, though for now, the situation is being observed remotely via satellite and coordinated through Malaysia's defence attaché. The Cambodian-Thai tensions come as Asean continues to manage the fallout from the Myanmar crisis, which has seen ongoing violence and political instability since a military coup in 2021. The grouping has barred Myanmar's ruling junta from key meetings due to their failure to implement peace plans and end the violence that has gripped the country since it seized power. Dr Balakrishnan said the roots of the conflict there run deeper than politics, citing Myanmar's long-standing failure to forge a cohesive national identity. National reconciliation, moral leadership, and political imagination are essential, he said, adding that military force is not sufficient. Push for deeper integration Both leaders in their separate sessions also spoke about the broader regional and global context, warning that the space for cooperation is narrowing amid growing economic fragmentation and weakening multilateral institutions. To a question on how Asean will navigate the current economic situation, Dr Kao said that member states are responding both individually and collectively, though there is still considerable uncertainty ahead. On the impact of US tariffs, he said the immediate priority is to minimise their effects and protect livelihoods. Governments are working to finalise the upgraded Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (Atiga), which is expected to be signed in October, as part of efforts to move closer to the grouping's single market goal. The Atiga, a key free trade agreement for the region, was signed in 2009 and came into force a year later. Negotiations to upgrade this agreement were concluded in May. Meanwhile, Dr Balakrishnan described the current moment as the end of the post-Cold War era of rules-based globalisation. The result, he said, is a 'world disorder' in which international institutions such as the United Nations Security Council and the World Trade Organisation are increasingly paralysed. He noted that since January, developments such as new United States tariffs and the so-called 'Liberation Day' shift in trade policy have underscored the urgency of adapting Singapore's external and domestic strategies. While bilateral and regional deals continue to be signed, he warned that the erosion of global norms means small states like Singapore must navigate a more transactional and fragmented world. Dr Balakrishnan said that Asean must engage all partners and practise flexible multilateralism but also acknowledged that operating by consensus can at times feel like a straitjacket that slows progress. The goal, he said, is not to abandon consensus, but to recognise that insisting on unanimity can make decisions nearly impossible, especially when some members act as spoilers. He stressed the need for a system in which if enough members want to move forward constructively, they should be allowed to do so. Asean should continue seeking compromises, but not allow consensus to become a permanent obstacle. For Singapore to tackle global shifts, Dr Balakrishnan outlined a three-part strategy of reforming global institutions, deepening regional integration, and reinforcing t he country's domestic economic resilience. Global institutions must be reformed in terms of representation, decision-making, and process, said Dr Balakrishnan. And on its part, Singapore is contributing to this effort through its nominations to international bodies. He gave the example of veteran diplomat and international law expert Rena Lee, who will be fielded by Singapore for election as a judge at the International Court of Justice in 2026. On regionalisation, Dr Balakrishnan noted that Singapore's leaders have consistently attended Asean meetings, and the Republic is working with the grouping to expand key trade agreements and launch new economic frameworks. Regarding efforts to reinforce Singapore's domestic economic resilience, Dr Balakrishnan pointed to an ongoing review of the country's economic strategy, announced by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong on Aug 4. The review will develop long-term plans to boost Singapore's global competitiveness and enhance the start-up ecosystem. Committees led by political office-holders will engage stakeholders and present their recommendations by mid-2026. Singapore is also focused on managing its external partnerships carefully. Dr Balakrishnan said Asean remains Singapore's 'innermost core' politically, militarily and economically. He stressed the need for member states to 'hang together or hang separately.' Beyond the region, Singapore must also carefully manage its relations with the United States and China, Dr Balakrishnan said. This includes handling ties bilaterally, as well as navigating 'space between them, and where we fit'. 'We don't want to be forced on two sides, but we want to have a value proposition for both, so that they have a stake in our success and prosperity,' he said.
