Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Community Development and Sports, and Mayor of Central Singapore District Mr Sam Tan led a Singapore delegation comprising officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Economic Development Board, International Enterprise Singapore and SPRING Singapore at the second World Regions Forum (WRF) that was held in Milan from 28-30 September 2011.
The WRF was launched at the initiative of the Region of Lombardy in Italy in November 2009 to strengthen strategic cooperation among sub-national governments from various countries around the world, which represent administrative regions that are responsible for a significant proportion of their respective national economies. It was the brainchild of President of the Lombardy Region Mr Roberto Formigoni.
Sixteen regions* attended the second WRF to build on the foundations laid by the inaugural WRF. This year's meeting focused on the theme, "Multilevel Governance and Civil Society for Innovation and Growth". Workshops were held to foster contacts and exchanges of views among participating regions on enhancing mobility of researchers, sustainable use and management of water, improving cancer care and developing bio-banks.
During the visit to Milan, Mr Tan also took the opportunity to call on Mr Formigoni, as well as the Mayor of Milan Mr Giuliano Pisapia to strengthen ties between Singapore and the region of Lombardy and city of Milan.
Mr Tan will return to Singapore today.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
1 OCTOBER 2011
*They were Baden-Württemberg (Germany), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Catalan (Spain), Gauteng (South Africa), Illinois (USA), Lombardy (Italy), Madrid (Spain), Maharashtra (India), Massachusetts (USA), Nuevo Leon (Mexico), Shanghai (China), Quebec (Canada), Rhône-Alpes (France), St Petersburg (Russia), São Paolo (Brazil) and Singapore.