Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of the Argentine Republic His Excellency Jorge Faurie, who is on an introductory visit to Singapore, was hosted to lunch by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan. Both sides reaffirmed the warm and growing relations between Singapore and Argentina, and discussed opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade and investment facilitation, agri-trade, joint third-country training, and technology and innovation. They also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern, and agreed to work closely in the lead up to, and during Argentina’s G20 Presidency and Singapore’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2018.
Minister Balakrishnan and Minister Faurie signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on International Development Cooperation. With the MOU, Singapore and Argentina will work together to share developmental best practices with third countries. As a start, both sides are jointly organising a capacity-building workshop on the theme of Smart Nation to be held in Singapore later this year. There are also plans for another workshop in Argentina next year.
Later this evening, the two Ministers will officiate the opening of the Argentine Embassy in Singapore, which sends a strong signal of Argentina’s commitment to engaging Singapore and the region.
Minister Faurie will also meet Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade) Lim Hng Kiang, and officials from the Economic Development Board and International Enterprise Singapore, before departing Singapore later this evening.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
4 SEPTEMBER 2017