African firms urged to make Singapore a base, partner in the region
Minister Chan Chun Sing wants more African carriers to fly here to boost links
Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing yesterday called on African businesses to make Singapore a base and a partner "in South-east Asia and beyond", adding that aviation agreements to boost physical connectivity would be practical for enabling business links.
Even as some developed economies pull back from the world stage, Africa and South-east Asia can work together more closely and promote economic integration, Mr Chan said in a keynote address at the biennial Africa Singapore Business Forum.
"While the economies of Africa and South-east Asia continue to work towards openness and integration, we also see other countries retreating from globalisation because of their domestic difficulties," he said.
"We hear of tariffs, trade tensions between major players and protectionism on a regular basis. We are already seeing the real effects of such actions and rhetoric on the commercial decisions of many companies.
"Against this backdrop, it is important that we continue to believe in, and promote and support, economic integration and cooperation, with a strong conviction that open economies, connected economies, inter-dependent economies, ultimately bring better jobs and better income for our people," Mr Chan told the 600 delegates at the forum.
VISIT
Noting that the third Singapore-Sub-Saharan Africa High-Level Ministerial Exchange Visit was under way this week under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Chan said it was "essential for our governments to continue forging partnerships and create conducive environments to support business-to-business interactions".
Increasing physical connectivity through various aviation agreements would be a practical enabler of greater business linkages, said Mr Chan.
Ethiopian Airlines and Air Mauritius are the only African airlines flying to Singapore, and "we hope and encourage to see more African carriers do the same in future", he added.
Five other pacts were signed at the event held at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront hotel and organised by government agency, Enterprise Singapore.
Such agreements should result in more partnerships between Singapore and African companies, said Enterprise Singapore chief executive Png Cheong Boon.
He cited "tremendous opportunities in Africa, particularly in the area of consumer products, manufacturing, digital economy and infrastructure development" in his opening remarks at the forum.
Enterprise Singapore said it has facilitated nearly 50 projects for Singapore companies in Africa in the last two years, 80 per cent of which were undertaken by small and medium-sized enterprises.
More than 60 Singapore companies are present in Africa, operating across more than 40 countries and multiple industries. - THE STRAITS TIMES
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