Singapore and Austria sign deals, boosting ties
Aim for more cooperation in digitalisation
Singapore and Austria are discussing an agreement in digitalisation, an area in which both countries have "more than an interest, almost an obsession", said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday.
"We are discussing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between our two countries, and I am sure we will be able to work out one which is substantial and valuable to all sides," he said at a lunch he hosted for Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who is on a three-day official visit to Singapore ending today.
The free trade agreement between Singapore and the European Union will be signed this year during Austria's term as president of the EU, said Mr Lee.
Mr Kurz said the EU-Singapore FTA was in everyone's interest and Austria would do its best to ensure the deal happened.
Both leaders expressed a commitment towards free trade and a rules-based multilateral system, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement.They also said, in their speeches, that Austria and Singapore could boost cooperation and strengthen ties between Europe and South-east Asia, in the course of Austria's EU presidency and Singapore's Asean chairmanship.
Mr Lee said Austria and Singapore could do more to create new areas of cooperation between the two countries and their regions.
Mr Kurz said both regions could work together to better coordinate their efforts in tackling climate change and improving cyber security.
While Austria hopes to learn from Singapore in areas such as education and government technology, it also hopes to contribute in engineering equipment, medical technology and infrastructure, he said.
Mr Lee noted that Singapore has used many Austrian civil engineering technologies. For instance, the skylights at Changi Airport Terminal 3, which adjust automatically to the sun and allow soft natural light to enter, were designed by Austrian lighting expert Bartenbach.
Mr Kurz witnessed the signing of five MOUs between Singapore start-ups and Austria's Global Incubator Network, which connects start-ups with investors.
He called on President Halimah Yacob earlier in the day. They reaffirmed the friendly relations between the two countries, which share interests as small states, said the MFA. They also exchanged views on education, global and regional developments and more.
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