PM: S'pore must be successful to stay relevant globally

A thriving Republic spurs interest in other countries to do business with it

By Sumiko Tan, The Straits Times, 2 Nov 2013

SINGAPORE must be successful to be relevant in the world, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Only then would countries be interested in doing business and engaging with it.

He made this observation to the Singapore media when asked what he had discussed with Polish leaders during his official visit to the country.

Mr Lee said they saw Singapore as a success story, and were interested in the country's political stability, good business environment and how the lives of Singaporeans were being improved.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also noted during their talks that when Poland seeks to cooperate with other countries, it wants to look for a successful model to work with.

Mr Lee said of Mr Tusk's view: "Then we're both contributing ideas, proposals, effort, energy and making things happen; we're not asking each other for grants or for help, and therefore it's much easier and much more fruitful and productive and fulfilling."

This, Mr Lee said, was a good position for Singapore to be in.

"It's important that Singaporeans understand this, because it's as a result of our success that we are relevant in the world," he said at the interview on Thursday.

"Other countries are interested in engaging us and doing business with us, and find us able to make a contribution, in ideas, in perspectives, information which they can take in. 'Ah, that tells me something about South-east Asia, about Asia, about how other small countries have managed their problems.'

"So they can pick up something valuable, and I think we must never lose that position.

"Which is why I said don't assume we're cruising along. Work hard."

Before arriving in Poland on Wednesday, Mr Lee had spent three days in Paris where he met French leaders, including President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.

He also met business leaders and had a dialogue with more than 100 French intellectuals at the French Institute of International Relations.

He was asked not just about policies in Singapore, but also his views on Asia and Europe.

Beyond cementing bilateral ties, the trip was also to get the support of French and Polish leaders for the early ratification of the European Union-Singapore free trade agreement.

The legal text has already been initialled, and the landmark pact must now be translated into all 24 EU languages and approved at several levels.

Mr Lee said that his ministers have been lobbying each of the EU countries on the pact, which will have direct economic benefits to both sides.

He also made the point to leaders of both countries that the agreement has a wider significance as it is a signal that the EU is interested in Asia and would like to do more.

The pact would then be a goal for other countries to broaden their ties with the EU.

On Thursday, Mr Lee and his delegation flew from Warsaw to the city of Gdansk, together with Mr Tusk, who was born in the city.

On Friday, Mr Lee laid a wreath at Westerplatte Monument, the site of the official start of World War II.

He also visited the city's Deep Container Terminal.

Mr Lee and the delegation left for Singapore on Friday night.

Singapore, Poland pledge to bolster links

Both countries well placed to work together for mutual benefit: PM Lee

By Sumiko Tan, The Straits Times, 1 Nov 2013

PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk yesterday pledged to explore more ways in which their countries can work together.

At a joint press conference, PM Lee, who is on his first official visit to Poland, said he had a very good meeting with Mr Tusk.

The European Union-Singapore free trade agreement, which is awaiting ratification, will benefit Poland, he added.

Among other things, it will make it easier for Polish exporters of meat and automobile parts to ship their goods to Singapore.

Polish businesses will also gain stronger protection of geographical indications for spirits such as Polish Vodka.

Mr Tusk recalled his visit to Singapore in November last year and said the Republic was "one of the most desired partners" when it comes to fields like innovation.

Earlier, Mr Lee was welcomed at a ceremony at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland, a stately building in a wide, tree- lined street. He and Mr Tusk held bilateral talks, followed by lunch.

To underline both countries' commitment to strengthen links, they also witnessed a signing ceremony to renew a 2005 memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research and the Polish National Centre for Research and Development. Among other things, it allows for joint research and exchanges of scientists.

Mr Lee also signed the condolence book of former Polish prime minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki, who died on Monday.

In a programme-packed day, he also called on Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski and met the leaders of the Polish Parliament's Lower and Upper Houses, Marshal Ewa Kopacz and Marshal Bogdan Borusewicz, respectively.

On Wednesday, Mr Lee, who is here with a business delegation, told a gathering of Polish and Singapore businessmen that both countries were well placed to work together for mutual benefit.

"Singapore can be a gateway for Polish companies in Asia, just as Poland can be one gateway for Singapore companies looking at Europe, in particular central and Eastern Europe," he said.

Speaking at the Poland-Singapore Business Forum organised by the Polish Agency for Foreign Investment and the Singapore Business Federation, he noted that Poland is regarded as one of Europe's bright lights.

Since the end of communism in 1989, it has been completely transformed and is one of Europe's fastest growing economies.

Last year, Poland was Singapore's 18th largest trading partner in the European Union. Trade between the two countries totalled about $563 million, with imports from Poland valued at $255 million and exports to Poland at $307 million.

As of end 2011, the total stock of Singapore's direct investment into Poland was about $25.8 million. As of end 2010 - the year with the most recent data available - Poland was Singapore's 58th largest foreign investor, and Singapore's total foreign direct investment stock from Poland was $103 million.

Mr Lee noted that while progress has been made on trade and investment, "the level we are at is far from the potential we could be", and that the numbers were a "good base we can grow".

He left for the city of Gdansk in the evening.

Students seize chance to meet PM

By Sumiko Tan, The Straits Times, 1 Nov 2013

WARSAW - When student Chng Pei Ying read on The Straits Times website earlier this week that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was in Paris and would be visiting Warsaw next, she saw an opportunity.

The Singaporean got in touch with other citizens who, like her, are currently on exchange programmes at universities in the Polish capital, and asked: "Shall we ask to meet him?"

They were as enthusiastic as she was. So the 22-year-old, a Singapore Management University (SMU) student now at Kozminski University, sent a private message to Mr Lee's Facebook page.

Within a day, a reply came from the Prime Minister's Office: He would be happy to meet all of them before his dinner.

And so on Wednesday evening, seven smartly turned- out 20-somethings spent 45 minutes in lively conversation with Mr Lee in his hotel suite.

He had flown in just hours earlier from Paris for his first official visit to Poland.

SMU student Jared Heng, 23, now studying at Warsaw School of Economics, said: "It was a nice, cosy setting.

"It's very difficult to get a chance to meet him in Singapore, and we were fortunate to get to meet him here."

The seven are business, accountancy and economics students from SMU, the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). They met through the exchange programme and have been based at various Warsaw universities since September. They will be here for a semester.

Writing on his Facebook page later, Mr Lee said he did not realise Poland was such a popular destination for students from SMU, NUS and NTU.

"They are enjoying their stay here and learning about Polish history, culture, language (one of the most difficult), food (Polish dumplings), and its growth story," he added.

After the meeting with the Prime Minister, the seven, still flushed with excitement, headed to the train station for their next adventure - a weekend in Prague.