SINGAPORE INVESTMENT TO PHL: Singaporeans are keen on investing in information technology, renewable energy and infrastructure in the Philippines, the city-state’s President Tony Tan Keng Yam told President Duterte

“Both our countries believe in trade and development to improve the lives of our peoples. Singapore companies are keen to invest in the Philippines – one of Asia’s fastest growing economies,” Tan said before proposing a toast with Duterte during a state banquet for the Philippine leader.

Tan also sees expansion of Singapore businesses beyond Metro Manila to other major urban centers such as Cebu and Duterte’s home province of Davao.

Tan cited Singapore companies such as SIA Engineering and Singtel as contributors to the development of quality infrastructure, urban planning and ICT services.

Singapore is the Philippines’ fourth largest trading partner and a top ASEAN investor.

“Both Singapore and the Philippines are doing more to enhance economic and business cooperation,” he said, noting that International Enterprise Singapore (IE Singapore) has assisted a number of Singapore companies from the renewable energy and consumerism sector to secure their first projects in the Philippines.

“I am pleased to note that IE Singapore is devoting more resources to step up its presence in the Philippines in 2017, to better serve the growing interest of Singapore companies in the Philippine market,” he added.

“The strong economic ties between the Philippines and Singapore are complemented by warm people-to-people relations. Singapore is a familiar place to many Filipinos,” Tan said.

President Duterte’s two-day state visit was capped yesterday with the naming of an orchid Dendrobium Rodrigo Roa Duterte in his honor at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Naming orchids to visiting heads of state and VIPs is a practice – and a show of courtesy – of the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Duterte also met with some 7,000 Filipinos at the Singapore Expo pavilions.

Each year, Tan said Singapore welcomes about 700,000 visitors from the Philippines who usually visit the Universal Studios and Gardens by the Bay, as well enjoy the city-state’s delectable cuisine.

“Many Singaporeans enjoy visiting the beautiful beaches in the Visayas and the majestic mountains of the Cordillera region,” he added.

The Singaporean leader also paid tribute to the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, whose first port call on his way to Europe was Singapore.

Rizal also played a role in documenting some of Singapore’s history during his visits here in the 19th century.

“The links between Singapore and the Philippines go back a long way,” Tan said.

“Between 1882 and 1896, Dr. Jose Rizal visited Singapore four times, where he recorded detailed observations of the sights and sounds of pre-independence Singapore,” he noted.

Rizal’s notes and insights provided a valuable account of 19th century Singapore. A memorial to Dr. Rizal that now stands on the grounds of the Asian Civilizations Museum.

“Since those days, the exchanges between the Philippines and Singapore have blossomed, especially after diplomatic relations were established in 1969,” Tan said.

“Today, our two countries enjoy a robust friendship anchored in a shared vision of peace, harmony, and prosperity for our countries and the region,” he added.

Free trade pushed

Duterte, for his part, cited anew the need for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to speed up negotiations for a regional free trade agreement next year.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez relayed Duterte’s message here at a press briefing.

“We’ve had very good discussions with respect to really enhancing trade and investment cooperation, especially here in Singapore,” Lopez said.

– With Richmond Mercurio

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