Address: 301 Jervois Road
Singapore 249077
Tel: 6235 0111 Fax: 6733 6135 Email: mwsingapore@kln.gov.my and protocol@mhc.org.sg
National Day: National Day 31 Aug
2019 Embassy Activities Round-Up
Malaysia: Visits Also for Future Collaborations
NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong launched the Enhanced Partnership Programme in May
The architecture of both countries’ relationship is so designed that it has readily accommodated the impact of the changes that have been sweeping through the global political, economic and cultural landscapes down the years
It’s been a busy year for the New Zealand High Commission. It kicked off by welcoming the new High Commissioner, HE Jo Tyndall, to Singapore in February. Since then, the High Commission has supported a number of ministerial visits and delegations from New Zealand, and hosted a range of events.
One of the panel discussions from the week-long EP roadshow in NZ
The centrepiece of this year’s work has been the Singapore-New Zealand Enhanced Partnership (EP). Launched by Prime Ministers Jacinda Ardern and Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana in May, the EP both reaffirms the close relationship between Singapore and New Zealand, and outlines multiple ways which will deepen bilateral ties across four key areas – defence, trade, science and innovation, and people-to-people links. The High Commission has already stepped up its engagement with communities both in Singapore and New Zealand to promote and profile the EP. Informal briefing sessions here in Singapore were complemented by a business-focused week-long EP Roadshow across four New Zealand cities, led by High Commissioner Tyndall and Trade Commissioner Hayley Horan.
While the Leader-led ceremonies to launch the EP were a real thrill, it has been even more rewarding to see a number of EP initiatives come to life in the second half of
the year.
Opening of the NZ Pavilion at the Singapore Fintech Festival
In October, the High Commission hosted New Zealand food and data scientists who were in Singapore for workshops with their counterparts that will kick-start two exciting research programmes under the science and innovation pillar of the EP.
The National Museum of Singapore and Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand’s national museum, signed a Memorandum of Arrangement (MoA) that will pave the way for a close working relationship, to be kicked off in December by an immersive New Zealand exhibit, Astrolabe-whakaterenga.
Some aspects of the High Commission’s job really allowed the High Commission to indulge in its passions. Highlights have included supporting the screening of New Zealand film Vai, posting a light-hearted “competitive” video with the High Commission’s diplomatic counterparts for the recent Rugby World Cup, having its very first country pavilion at the Singapore FinTech Festival, and attending a fashion show by Singaporean designer, Jo Kilda. It’s been a fast-paced, but exciting 2019 –
so bring it on 2020, let’s see what you
have got.
