Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s visit to Saudi Arabia strengthens bilateral ties and explores avenues for cooperation in trade, energy, and technology
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong embarked on an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from the 17th to the 20th of October, 2023. During his visit, PM Lee was warmly received by Crown Prince and Prime Minister His Royal Highness Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at the Al Yamamah Palace. Both leaders reaffirmed the robust bilateral relations between Singapore and Saudi Arabia, expressing a mutual commitment to further elevate cooperation in key areas.
The discussions between PM Lee and Crown Prince Mohammed centered on enhancing collaboration in trade and investment, green energy initiatives, digital economy, and public sector development. Both leaders expressed enthusiasm for continued exchange programs and the sharing of best practices.
The Saudi-Singapore Joint Committee (SSJC) also garnered significant attention during the visit. PM Lee and Crown Prince Mohammed welcomed the comprehensive cooperation fostered by the SSJC, particularly in areas like connectivity, digital economy, innovation, and energy and industry. PM Lee extended an invitation to Saudi companies to utilize Singapore as an entry point to Southeast Asia, emphasizing its strategic position in the region.
PM Lee expressed gratitude to Crown Prince Mohammed for Saudi Arabia’s support in revising and upgrading the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-Singapore Free Trade Agreement to encompass emerging economic sectors. Additionally, PM Lee thanked Crown Prince Mohammed for the support extended to Singaporean pilgrims during the COVID-19 pandemic and requested an increase in the official quota.
The leaders also engaged in discussions concerning recent global and regional developments, paying special attention to the tensions in the Middle East.
On the sidelines of the visit, several MOUs and agreements were slated to be signed, covering critical areas such as human capital development, leadership training, technical and vocational education, fintech cooperation, energy collaboration, and logistics integration.
