US – S’PORE’S FIRST BILATERAL BUSINESS INITIATIVE UNDER NEW US ADMINISTRATION
IN a joint statement published in the Singapore press on 17th November 2021, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong said the countries have launched a “strategic pathfinder” for new ways to deepen economic integration; called the Partnership for Growth and Innovation (PGI), it is the first new economic initiative between the United States and a country in Asia under the Biden-Harris Administration. It further went on to say that the initiative underscores the strong interest of U.S. companies in Singapore and Southeast Asia as key nodes in global supply chains and in growing markets with significant business opportunities.
Secretary Gina Raimondo was on her first visit to Singapore co-chairing an industry roundtable with Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong. Co-organized by The American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore and the Singapore Business Federation, the event was an opportunity for U.S. and Singapore business leaders to contribute to the work plan of the U.S-Singapore Partnership for the PGI.
Brazil Co-Chair Last SBF LABG Meeting 17th Nov 2021 – Brazil’s Ambassador to Singapore H.E. Eugênia Barthelmess had the honour to co-chair the last meeting this year of the Singapore Business Federation’s Latin American Business Group (LABG). Brazil considers the LABG to be an important platform for the facilitation of business-to-business contacts between companies in Singapore and in Latin America.
Wärtsilä Voyage – MPA Collaborate on Smart Port Innovation & Digitalisation 23rd Nov 2021 – Wärtsilä Voyage has signed a landmark MoU with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) to further strengthen their collaboration in smart port innovation and digitalisation. On hand to witness the virtual signing ceremony was HE Ambassador Antti Vänskä. Mr Koh Chin Yong, MPA’s Chief Information Officer/Acting Director (IT) said, “At MPA, we have been leading the development and implementation of digital port clearance technology to improve efficiency in the world’s leading hub port. This collaboration (with Wärtsilä) further solidifies our commitment towards digitalisation to support port-to-port optimisation and maritime decarbonisation.”
New Czech-Singapore Committee 7th October 2021 – The Czech-Singapore Committee was formed at the Czech Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Vladimír Dlouhý, President of the Czech Chamber delivered the opening speech where he highlighted Singapore as a business and financial centre of global importance and praised the reopening of the Czech Embassy in Singapore. He also outlined future challenges in mutual relations, in particular the reciprocal opening of the Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in the Czech Republic. According to Mr Vladmir the island state is newly ranked as one of the 14 priority countries for the expansion of Czech business. Mr. Marcel Bednar, President of the Czech-Singapore Chamber of Commerce, has been appointed as the Chairman of the Czech-Singapore Committee at the Czech Chamber of Commerce.
