JETRO Topics
Commemorative Symposium on 50th Anniversary of Japan-Singapore Diplomatic Relations
September 2016
On September 28, JETRO held the “Commemorative Symposium on the 50th Anniversary of Japan-Singapore Diplomatic Relations” in Tokyo. The symposium was joined by about 280 participants, and co-hosted by IE Singapore, Nikkei Business Publications and the Straits Times, under the theme of “Economic Partnership for Sustainable Growth and Social Innovation in ASEAN.”
JETRO Chairman and CEO Hiroyuki Ishige stated in his opening remarks that both Singapore and Japan would be able to create new business opportunities if they combined efforts toward solving the common issues they face - such as those related to aging societies with falling birthrates as well as urbanization - by devoting human resources and advanced technologies like those related to artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. He also emphasized that the TPP must be ratified as a new trade framework as quickly as possible to change the course of anti-trade and protectionist sentiments emerging from the US presidential election. “Our mission,” said Chairman Ishige, “is to globally disseminate new rules on trade and investment for the 21st century and to boost sustainable growth and innovation.” Following that, Chief Executive Officer Lee Ark Boon of IE Singapore announced that Scoot Pte., a Singaporean low-cost long-haul airline owned by Singapore Airlines, opened regular international flights between Singapore and Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, Japan. He proclaimed that this would have the added benefit of contributing to the export of Japanese agricultural and fishery products, categories for which the Japanese government has prioritized promotional efforts.
Keynote speech by Chairman Ishige
In his greeting, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshinao Nakagawa said that Japan is eager to conduct activities with Singapore, a country which shares much in terms of values with Japan, to conclude multilateral economic agreements such as the TPP and RCEP. Pressing the significance of Singapore as a hub of the growing ASEAN, Senior Minister of State Sim Ann - who is concurrently serving as Minister of Culture, Community and Youth and Minister of Trade and Industry - requested companies from Singapore and Japan to collaborate in playing a leading role in promoting business for the next generation of ASEAN as well as the world.
In the ceremony which followed, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between JETRO and IE Singapore, an affiliated organization of the Singaporean Minister of Trade and Industry (MTI) which promotes overseas business expansion of Singaporean companies and international trade. The ceremony for exchanging the signed MOC was held that evening at the State Guest House in Tokyo in the presence of Prime Ministers Lee Hsien Loong and Shinzo Abe, following a summit meeting between the two leaders at the same venue. JETRO will conduct the following activities toward creating business opportunities for both countries based on this MOC: promotion of mutual investment; assistance with Singapore-Japan activities in third countries; promotion of trade; internationalization of private companies, including SMEs; and support of other forms of partnership. MOUs regarding urban development, projects for developing infrastructures and joint research conducted by universities from both countries were also signed between organizations and companies from Singapore and Japan on the same day.
Exchanging MOCs (provided by Cabinet Public Relations Office)
In the dialogue session under the theme of “Enhancing Economic Partnership between Japan and Singapore: Toward the Next 50 Years,” Deputy Chief Executive Officer of IE Singapore Chua Taik Him and JETRO President Yasushi Akahoshi exchanged opinions on the competitiveness possessed by Singaporean companies as seen from the Japan side, merits of collaboration between Japanese and Singaporean companies and prospective industries to be involved in by both countries. In the “JETRO-IE Singapore Session” a panel discussion was held around the topic of corporate controlling functions capable of accommodating the changing business environment given the emergence of new region-wide FTAs such as the TPP and AEC. The session was moderated by former Managing Director of JETRO Singapore Masaya Hasebe, and an active discussion was engaged in by the following renowned panelists: Takuya Okada, Chief Operating Officer of Sumitomo Corp. Asia and Oceania, who is also the president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Singapore; Yasuhide Fujii, Partner and Advisory in charge of KPMG Global Japanese Practice ASEAN; Taizo Suga, President of IHI Asia Pacific PTE; and Chua Taik Him, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of IE Singapore.
Dialogue between President Akahoshi and Deputy Chua Taik Him
Panel discussion (JETRO-IE Singapore Session)
Other panel sessions were held as well under the titles of “Human Resource Development and Industrial Development in ASEAN through Academia Partnership - Global Collaborative Research for Innovation,” “Open Innovation Partnerships for Growth,” and “ASEAN Sustainable Urbanization.” After the symposium, the following praise was given from participants: “The event helped us understand the necessity of collaboration between Singapore and Japan, which both play roles as driving forces in the Asian economy.” “We were able to gain valuable insight into the business environment of the world as well as that of Singapore from the panelists in various fields.”
| Opening remarks | Mr. Hiroyuki Ishige, Chairman and CEO of JETRO Mr. Lee Ark Boon, CEO of IE Singapore |
|---|---|
| Remarks from guests of honor |
Ms. Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth Mr. Toshinao Nakagawa, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry |
| MOU & MOC signing ceremony |
|
| JETRO-IE Singapore dialogue |
“Enhancing Economic Partnership between Japan and Singapore: Toward the Next 50 Years” Mr. Yasushi Akahoshi, President of JETRO Mr. Chua Taik Him, Deputy CEO of IE Singapore |
| Keynote speech |
“Japanese Business Expansion to Singapore and the Role of the JCCI” Mr. Takuya Okada, President of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Singapore |
| Keynote speech | “Partnership for Sustainable Economic Growth and Social Innovation in ASEAN” Mr. Manohar Khiatani, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer of Ascendas-Singbridge |
| Panel discussion |
“Human Resource Development and Industrial Development in ASEAN through Academia Partnership” – Global Collaborative Research for Innovation Panelists:
|
| Panel discussion: JETRO-IE Singapore session |
“Perspectives from Regional Headquarters in Singapore – Strategies for Japanese Companies to Thrive in Today’s Global Business Environment through Partnership with Singapore” Panelists:
|
| Panel discussion: Straits Times Session |
“Open Innovation Partnerships for Growth” Panelists:
|
| Panel discussion |
“ASEAN Sustainable Urbanization” Panelists:
|
| Closing remarks | Mr. Naoki Asami, Managing Director at Nikkei Business Publications |
