S"pore, Ireland note potential for greater economic collaboration

Ireland and Singapore have expressed satisfaction with friendly bilateral relations and noted the strong potential for greater economic collaboration between the two islands. 

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Grace Fu (file picture)

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DUBLIN: Ireland and Singapore have expressed satisfaction with friendly bilateral relations and noted the strong potential for greater economic collaboration between the two islands.

Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Grace Fu met Irish leaders on Friday on the final leg of her three-stop visit to Europe from 5 to 10 May 2013.

Ms Fu, who is also the Second Minister for the Environment Water Resources and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs met Irish Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton; Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin; and Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton separately.

The ministry said Ms Fu also had dinner with Chairman of the Joint Committee of Foreign Affairs and Trade (JCFAT) of the Irish National Parliament Pat Breen, together with other Members of Parliament from JCFAT and the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs.   

It said Minister Fu and the Irish leaders expressed satisfaction with the friendly state of bilateral relations and noted the robust ties between Singapore and Ireland, particularly in terms of trade, education, cultural cooperation and people-to-people linkages.

They noted the strong potential for greater economic collaboration between Singapore and Ireland, given the similarities shared by the two countries as small, outward-looking and pro-trade countries.  

All the leaders also expressed Ireland’s enthusiasm for the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement which will facilitate greater market access and bring about concrete benefits for the companies and economies of Singapore, Ireland and the EU.

- CNA/al

S"pore, Ireland note potential for greater economic collaboration