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On  7 February,  the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis together with Lithuanian business representatives is paying a working visit to Singapore. The purpose of the visit is to deepen the geopolitical dialogue and to develop bilateral relations, especially economic ties, with one of our key Asian partners.

During the meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore Vivian Balakrishnan, Landsbergis discussed important political issues related to Asia and Eastern Europe, intensifying bilateral relations between Lithuania and Singapore, and the European Union's growing attention to Southeast Asia.

“Singapore is already an important partner of Lithuania in Asia. In the future, we wish to develop our relations even further, especially in the fields of science and high technology. We consider Singapore as a reliable gateway to other Southeast Asian markets. I believe that the establishment of the Embassy of Lithuania in Singapore will help to ensure fruitful cooperation,” said Landsbergis.

According to the Foreign Ministers, although the internal markets of the two countries are not large, business based on new technology opens new opportunities — Singapore can become the gateway to Asia for Lithuanian business, while Lithuania can offer attractive conditions to Singapore as an entry point to Europe.

The Foreign Ministers discussed the growing focus of both the EU and Lithuania on the Indian-Pacific region, including the intensifying cooperation between the EU and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), especially in the areas of connectivity and digitalisation. The interlocutors agreed to continue their discussion on possible concrete initiatives in these areas at a conference in Paris, France, on 22 February.

“In the challenging times of a pandemic and other global challenges, it is important to create new partnerships and to improve connectivity. Restrictions on value chains pose a threat to global stability and prosperity. Thus, we must strive to ensure free trade and a rules-based international order. In this regard, Lithuania, the EU and Singapore are like-minded. This provides a solid basis for further development of our relations,” said Landsbergis.

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister also met with Lim Ming Yan, Chairman of the Singapore Business Federation that represents 27,000 local companies. During the meeting, business and investment opportunities in Lithuania were presented. The interlocutors also discussed the achievements of Lithuanian companies in developing high value-added niche products such as lasers, nano-satellites, biotechnology and pharmaceutical products, solar panels, as well as IT solutions in the fields of finance and cybersecurity. Landsbergis also invited Singapore venture capital funds to invest in Lithuania's rapidly growing start-up ecosystem.

The delegation led by the Foreign Minister also met with representatives from the Singapore Economic Development Board, the Office for Space Technology & Industry, and the Nanyang Technological University, got acquainted with the activities of the Satellite Research Centre, and discussed possible joint projects of Lithuania and Singapore in the development of space technologies.

According to Landsbergis, the deepening of cooperation in the field of space technologies opens up many opportunities for synergies between business and science representatives from Lithuania and Singapore. "Singapore focuses on the development of space technologies, while Lithuanian businesses can offer attractive and innovative technological solutions in this field. Space technologies developed in Lithuania are trusted and successfully applied by partners from different regions of the world, both private and public sectors. This time, I am accompanied by representatives from the Lithuanian space technology cluster. I am glad that I am able to help create partnerships in Singapore, which can benefit Lithuanian businesses", said the Foreign Minister.

“The world’s most advanced country in the fields of science, technology and innovation - Singapore - is Lithuania's important partner, which can open up new perspectives for joint projects also in other high-tech fields, such as semiconductors, life sciences, financial technology, and renewable energy,”  said Landsbergis in the meetings with representatives from Singapore’s business and science institutions.

On 8 February, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister will visit Melbourne, Australia, where he will meet with members of the Australian Lithuanian Business Council, the Business Council of Australia and the European Australian Business Council. Landsbergis will participate in the launch of the Australian-Lithuanian Cyber Network, organised by the RMIT Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation and Mykolas Romeris University, and in a meeting with Lithuanians living in Melbourne.

Photos: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania