Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore

Overview

ENGAGEMENT OF THE REGION

Central Asia occupies an important geostrategic position between Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Singapore has warm relations with the Central Asian countries. Despite historical, cultural and geographical dissimilarities, Singapore and the Central Asian countries are young nations with common development goals and the desire to build up our human resources. These shared goals have fostered closer relations in recent years, especially with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Singapore holds regular business forums with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Singapore is also negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), of which Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic are members. In October 2019, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and the EAEU leaders witness the signing of the Framework and non-Services & Investment Agreements that form part of the EAEU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EAEUSFTA).

Capacity-building is another key area of cooperation. Through the Singapore Cooperation Programme, we have shared our developmental experience with more than 1,200 participants from Central Asia.

Recent Highlights

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2020

Senior Minister of State (Trade and Industry) Dr Koh Poh Koon visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in February.

2019

Kazakh Governor of Almaty Province Amandyk Batalov visited Singapore in March.
Uzbek Minister of Culture Bakhtiyor Sayfullayev visited Singapore in March.
Senior Minister of State (Defence) (Foreign Affairs) Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman visited Uzbekistan in April.
Senior Minister of State (Health) (Law) Edwin Tong visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in April.
Turkmen Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Berdiniyaz Myatiyev visited Singapore in June.
Uzbek Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Rustam Djurayev visited Singapore in July to learn about Singapore’s law enforcement practices.
Afghan Minister of Justice Dr Abdul Baseer Anwar visited Singapore in August for the Singapore Convention Signing Ceremony and Conference.
Turkmen Deputy Minister of Justice Merettagan Taganov visited Singapore in August for the Singapore Convention Signing Ceremony and Conference.
Uzbek Deputy Minister of Justice Tashkulov Akbar visited Singapore in August for the Singapore Convention Signing Ceremony and Conference.
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov made a State Visit to Singapore in August at the invitation of President Halimah Yacob.
Uzbek Minister of Preschool Education Agrippina Shin visited Singapore in November to study Singapore’s preschool education sector.
Turkmen Minister of Justice Begmurat Muhamedov visited Singapore in November.
Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean visited Kazakhstan in October.

2018

Afghan Commissioner of the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission Maiwand Rahyab led a delegation of senior Afghan officials to participate in the “Strategic Leadership and Public Governance” programme in Singapore in February.

Kazakh Chairperson of the Senate Committee for International Relations, Defence and Security Dr Dariga Nazarbayeva visited Singapore in February as the 63^rd Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellow.

Kazakh Chairman of the Supreme Court Zhakip Assanov visited Singapore in February.
Kyrgyz Deputy Chairman of the Jogorku Kenesh Committee of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security Abdyvakhap Nurbayev visited Singapore in March.

Kazakh Deputy Chairperson of the Agency for Civil Service and Anti-Corruption Aigul Shaimova visited Singapore in April.

Uzbek First Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Roads Shukhrat Nazarov visited Singapore in June.

Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Erbolat Dossayev and Minister of Education and Science Erlan Sagadiev visited Singapore in November to attend the Bloomberg New Economy Forum.
Kazakh Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev made a working visit to Singapore in November.

Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Djamshid Kuchkarov visited Singapore in November.
Uzbek Minister of Justice Ruslanbek Davletov visited Singapore in November to attend the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-related events as part of an anti-corruption study tour.