Official Visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan to Israel, 21 to 23 March 2022

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan is in Israel.

Minister Balakrishnan met with Alternate Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid and Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Orit Farkash-Hacohen today. In his meetings, Minister Balakrishnan reaffirmed the longstanding ties between Singapore and Israel in multiple fields. They welcomed the strengthening of cooperation in areas such as innovation and technology, trade and investment, R&D and education. The Singapore-Israel Industrial Research & Development Foundation (SIIRD) would be celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2022 and has funded about 190 projects since its inception in 1997, providing about US$120 million to projects between Singapore and Israel.
 
Minister Balakrishnan highlighted that Singapore and Israel should deepen collaboration in emerging areas such as agri-food tech, health-tech, AI and digitalisation, as the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic. To strengthen the innovation partnership between Singapore and Israel, Singapore would establish an Embassy in Tel Aviv to serve as a focal point and support Singapore companies seeking to expand their collaboration with potential Israeli partners.
 
Minister Balakrishnan and Minister Farkash-Hacohen also signed a MOU on cooperation in AI between Singapore’s Smart Nation and Digital Government Office and Israel’s Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology. The MOU signals both countries' intent to accelerate cross-border collaborations in AI, and supports the development and deployment of AI for collective benefit.

Minister Balakrishnan also had an open discussion on regional and international developments with Minister Lapid. Singapore has a longstanding and principled support for a negotiated two-state solution, consistent with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, with Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security, in order to achieve a durable, just and comprehensive solution. Singapore hopes that both the Israeli and Palestinian sides would find ways to engage in direct negotiations on the basis of a two-state solution. All parties should refrain from any unilateral actions that could increase tensions and undermine the prospects for peace.

Minister Balakrishnan is scheduled to visit technology investment platform OurCrowd and meet prominent personalities in Israel’s technology industry later this evening.  

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
21 MARCH 2022

Photo Caption: Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan meets with Israel Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid

Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore

Photo Caption: Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan signs an MOU on AI cooperation with Israel Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Orit Farkash-Hacohen

Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore

Photo Caption: Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan signs an MOU on AI cooperation with Israel Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Orit Farkash-Hacohen

Left to right: Non-Resident Ambassador-designate of the Republic of Singapore to the State of Israel Lim Chuan Poh, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Orit Farkash-Hacohen, Israeli Ambassador to Singapore Sagi Karni

Photo Credit: Miri Shimonovich