5th Conference on Cooperation Among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD V), 22 July 2026

          Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan attended the 5^th Conference on Cooperation Among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD V) in Manila on 22 July 2026. Initiated by Japan in 2013, CEAPAD is a platform for regional countries to discuss capacity-building assistance for the Palestinians.

          In his intervention, Minister Balakrishnan re-affirmed Singapore’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian Authority’s (PA’s) capacity building efforts through the Enhanced Technical Assistance Package (ETAP) for the PA. Under the ETAP, Singapore awarded two postgraduate scholarships this year for PA officials to pursue their studies in Singapore. The ETAP has also been expanded to include training modules on the digital economy and digital entrepreneurship to support the PA’s future economic development and public sector transformation. Singapore has also offered a four-week English Language training course for up to 30 PA officials in the second half of 2027.

          Beyond these initiatives, Singapore continues to support Palestinian capacity building through specialised training programmes. Together with the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Singapore is currently conducting a community policing course for 16 Palestinian Civil Police officers.

          Minister Balakrishnan met with PA Minister of Social Development Samah Hamad. They exchanged views on recent developments in the Middle East and discussed areas where Singapore can further support the PA’s capacity-building efforts in line with the PA’s priorities. Minister Balakrishnan also met with UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Commissioner-General ad interim Christian Saunders and discussed UNRWA’s important role in providing humanitarian assistance for Palestinian refugees.

          Singapore re-affirms our longstanding and consistent support for a negotiated two-State solution consistent with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. This remains the only viable path to comprehensive, just, and durable peace, where Israelis and Palestinian can live side by side in peace, security, and dignity.

          The full text of Minister Balakrishnan’s intervention is at Annex. 

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

23 JULY 2026

ANNEX

INTERVENTION BY MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS DR VIVIAN BALAKRISHNAN AT THE 5TH CONFERENCE ON COOPERATION AMONG EAST ASIAN COUNTRIES FOR PALESTINIAN DEVELOPMENT MINISTERIAL MEETING (CEAPAD V) IN MANILA, 22 JULY 2026

Your Excellency Theresa Lazaro, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines;

Your Excellency Motegi Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan; and

Your Excellency Samah Hamad, Minister of Social Development of the Palestinian Authority.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen

1                     While the conflict in the Middle East region continues to occupy headlines, the Palestinian issue remains an issue very close to the hearts of the people in Southeast Asia, including Singapore. I want to place on record Singapore’s continued commitment to supporting our Palestinian friends in your journey to eventual statehood.

2                     Since the inception of Singapore’s Enhanced Technical Assistance Package (ETAP) for the PA, which was launched in 2013, more than 800 Palestinian officials have participated in customised courses and study visits in areas such as public administration and digitalisation. We have also provided scholarships for studies at our universities. To date, we have provided 15 postgraduate scholarships to PA officials as well. We hope to welcome our pioneer batch of Palestinian undergraduate scholarship recipients next month to Singapore alongside two postgraduate scholarship recipients for the upcoming Academic Year.

3                      This week, 16 officers from the Palestinian Civil Police are in fact in Singapore to attend the Singapore-Japan joint community policing course. In the months to come, we will be conducting a Young Leaders’ Programme, as well as courses on Digital Economy and E-Entrepreneurship for the PA. Beyond these programmes, we will be offering a four-week English Language training course for up to 30 PA officials in Singapore in the second half of 2027.

4                     Since October 2023, Singapore and Singaporeans have also contributed 11 tranches of humanitarian assistance to Gaza, totalling over US$19 million. We also participated in airdrops for Gaza during the most dire of circumstances at the invitation of the Jordanian government. Singapore’s contribution to the World Food Programme (WFP) last November has supported more than 5,500 Gazans and we continue to explore opportunities to work with our partners to help alleviate the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

5                     Singapore would like to offer to host the 6^th CEAPAD Ministerial Meeting next year when we are ASEAN Chair.

6                     I want to end by emphasising that Singapore is committed to helping the Palestinian people build the future that you deserve. We re-affirm our longstanding and consistent support for a negotiated two-State solution, consistent with the relevant UNSC resolutions.  This remains the only viable path to a comprehensive, just and durable solution where Palestinians and Israelis can live side-by-side in peace, dignity and security. 

7                     Thank you.

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