MFA Press Statement: Enhanced Japan-Singapore Partnership Programme for the 21st Century (JSPP21) Memorandum of Discussion

Singapore and Japan signed a Memorandum of Discussion (MOD) to enhance the existing Japan-Singapore Partnership Programme for the 21st Century (JSPP21) to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the JSPP21. The Memorandum was signed by Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo and Japan Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura in Tokyo.

The JSPP21 is Singapore's largest and most successful partnership under the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP). Since cooperation began under the framework of the Japan-Singapore Partnership Programme, more than 3,000 officials from countries around the world have participated in the joint training courses covering diverse areas.

Under the Enhanced JSPP21 MOD, Singapore and Japan will strengthen their support of ASEAN integration by providing more human resource development programmes in the areas of trade and investment facilitation, information and communications technology development, and energy security. To reaffirm their commitment to regional integration, both countries will establish a flagship Joint Initiative for ASEAN countries. Details of the flagship Joint Initiative will be decided through further consultations. In addition, both countries will also deepen cooperation in helping third countries in infectious disease management, governance and the maintenance of stable financial systems, and environmental protection. (Please see Annex A for information on the JSPP21 and SCP).

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
14 DECEMBER 2007

Annex A

Japan Singapore Partnership Programme for the 21st Century (JSPP21)

The JSPP21 (Japan-Singapore Partnership Programme for the 21st Century) is Singapore's largest and most successful joint training programme with another country. Since the cooperation began in 1994 under the Japan-Singapore Partnership Programme (JSPP), more than 3,000 officials from all major regions of the world have been trained in courses covering diverse areas like IT, trade promotion, industrial development, healthcare, education, urban planning and the environment.

A total of 22 capacity-building programmes, focusing on areas such as Economic Development, Information and Communications Technology, Health and Emergency Preparedness, Governance, Transport and Logistics, have been scheduled to be conducted under this year's Work Plan.

The JSSP was first mooted in May 1993 when the former Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and the late Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa agreed to commence a Partnership Programme. Subsequently, the JSPP was signed in 1994. In 1997, former Japanese Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda and former Singapore Foreign Minister S. Jayakumar signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing the JSPP21 to renew the focus of cooperation towards the needs of developing countries in the 21st century. 2007 marks the 10th anniversary of JSPP21.

One of the major objectives of the JSPP21 is to narrow the development gaps among ASEAN countries. The major recipients of JSPP21 training courses have been Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. The targeted and resource-maximisation approach of the JSPP21 has been singled out by Japan as a good reference model for their partnerships in the region.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the JSPP21 in 2007, Singapore and Japan have decided to renew the long-standing cooperation and partnership with the Enhanced JSPP21 MOD, which will accord greater priority to human resource capacity building programmes for third countries in the areas of trade and investment facilitation, information and communications technology development, and energy security. Both sides will also seek to deepen cooperation in providing joint training programmes for third countries in infectious disease management, corporate governance and the maintenance of stable financial systems, and environmental protection.

About the Singapore Cooperation Programme

Singapore's technical assistance programme is based on the training and development of human resource in competencies useful to developing countries. As a country whose only resource is its people, Singapore believes that human resource development is vital for economic and social progress. Singapore itself has benefited from training provided by other countries and international organisations. Through the SCP, Singapore shares its development experiences with other developing countries.

The SCP was formally established in 1992 to bring together under one framework the various technical assistance programmes offered by Singapore. Over the years, the range and number of training programmes have been increased to meet the training needs of developing countries. To date, Singapore has sponsored training courses and study visits for over 52,000 officials from 168 developing countries in the Asia-Pacific, Africa, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean.

More details are available on the Singapore Cooperation Website at www.scp.gov.sg.