MFA Press Statement: Official Visit of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, His Excellency Binali Yıldırım, 20 to 22 Aug 2017

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, His Excellency Binali Yıldırım, who is on an official visit to Singapore at the invitation of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, received an official welcome at the Istana today.  Prime Minister Yıldırım called on President Tony Tan Keng Yam and met Prime Minister Lee.  Prime Minister Lee also hosted an Official Dinner in honour of Prime Minister Yıldırım this evening.  Prime Minister Yıldırım visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens in the morning, and had an orchid hybrid named in his honour. 

Prime Minister Lee and Prime Minister Yıldırım reaffirmed the positive momentum in bilateral relations between Singapore and Turkey, and reviewed the significant progress made since the signing of the Joint Declaration on a Strategic Partnership in 2014.  The Prime Ministers welcomed the completion of the ratification process of the Turkey-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (TRSFTA), which was concluded and signed in 2015.  Both leaders agreed on the benefits of open and free trade, and reiterated Singapore and Turkey’s commitment to deepen the economic ties between both countries.  Prime Minister Lee and Prime Minister Yıldırım also exchanged views on regional developments, the threat of terrorism, as well as opportunities to facilitate greater business cooperation and investments.

Prime Minister Yıldırım, who is accompanied by a business delegation, gave a speech at a luncheon hosted by IE Singapore, and welcomed the growing interest from Singapore companies to invest in Turkey and the region.  In the afternoon, he attended the 5^th Turkey-Singapore Business Forum, jointly organised by Singapore Business Federation and Turkey’s Foreign Economic Relations Board, DEiK, aimed at enhancing business partnerships and promoting investments between Singapore and Turkey.

Prime Minister Yıldırım also delivered the 41^st Singapore Lecture, titled “Turkey-Singapore Relations: Building a Smart Strategic Partnership”, during which he emphasised Turkey’s strategic role as a bridge between Europe and Asia, as well as Singapore’s position as a commercial hub in Asia.  The 41^st Singapore Lecture was moderated by Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

Prime Minister Yıldırım visited Changi Airport yesterday and will visit Jurong Island, PSA’s port facilities and the Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre (ARTC) tomorrow, before he departs Singapore for Vietnam in the evening.

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Singapore

21 August 2017