MFA Press Statement: Visit by Minister George Yeo to Tamil Nadu, 6-9 May 2010

Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo arrived in Tamil Nadu from Saudi Arabia this morning for a 4-day visit. At the invitation of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Dr M Karunanidhi, Minister Yeo attended the Legislative Assembly and subsequently called on the Chief Minister. During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed the strong bilateral links between Tamil Nadu and Singapore and agreed to explore new areas of cooperation. Referring to the recent MOU signed between the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise and the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust, the Chief Minister sought Singapore's support and assistance for their Cooum River restoration project. Minister Yeo said the Singapore parties will work closely with Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister MK Stalin and his staff to implement the project. The project arose from MK Stalin's visit to Singapore in December 2009.

Minister Yeo and the Chief Minister also discussed bilateral cultural cooperation. The Chief Minister informed Minister Yeo that Tamil Nadu will be hosting the World Classical Tamil Conference in Coimbatore from 23 to 27 June 2010. Minister Yeo responded that Tamil is one of the four official languages and that Singapore will be sending a sizeable delegation, which will be led by Senior Minister of State (Trade & Industry and Education) S Iswaran, to the conference.

As part of Singapore's growing economic links with India, Minister Yeo officiated at the opening of the YCH DistriPark in Chennai Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the afternoon. Minister Yeo also had a working dinner with local businessmen, media representatives and strategic analysts from Tamil Nadu.