MFA Press Statement: Visit of Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of Manpower Sam Tan to Norway, 22 to 25 January 2017

Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Manpower Sam Tan delivering remarks at the “Arctic in a Global Context” Plenary session, 24 January 2017, 9.00am  [Photo: MFA]

Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Manpower Sam Tan delivering remarks at the “Arctic Business Opportunities” session, 24 January 2017, 1.00pm [Photo: MFA]

        Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Manpower Sam Tan, who is in Tromsø, Norway for  the 11^th Arctic Frontiers Conference (AFC) delivered remarks at two AFC plenary sessions on 24 January 2017 titled   “The Arctic in a Global Context” and “Arctic Business Opportunities”. The text of MOS Tan’s remarks at these two sessions is attached.   

        MOS Tan also met Canadian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Pamela Goldsmith-Jones.  They reaffirmed the good bilateral ties between Canada and Singapore, and looked forward to further cooperation on Arctic affairs. In addition, MOS Tan hosted dinner for representatives of the Arctic Council Permanent Participants to explore possible collaborations.

          MOS Tan will meet the Norwegian Senior Arctic Official Anniken Ramberg Krutnes on 25 January 2017 to explore further collaborations between Singapore and Norway on Arctic affairs and depart for Singapore thereafter.

.         .         .         .         .

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

25 JANUARY 2017

---

REMARKS BY MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE AND MINISTRY OF MANPOWER SAM TAN CHIN SIONG AT THE 11^TH ARCTIC FRONTIERS CONFERENCE “THE ARCTIC IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT” PLENARY SESSION, TUESDAY,
24 JANUARY 2017 AT 9.00AM, UNIVERSITY OF TROMSØ AUDITORIUM 1

Ministers,

Excellencies,

Distinguished speakers,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

               Good morning.  It is a privilege and a pleasure to join you today in Tromsø, the Arctic capital of Norway, for the 11^th Arctic Frontiers Conference.  I would like to firstly thank Foreign Minister Brende and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for inviting Singapore to our third consecutive Arctic Frontiers Conference.

The Need for Involvement

2             As a non-Arctic state, Singapore’s involvement in the Arctic is driven by our recognition that what happens up North in the Arctic does not stay up North.  Similarly, whatever happens down South, will not stay down South.  Take Singapore as an example, surrounded by sea and almost completely flat, Singapore is especially vulnerable to rising sea levels.  As a maritime nation, we are also interested in the opening of new sea routes in the Arctic and the impact it will have on Singapore.  While we have no interest in any territorial or resource claims in the Arctic, we want to play our part to contribute to the wellbeing of the Arctic due to our concerns over the rising sea levels and the opening of Northern Sea routes. 

The Need for Cooperation

3               The challenges facing the Arctic call for increased cooperation between Arctic and non-Arctic states.  In this regard, the Arctic Council and other international fora such as the Arctic Frontiers Conference are instrumental in maintaining dialogue and exchanging ideas between different stakeholders.  Since joining as an observer in 2013, the Arctic Council has provided Singapore with a very useful platform to contribute constructively in areas where we have knowledge, expertise and technical know-how such as in the Emergency Prevention Preparedness and Response (EPPR) Working Group and the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) Working Group.  With the aim of bringing the conversation on the Arctic to Southeast Asia, where Singapore is located, we have also cooperated bilaterally with many Arctic member states on Arctic projects.  Most recently, the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Parks Board of Singapore and the Norwegian Embassy in Singapore came together to support the very first Arctic Council-organised Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative (AMBI) workshop held in Southeast Asia.  The workshop was well attended with over 80 participants from 20 different countries.  In August last year, the National University of Singapore (NUS) Energy Science Institute (ESI) also held a seminar on “Energy Transitions and a Globalised Arctic” which was co-supported by the US Office of Naval Research (Global).  The conference examined issues such as access to energy in remote locations and the governance of sustainable energy transitions.  These are two common challenges facing the Arctic and Southeast Asian regions.

The Need for Direction

4             As the world turns its attention up North, interest in the Arctic and the abundance of opportunities has been steadily gaining traction among stakeholders in the Arctic.  The development of the Arctic can no longer be isolated to the sole pursuits of scientific and economic advancements.  Instead, experts and stakeholders from the sectors of science, business and policy need to come together, exchange information, and share a common vision for the future of the Arctic and its peoples including indigenous communities.  Only then can interest in the Arctic be channelled productively and positively.  In this regard, international frameworks and solid policy decisions are integral to coordinating a collective response to Arctic challenges.  Singapore recognises the importance of such a legal framework and has participated actively in the discussions on the development and formulation of the Polar Code.  Later this year, we will also welcome the “Agreement on Enhancing Arctic Scientific Cooperation”, the third legally binding agreement under the auspices of the Arctic Council.  Indeed, these are welcome developments towards the formulation of a truly comprehensive policy framework for the responsible and sustainable management of the Arctic.

5             During my visit to Tromsø for the Arctic Frontiers Conference in 2016, I had the pleasure of visiting Svalbard and experiencing first-hand, the rugged beauty of the Arctic.  If you have been there before, you will agree that it is a place thoroughly deserving of our respect and care.  Through our collective efforts to ensure the sustainable development of the Arctic, I am hopeful the Arctic’s wild charm will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.  Thank you.

.     .     .     .     .

REMARKS BY MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE AND MINISTRY OF MANPOWER SAM TAN CHIN SIONG AT THE 11^TH ARCTIC FRONTIERS CONFERENCE “ARCTIC BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES” SESSION, TUESDAY, 24 JANUARY 2017 AT 1.00PM, CLARION HOTEL THE EDGE

His Excellency Per Sandberg, Minister of Fisheries of Norway

His Excellency Vidar Helgesen, Minister of Climate and Environment of Norway

Distinguished Moderator and speakers

Ladies and Gentlemen,

               Good afternoon.  I am delighted to be back in Tromsø. This is my fourth trip here and my 3^rd Arctic Frontiers Conference since 2015.  It gives me great pleasure to speak with you today at the “Arctic Business Opportunities” session and to share Singapore’s perspectives on long-term, sustainable development in the Arctic. 

2               At first glance, it would seem that the Arctic could not have been more different from Singapore.  We are separated by over 7,000 kilometres and experience vastly different ecologies and environments.  However, the reality is that the two regions, the Arctic and the Tropics, are intrinsically linked through climate change, weather patterns and rising sea-levels.  Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of opening the “Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative” Workshop in Singapore.  This is the very first Arctic Council (AC) workshop to be organised in Southeast Asia. During the workshop, I was told by AMBI Chair Dr Evgeny Syroechkovskiy that the temperature that day in Moscow was -28 degrees celcius. The temperature in Singapore that morning was about 28 degrees celcius!  However, despite the geographical distance and extreme differences in climates, we recognise that the Arctic is the global thermometer where environmental changes are first seen and experienced in this part of the world.  As a small, low-lying island state, we are very much aware that changes such as rising sea levels will have a profound effect on Singapore.  Indeed, this realisation of the global significance of the Arctic drove us to seek Arctic Council (AC) observership status, which Singapore was subsequently awarded in 2013.  While we have no interest in any resource or territorial claims in the Arctic, the development of the Arctic presents opportunities not just for the region, but for the world. 

Singapore Arctic Business Interest

3             In fact, several of Singapore’s shipping companies have taken a keen interest in the Arctic and have already demonstrated Arctic capabilities and industry credentials.  For example, a Singapore company, Keppel Offshore & Marine develops icebreakers and offshore rigs that operate in the Arctic.  Another Singapore company, ST Marine has the competency to construct ice-class vessels.  Keppel was also the very first Asian shipyard to build icebreakers and is currently working with a US oil major on the very first “green rig” to be used in the Arctic.  Singapore’s expertise in port building and management has also opened up opportunities for cooperation in Arctic development, with port management companies such as Singapore’s PSA International Pte Ltd expressing a strong interest in exploring investment opportunities in the Arctic.  Beyond the maritime sector, we also have companies like Thornton Media looking to tap Arctic markets.  Helmed by Cherokee- Singapore couple Don and Kara Thornton, Thornton Media focuses on the development of high-tech tools, including Apple and Android applications for indigenous language learning.  They are actually doing this to enhance the learning of the beautiful indigenous language in the Arctic.

Building up and Sharing of Institutional Knowledge

4             While the business interest in the Arctic has grown, it has become increasingly clear that decisions in this area cannot be taken in isolation, and that a holistic approach is needed for sustainable development.  It is, therefore, imperative that we continue to conduct research to build up our institutional knowledge of the Arctic.  Singapore recognises the importance of Arctic research in developing applied solutions for industry challenges, and we have sought to develop our Arctic research capabilities and infrastructure in this area.  For example, the Keppel-National University of Singapore (NUS) Corporate Laboratory, established in 2013, aims to develop an efficient and safe drilling system for shallow water areas in the Arctic.  The NUS Centre for Offshore Research and Engineering (CORE) conducts ongoing research into ice mechanics and also offshore oil rigs.  In addition to research, the building up of institutional knowledge also requires the provision of platforms for experts and stakeholders to share and consolidate their findings.  In this regard, Singapore has hosted workshops and seminars, such as the AMBI Workshop in January 2017, and the “Energy Transitions and a Globalised Arctic” in August last year.  We also attended AC Working Group (WG) meetings such as the Emergency Prevention Preparedness and Response (EPPR) WG, where we have shared our experience in emergency preparedness and oil spill management, and the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) WG, where we share data on Arctic migratory bird populations that stopover in Singapore.  There are more than 2,000 Arctic migratory birds stopping over in Singapore and it is important for Singapore to continue cooperating with AMBI to ensure that such magnificent species is conserved for future generations to enjoy.

Development of Human Capital

5             While institutional knowledge and business interests are important initiators of growth, to ensure that such growth is maintained, human capital must also be developed in tandem with industry advancements.  As a small country with almost no natural resources, Singapore relies heavily on human capital as its key strategic resource.  Similar to Singapore, the Arctic enjoys an abundance of human capital, being home to almost four hundred thousand indigenous people.  As indigenous stakeholders who have developed an intimate knowledge of the region, built up over thousands of years, it would be prudent to tap on existing local capacity and wisdom in an effort to sustain growth in the Arctic.  In this respect, Singapore has sought to contribute to the human resource development and governance capabilities of the Arctic’s indigenous peoples through the Singapore-AC Permanent Participants Cooperation Package.  Under this package, we share Singapore’s experiences in areas such as maritime management with representatives from the AC PPs through study visits to Singapore and also through technical courses and training.

Establishment of Frameworks for Sustainable Development

6             Perhaps most important of all is the need to safeguard the environmental integrity of the Arctic.  To this end, the institution of strong, comprehensive and robust legal frameworks for responsible development of the Arctic cannot be understated.  Singapore’s belief in this premise has driven its active participation in discussions on the development of such international frameworks.  For example, Singapore participated actively in the meetings of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction, the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), and the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) where the development of the Polar Code was discussed and formalised.  In addition to participating at international meetings, Singapore also seeks to build up our knowledge on international law pertaining to the Arctic.  Singapore institutes, such as the NUS Centre of International Law (CIL), conducts research on international law in the Arctic, and have organised several seminars to enhance knowledge of Arctic shipping, including a conference which was organised in Singapore.

7             In conclusion, I would like to recite the quotation earlier that “Adventure is just bad planning”.  Indeed, the Arctic Frontiers Conference is a very important platform for key stakeholders, captains of industry and policy makers to come together to do some good planning for the Arctic adventure.  Thank you.

.    .    .    .    .