Speech by Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed, Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Foreign Affairs)

Dr Tan Chi Chiu, Executive Director, Singapore International Foundation

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am very happy to join you in this auspicious ceremony to appoint Young
Business Ambassadors who will represent Singapore in the Singapore-Australia
Young Business Ambassadors Programme.

Relations between Singapore and Australia are close and warm. The two countries
enjoy long-standing cooperation in many areas, such as diplomacy, defence, trade
and provision of technical assistance to third countries. We are members of
the Five-Power Defence Arrangement. We have also been working closely at
various regional and international fora on issues of mutual concern and
interests, such as in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the ASEAN
Regional Forum, the United Nations and The Commonwealth.

Over the years, the scope and depth of interaction and cooperation between
Singapore and Australia have increased significantly. The two countries have
established the Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee, underpinning
the close rapport and excellent relations between our leaders and peoples.

The Singapore-Australia Young Business Ambassadors Programme is another strong
commitment by the leaderships of Singapore and Australia to forge closer bonds.
This new bilateral initiative will add a fresh dimension to the existing
multi-faceted relations between Singapore and Australia. It will strengthen
further people-to-people contacts, adding momentum to the development of closer
ties and linkages between our two countries.

The Singapore International Foundation and its Australian counterpart, Asialink,
have identified opportunities for young Singaporeans and Australians to live and
work in each other''s country. Both young Singaporean and Australian
professionals will be able to learn more about each other''s country and their
professions, with the opportunity to experience a new work environment and
exchange ideas.

The Programme will also help to widen the scope of economic interaction and
cooperation between Singapore and Australia. The opportunities provided for
young Singaporean and Australian professionals, entrepreneurs and others in
business to network and develop closer professional interaction should
facilitate the promotion of further strategic trade and investment linkages
between the two countries.

Allow me to congratulate the four young pioneering Singaporean professionals on
their appointment as Singapore''s Young Business Ambassadors. Collectively and
individually, your achievements and varied experiences will do the Programme
proud. I am confident that all of you will participate actively and
meaningfully in the Programme and make it a success. As our Ambassadors of
goodwill, you will play an important role in forging stronger people-to-people
contacts and further enhance the close bilateral relations between Singapore and
Australia.

I would now like to thank the Singapore International Foundation for its hard
work in coordinating the Singapore-Australia Young Ambassadors Programme and for
organising today''s ceremony.

Thank You.