National Day Message from Ambassador Edward Lee

National Day Message from Ambassador Edward Lee

Formal relations between Singapore and Indonesia began with
the establishment of a Singapore Liaison Office in Jakarta in
December 1966. Since then, Indonesia and Singapore have built a
long history of friendship and cooperation based on mutual trust
and respect. Our strong relationship and shared interests have
enabled the people of the two countries to work together for
mutual benefit. It has promoted understanding and allowed
bilateral issues to be resolved amicably in a rational and
pragmatic way.

The regular exchange of visits by the leaders of Indonesia and
Singapore reflects our enduring friendship. In January 2001,
Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew visited Indonesia. President
Megawati Soekarnoputri visited Singapore in August 2001 during
her first overseas tour. Minister for Trade and Industry BG (NS)
George Yeo visited Jakarta in January 2002. Deputy Minister and
Minister for Defence Dr Tony Tan is scheduled to visit in August
this year. The exchange of visits has sustained the momentum in
the relationship.

Singapore was the third largest foreign investor in Indonesia
in 2001 with about US$23 billion worth of cumulative investments.
In the first quarter of this year, Singapore was the third
largest investor with investments worth US$82 million. Singapore
is also a base for marketing Indonesian products. In 2001,
Singapore accounted for about 10 percent of Indonesia's products
marketed overseas, and together with Japan and the US, are
Indonesia's top three markets.

Close economic cooperation between Indonesia and Singapore
demonstrated in the joint projects in Batam, Bintan and Karimun
combines Indonesia's vast resources and Singapore's
infrastructure and expertise for the benefit of both countries.

To this end, the Indonesian Government will re-invigorate the
Riau Development Coordinating Team (RDCT) to address the needs
and concerns of investors. The RDCT will be headed by Indonesian
Minister for Industry and Trade Ibu Rini Soewandi. Indonesia and
Singapore will also establish a Joint Working Group to review
regularly the investment environment in Bintan and recommend
improvements. The Joint Working Group will address areas such as
security, labor, taxation, customs and immigration, and other
issues affecting the investment climate. Bintan will be included
in the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement under the Integrated
Tariff Initiative through which more than 100 categories of IT
products will be able to enter the US market duty free.

Singapore has continued to work closely with Indonesia in the
area of human resource development. Indonesia is one of the top
10 recipient countries under the Singapore Cooperation Programme
(SCP). Since the establishment of the SCP in 1992, Singapore has
trained 1,909 Indonesian officials in many fields such as the
English Language, Healthcare, Finance, Banking, Environmental
Management and Information Technology.

Special customized courses and study visits such as on
housing, accountability and capacity building were arranged at
the request of the Indonesian Government.

Five Indonesian students have been awarded the Singapore
Scholarship to study at the National University of Singapore
(NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in academic year
2002. A total of 17 Indonesian scholars are presently pursuing
their undergraduate degrees in Singapore under the Singapore
Scholarship.

This is a Government-to-Government scholarship and scholars
are expected to return to their countries to work upon
graduation. Nine other Indonesian students have been selected to
participate in the Singapore International Foundation-ASEAN
Visiting Student Fellowship (SAVSF) this year. The SAVSF was
established in 1992 to promote friendship among the tertiary
students of ASEAN countries through living and learning together.
Participants of this programme spend a semester at the NUS or
NTU.

Singapore and Indonesia enjoy strong and friendly defense
relations. Interactions between the two armed forces have
continued despite the challenges posed by the economic crisis -
demonstrating the strength and resilience of the relationship.
Bilateral interactions between the TNI and the Singapore Armed
Forces (SAF) through joint exercises, personnel exchange and
attachment programs have increased and fostered friendship
between members of the two armed forces. Our defense
cooperation, reflective of our strong institutional links,
extends to the joint TNI-SAF social service programs in
Indonesia.

ASEAN is the key institution that enables both countries to
maintain close ties through a high degree of cooperation on
regional and multilateral issues. The years ahead will pose new
challenges for ASEAN. Singapore will continue to work closely
with Indonesia to contribute to the stability and well being of
ASEAN, and to ensure that ASEAN plays a key role in the region
and in international fora such as APEC, ASEM and the WTO.

Singapore has a vested interest in Indonesia's stability,
growth and prosperity. Indonesia has a strategic presence. Its
continued stability and economic development are vital to
Singapore and the other countries in Southeast Asia. As a close
neighbor and partner, Singapore will continue to work closely
with Indonesia to further strengthen our relations and work
towards our common interest of maintaining continued regional
peace, stability and prosperity.

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FACT SHEET ON SINGAPORE

Singapore became a fully independent and sovereign nation on
Aug. 9, 1965. Singapore became a member of the United Nations on
Sept. 21, 1965.

Singapore consists of the main island of Singapore and some 63
offshore islands. It is situated between latitudes 1009'N and
1029'N and longitudes 103036'E and 104025'E approximately 137
kilometers north of the Equator. The main island is about 42
kilometers from east to west and 23 kilometers from north to
south. Singapore's total land area, including that of the
smaller islands, is 659.9 square kilometers. It has a coastline
which is approximately 150.5 kilometers long. Singapore's
immediate neighbors are Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia to the
North, Sarawak and Sabah to the East), Brunei Darussalam and
Indonesia.

Population

The total population of Singapore, comprising Singapore
citizens and permanent residents, was estimated at 4,131,500 in
2001. Singapore is a multiracial society. Malays form 14
percent of Singapore's population while Chinese and Indians make
up 76 percent and 8 percent respectively. Other races make up 2
percent of the population.

Language & Culture

The official languages in Singapore are Malay, Chinese
(Mandarin), Tamil and English. Malay is the national language and
English is the language of administration. The Constitution
allows every person the right to profess and practice his
religion and to propagate it. The main religions in Singapore are
Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity and Hinduism.

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