At the 8th Africa-Singapore Business Forum (ASBF) in Singapore, Grace Fu, the city-state’s Minister-in-Charge of Trade Relations, called on Africa and Southeast Asia to deepen their collaboration by strengthening people-to-people connections, a move she believes is essential for sustainable growth across both regions.
Addressing delegates, Ms. Fu pointed to the Singapore Cooperation Programme as a model for fostering enduring partnerships through knowledge-sharing and mutual understanding.
She highlighted that, since the forum’s inception, more than 14,000 African officials from 54 countries have participated in training programmes in Singapore. Just last year, officials from 11 African nations joined a Capacity Building Programme on Trade Negotiations, trading strategies and insights with their Singaporean counterparts.
“These exchanges have proven invaluable in building cultural understanding and forging lasting friendships,” Ms. Fu remarked, underscoring the importance of interpersonal ties alongside formal business relations.
She also spotlighted Enterprise Singapore’s instrumental role in connecting businesses via missions, workshops, and conferences with chambers and associations throughout Africa. Among recent initiatives, Ms. Fu cited Singapore’s first carbon credits business mission to Ghana in July 2023—an effort led by Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan to explore opportunities in carbon trading projects.
Looking to the future, Ms. Fu announced that the Singapore Business Federation will lead an Overseas Market Workshop to Egypt this September, focusing on trade, transport, logistics, and urban infrastructure.
Closing her remarks with the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,” Ms. Fu urged forum participants to take concrete steps toward deepening cooperation, building on the momentum of existing partnerships and exchanges.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
