Toast Speech by President S R Nathan at the State Banquet held in honour of Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus and Mrs Alma Adamkiene

Your Excellency President Valdas Adamkus
Mrs Alma Adamkienė
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen

1 On behalf of the Government and people of Singapore, I would like to extend a warm welcome to President Valdas Adamkus and his wife, Mrs Alma Adamkienė, to Singapore.  We are pleased and honoured to have you here – a first visit by the President of Lithuania.

2 Your visit to Singapore is a clear sign of Lithuania’s interest in engaging our region as well as the rest of Asia.  We welcome this interest.  The rise of China and India will bring about not only challenges but also opportunities for the region and the international community.  The region is already riding on the wave of growth propelled by these two giant economies.  ASEAN itself has a market potential of 500 million people, around the size of the EU market. It offers immense potential for European companies.  Lithuania should seize this window of opportunity to get to know the region better.  Singapore offers a good location to understand these developments, and we will be happy to share our knowledge about areas of your country’s economic interests in South and East Asia.

3 We welcome Lithuanian companies interested in establishing a foothold in the region to make use of the facilities in Singapore as a base for their operations.  Lithuania companies could also consider joint ventures into the region with their Singapore counterparts. On our part, Singapore’s understanding of Lithuania and the new EU member states is still relatively recent.  Hence, we appreciate your Excellency taking the time and effort to come over to Singapore to explain what opportunities Lithuania can offer to our companies here.  I heard from my officials that your Excellency’s speech at the Investor Forum on Lithuania this morning was well received.  With the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Singapore Business Federation and the International Chamber of Commerce of Lithuania earlier today, I am confident that our business and economic links will strengthen.

4 As a member of the EU, Lithuania is also part of ASEM and the ASEAN-EU dialogue process. We look forward to working closely with Lithuania, as we explore how we can further broaden and deepen Asia-Europe relations.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

5 May I now invite you to join me in a toast to the continued good health and happiness of President Adamkus and Mrs Adamkienė, to our warm bilateral relations, and to the continued peace and prosperity of the people of Lithuania.