Toast by President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the State Lunch in Honour of His Excellency Ilham Aliyev, President of The Republic of Azerbaijan

Your Excellency Ilham Aliyev
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Excellencies

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

        I am honoured to welcome Your Excellency and your distinguished delegation to Singapore. Your Excellency’s visit is the first by a Head of State of Azerbaijan to Singapore, and represents a historic milestone in our bilateral relations.

        Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 18 years ago, the bilateral ties between Singapore and Azerbaijan have grown significantly. There have been a number of notable milestones in the last few years. Minister of Emergency Situations Kamaladdin Heydarov was the first Minister from Azerbaijan to visit Singapore in March 2010. Two weeks later, then Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo, who is with us today, paid an official visit to Azerbaijan, during which he had the honour of participating in a groundbreaking ceremony of Keppel Offshore and Marine’s new shipyard in Baku with Your Excellency. Today, we are truly honoured to receive the State Visit by Your Excellency.

        Our relations are marked by common interests and mutual respect. As small countries surrounded by larger neighbours, we appreciate the importance of international organisations and multilateral forums. It is therefore not a surprise that our countries have worked well together at international forums such as the Non-Aligned Movement and the Forum of Small States, the latter of which commemorated its twentieth anniversary this year. 

        Your Excellency’s visit to Singapore will pave the way for our countries to establish even closer relations. It is my sincere belief that there is great potential in our relationship, whether in the political, economic or other spheres. Azerbaijan’s economy has been growing rapidly. Last year, your country experienced growth of 7.6 percent, making Azerbaijan one of the fastest growing economies in the world today. Singapore companies are increasingly looking at opportunities outside the region, and I am confident they will find Azerbaijan an attractive place to do business.   

        This is already evident in our growing trade and investment ties. Between 2000 and 2012, bilateral trade more than doubled to reach over S$200 million. There have been a few notable successes. For instance, Keppel Offshore and Marine had signed a joint venture agreement with the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) and the Azerbaijan Investment Corporation to develop and manage a new 52-hectares shipbuilding and ship repair yard in Baku. Keppel Offshore and Marine, in partnership with SOCAR, also established the Caspian Shipyard Company in 1997. This was the first international rig construction, repair and conversion yard in the Caspian Sea region.  A number of other Singapore companies, such as Surbana Corporation, SembCorp and the Franklin Offshore Group, have also participated in various projects in Azerbaijan. It is my belief that such endeavours are a positive symbol of our mutually beneficial partnership, and I hope that Your Excellency will continue to support closer economic cooperation between our two countries.

        Azerbaijan is a country with a rich history and culture, made up of different traditions, and there is much that Singapore can learn from your diversity and cultural heritage. Like Azerbaijan, Singapore values our cultural diversity and celebrates various religious and ethnic festivals throughout the year. I look forward to opportunities for our countries to cooperate in the field of culture and the arts. I am sure that your visit has sparked interest among Singaporeans, many of whom are avid travellers, in the beauty and wonders that your country has to offer. 

        Your Excellency, I am confident that your visit to Singapore will lead to the blossoming of relations between Azerbaijan and Singapore.

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

May I now invite you all to rise and join me in a toast to:

·         The continued good health and success of His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev;  and

·         The enduring friendship between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Singapore.