Speeches
Remarks by President Tony Tan at the Joint Press Conference in Lisbon 2014
5 May 2014
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I would like to thank His Excellency President Aníbal Cavaco Silva for his kind hospitality to me and to the Singapore delegation. We last met in 2012 during His Excellency’s first State Visit to Singapore. I am happy to meet him today again in Portugal, which is also my first State Visit to Portugal.
During our meeting earlier, we had a rich discussion on a range of bilateral issues. Overall, we noted the strong and long-standing bilateral relations between Portugal and Singapore, built on shared interests of small and outward looking nations. This relationship has grown from strength to strength since the establishment of diplomatic relations 33 years ago. In the area of economic relations, the most notable investment from Singapore is by PSA, which operates a container terminal in Sines [see-nees] since 2004. Another Singapore investment in Portugal is CWT Globelink Portugal, which operates consolidation services of cargoes originating from Asia and Europe into Portugal. In the hospitality sector, Singapore Banyan Tree group also operates a spa in the region of Algarve.
I am pleased to be accompanied by a business delegation from the Singapore Business Federation (SBF). The Portugal-Singapore Business Forum, which is jointly organised by SBF and AICEP Portugal Global tomorrow, is a good collaborative effort to bring businesses together to form potential partnerships.
I wish them a fruitful discussion. Looking ahead, the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, which was initiated last year and is pending ratification, will provide an improved framework to boost trade and investments between our two countries.
President Cavaco Silva assured me that Portugal supports the ratification of the EUSFTA and I thanked him for his support. Portugal is also supportive of greater air linkages between the EU and ASEAN.
I would like to conclude by reiterating my appreciation to His Excellency President Cavaco Silva and Portugal for the warm hospitality accorded to me and my delegation.
Thank you.