Remarks by President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the Singapore's Embassy's Reception for Overseas Singaporeans in Jakarta

Mr Anil Kumar Nayar
Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

        Good evening.

        I am very pleased to start off my first State Visit to Indonesia with this opportunity to meet and interact with fellow Singaporeans in Jakarta. My wife, Mary, and I welcome you warmly and we look forward to meeting you during the course of this evening.

        The world is changing faster than ever. Driven by globalization and advancements in technology, cross-border exchanges of people, ideas, and commerce have increased exponentially. Countries, big and small, are now highly interconnected and plugged into the global grid. Against this backdrop, more Singaporeans are living, working and studying overseas. I understand that there are now 200,000 Singaporeans spread across the globe.

        Ambassador Anil Kumar is here, but I hope he will not mind my saying that all overseas Singaporeans are our Ambassadors. They play a crucial role in strengthening Singapore’s relations with the countries where they live. The Singapore community in Jakarta is no exception. The community here is rich in its diversity. Among you are educators, bankers, managers, journalists, engineers, students, and not forgetting your spouses. You are all successful in your own way. You also play a key role in strengthening Singapore-Indonesia ties through the friends that you make, the links that you establish, and the experiences that you share. These strong people-to-people ties underpin the entire bilateral relationship.

        I am happy to note the excellent state of the bilateral relationship between Singapore and Indonesia. We have good linkages at all levels across many areas. In fact, Singapore has been the largest investor in Indonesia for the last three years. Our trade is robust and defence ties are strong. People-to-people links between the two countries, as manifested by all of you, are very healthy.

        Let me reiterate that overseas Singaporeans are integral to Singapore. Even as you work and live in Indonesia, I encourage you to remain connected to home. Singapore is a short flight away, and the internet has made it so much easier to stay in touch with friends and family. It is wonderful to see a close-knit and vibrant Singapore community across the globe.

        Mary and I wish you all continued success in your endeavours in Indonesia. We look forward to meeting you and hearing about your lives and your experiences in Indonesia. Thank you.