Toast Speech by President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the State Lunch hosted by President Of The Slovak Republic Ivan Gasparovic

Your Excellency, President Ivan Gasparovic

Mrs Silvia Gasparovic

Excellencies

Ladies and Gentlemen

My wife and I would like to express our appreciation to Their Excellencies, President Ivan Gasparovic and Mrs Silvia Gasparovic for the warm welcome extended to me and my delegation. 

We are pleased to be here in the Slovak Republic to mark the auspicious occasion of the 20^th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries.   I also offer my congratulations to your Excellency and the people of the Slovak Republic on your 20^th year of Independence.

Bilateral Interactions

This is the first State Visit to the Slovak Republic by a Singapore President and my first State Visit to Central and Eastern Europe.  I would like to thank your Excellencies for the excellent arrangements and warm hospitality.  I have had a good series of meetings over the past few days and also had a chance to see the beautiful surroundings of Bratislava.

Excellency, as you are aware, your alma mater had conferred the Great Gold Medal of Comenius University on me last Friday.   

I am grateful for this honour and hope the award and my visit to the University would encourage educational exchanges between our youths and enhance the exchanges between our scientists and researchers. 

Under the Singapore International Graduate Award (or SINGA), two Slovak researchers were attached at our research institutes.  I hope to see more of such interactions.

Singapore and Slovakia

Singapore and the Slovak Republic share many commonalities and interests, even though we are located in different continents.  At slightly above 5 million,  our populations about the same size.  As small countries living in an increasingly complex world, we face similar challenges.  At the United Nations, we are both members of the Forum of Small States (FOSS).  We also actively participate in various international organisations and cooperate closely with each other internationally.

Your Excellency’s State Visit to Singapore in 2006 was a milestone in our bilateral relations.  I am heartened that our relations, which are underpinned by regular interactions, have been developing steadily.  Our Foreign Ministers have had meaningful conversations on the sidelines of international meetings such as the UN General Assembly and Asia-Europe Meeting.   

Last September, our Senior Parliamentary Secretary Sam Tan led a business delegation here for Spotlight Singapore: Young Entrepreneurs Series (SSYES). 

The event not only showcased our countries’ arts and culture, but allowed our businesses to learn more about Slovakia’s business environment. 

I have brought along a business delegation to participate in the Singapore-Slovak Republic Business Forum jointly organised by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and the Slovak Trade and Investment Development Agency (or SARIO).  Such a platform will help raise awareness of opportunities in our respective markets.  I also hope the participants will make useful contacts and expand their business networks for mutual benefit.

EUSFTA

In our meeting earlier today, Your Excellency had pledged Slovakia’s support for the ratification of the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA).   I thank your Excellency as the FTA will lead to freer movement of goods and services, directly benefiting Slovak and Singapore enterprises. 

The Slovak private sector can use Singapore as a gateway to the Asian market, given the network of FTAs that Singapore has already signed.   Southeast Asia alone is a region of 600 million people with an economy that is worth about US$2 trillion.  We welcome Slovak enterprises to seize the opportunities in the growing markets in our part of the world.

Beyond Economic Links

People-to-people ties are another aspect of our bilateral relationship that I am keen to pursue.  Our cultural ties are starting to develop.   The Slovak Film Festival held in April this year was well-received and gave Singaporeans a glimpse of your country and people.  Singapore welcomes more of such events that will promote mutual understanding and deepen the friendship between our peoples.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to express my appreciation to Your Excellency and other members of the Slovak Government for hosting me and my delegation. 

Your warmth and friendship have left a deep and lasting impression.

Your Excellency,

Excellencies

Ladies and Gentlemen

I would like to propose a toast to:

·         the continued good health and happiness of President Ivan Gasparovic and Mrs Silvia Gasparovic,

·         the continued peace and prosperity of the Slovak Republic, and

·         closer relations between our two countries.