Singapore seeks stronger business ties with Africa
The Africa Singapore Business Forum (ASBF) 2023 kicked off in the city state on August 29 under the theme “Driving Africa’s Growth through Digitalisation, Manufacturing and Sustainability”.
A dialogue at the Africa Singapore Business Forum (ASBF) 2023 (Source: VNA)
Singapore (VNA) – The Africa Singapore BusinessForum (ASBF) 2023 kicked off in the city state on August 29 under the theme “Driving Africa’s Growth through Digitalisation, Manufacturing andSustainability”.
It takes place amid Singapore’s acceleration of efforts to seekopportunities for cooperation with African countries to tap into potential,diversify cooperation areas, and bridge African markets with the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The three-day event is attended by more than 500 business and governmentleaders from 40 countries, including 14 from Africa.
In his opening remarks, Singaporean Minister for Trade and Industry Gan KimYong called for strengthening partnershipsto address grave challenges today, noting that the best response to suchchallenges is to deepen cooperation across regions.
“At the same time, we continue to strengthen our trade tieswith the rest of the world through free trade agreements”, he said.
The minister also highlighted Singapore’s role in the trade betweenAfrica and Asia and held that efforts should be made to secure closer tiesbetween Southeast Asia and Africa.
At the event, Gan witnessed the signing of five memoranda ofunderstanding that aim to boost business partnerships between Africa andpartners in such fields as manufacturing, hi-tech agriculture, andenvironmentally friendly construction materials.
According to Enterprise Singapore, trade between the citystate and Africa increased by about 15% annually during 2019 - 2022 to reach 19.4billion USD last year. Singaporean companies’ investments in the continenttotalled 32.1 billion USD as of 2021./.
Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai spoke highly of the effective cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore, while addressing the seventh Singapore Regional Business Forum (SRBF) in Hanoi on July 7.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Energy Market Authority (EMA) of Singapore have signed an MoU that paves the way for the development of renewable energy generation and transmission across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.
Singapore’s inflation cooled in June for the second consecutive month, with an overall rate of 4.5%, down from the 5.1% in May and core inflation at 4.2%, down from 4.7% of the previous month. This sends out a signal that the country's inflation has passed its peak, according to the country's Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) or the central bank, and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI).
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on August 20 affirmed that Singapore is keeping up economically after the COVID-19 pandemic and is expecting positive growth.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
Real estate agency ERA Singapore estimated that there are 2,703 condo developments in Singapore today, of which 836 or 31% are at least 30 years old. In 10 years, this number is expected to climb to 1,160, assuming none is sold en bloc.
A dialogue at the Africa Singapore Business Forum (ASBF) 2023 (Source: VNA) 
