Singapore Government Press Release Media Division, Ministry of Information & the Arts, #36-00, PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Road, 119963, Tel: 3757795

MINISTER CHEOW TONG’S TRIP TO THE UNITED STATES AND SWITZERLAND FROM 24 JUNE TO 2 JULY 96

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong, Minister for Trade and Industry, will participate in two international conferences on the future direction of trade liberalisation in the lead up to the World Trade Organisation’s inaugural Ministerial Conference (MC) which will be held in Singapore in December 96.

2 The first conference on “The World Trading System: Challenges Ahead” will be held in Washington on 24-25 June 1996. It is organised by the Institute for International Economics and will be attended by Ministers, politicians, officials and academics.

3 The second conference is a Ministerial Meeting organised by Switzerland to discuss the priority issues currently being considered by the WTO. It will be held in Lausanne on 1-2 July 96. This is a follow-up to the Ministerial Meeting held in Vancouver in November 95 which Minister Yeo also participated. 4 Both conferences aim to deepen the exchange of views on current as well as emerging global trade issues which are likely to appear on the agenda of the WTO MC.

5 While in the United States, Mr Yeo will meet Acting US Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky and US Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade, Mr Stuart Eizenstat, and some US senators and congressmen. He will also lead an investment promotion trip to New York and Boston where he will meet the Chief Executive Officers of various high- tech companies.

6 While in Switzerland, Minister Yeo will take the opportunity to visit the WTO in Geneva and hold discussions with the Director-General of WTO, Mr Renato Ruggiero and the Permanent Representatives in Geneva on the preparation for the WTO MC.

7 Minister Yeo will be accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade Development Board and Economic Development Board.

MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY

22 JUNE 96