M E D I A STATEMENT

MINISTER HENG SWEE KEAT TO CO-CHAIR 6TH SINGAPORE- COOPERATION COUNCIL MEETING IN TAIZHOU

MR No.: 037/12 Singapore, Tuesday, 18 September 2012

1. Mr Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Education, will be leading a business delegation to the cities of , Taizhou and Wuxi, Jiangsu province from today until 21 September. On 20 September, Minister Heng will co-chair the sixth Singapore-Jiangsu Cooperation Council (SJCC) meeting with Jiangsu Governor . The meeting will review cooperation initiatives in the past year, and discuss new collaboration areas in the coming year. 15 company signings will take place during the meeting. Mr Teo Ser Luck, Minister of State (MOS) for Trade and Industry, who is the Vice Co-Chairman of SJCC, is also on the trip.

2. The four-day business mission is organised by International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, the Singapore secretariat for the SJCC. The delegation comprises 55 government officials and business representatives from the environmental services, infrastructure services, logistics, nano technology, education, vocational and technical education, F&B and retail sectors. Minister Heng and MOS Teo are scheduled to meet Jiangsu Party Secretary Luo Zhijun, Jiangsu Governor Li Xueyong, Jiangsu Vice Governor Zhang Weiguo, Nanjing Party Secretary Yang Weize, Nanjing Mayor Ji Jianye and Wuxi Party Secretary Huang Lixin. Minister Heng will also be visiting Nanjing University.

3. In 2011, Singapore’s actual investments in Jiangsu increased 54% to hit S$2.5 billion1 (US$2 billion), making Singapore the fourth largest investor in the province. As of end

1 Converted to SGD based on https://secure.mas.gov.sg/msb/ExchangeRates.aspx

International Enterprise Singapore is the lead government agency driving Singapore’s external economy. IE Media Statement 18 Sep’12

2011, cumulative actual investments in Jiangsu were S$23.6 billion2 (US$18.8 billion) with over 3,600 projects3. Bilateral trade increased 23% to hit S$14.8 billion4 (US$11.8 billion) in 2011, which ranked Singapore as Jiangsu’s 10th largest trading partner5.

Annex 1: Chinese terms ---End---

Note to Editor Please use ‘IE Singapore’ or ‘IE’ if an acronym for ‘International Enterprise Singapore’ is required. In addition, unless otherwise stated, the use of statistics cited in our media releases, website or Statlink, should be attributed to IE Singapore.

Issued by IE Singapore. For media enquiries, please contact:

Ms CHENG Kiat Loon Divisional Director (Media), Corporate Communications Group DID : + 65 6433 4465 Hp : + 65 9799 0904 Email : [email protected] ______

About International Enterprise Singapore

International Enterprise (IE) Singapore is the government agency driving Singapore’s external economy. We promote international trade and spearhead the overseas growth of Singapore-based companies to grow Globally Competitive Companies.

IE Singapore attracts global commodities traders to establish their home base in Singapore. Today, Singapore is a thriving trading hub for the energy, agri-commodities and metals & minerals trading clusters.

Through our Global Company Partnership, we work with Singapore-based companies to customise total solutions in capability building, market access and financing for their internationalisation.

Our global network of overseas centres in over 35 locations provides the necessary connections in many developed and emerging markets.

Visit www.iesingapore.com for more information.

2 Converted to SGD based on https://secure.mas.gov.sg/msb/ExchangeRates.aspx 3 Source: Jiangsu Statistics Bureau, Jiangsu DOFTEC 4 Converted to SGD based on https://secure.mas.gov.sg/msb/ExchangeRates.aspx 5 Source: Jiangsu Statistics Bureau, Jiangsu DOFTEC

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IE Media Statement 18 Sep’12

About Singapore-Jiangsu Cooperation Council

The Singapore-Jiangsu Cooperation Council (SJCC) was officially launched on 1 November 2007. Mr Heng Swee Keat, Singapore Minister for Education and Mr Li Xueyong, Jiangsu Governor are Co-Chairmen of the Council. Mr Teo Ser Luck, Minister of State for Trade & Industry and Mr Zhang Weiguo, Jiangsu Vice Governor, assumed the positions of the Vice Co-Chairmen of SJCC and are assisting the two Chairmen in work relating to the council.

The Council aims to promote cooperation between Singapore and Jiangsu Province beyond economic areas, including training, tourism and education exchanges. It is formed by political leaders, government officials and private sector representatives from Singapore and Jiangsu.

The scope of cooperation includes:  Regular high-level bilateral government official visits and exchange activities between the business communities of Singapore and Jiangsu.  Exchanging economic data and information to promote and guide bilateral trade and investment.  Resolving difficulties encountered in collaborative projects, establishing an excellent cooperation mechanism and an environment conducive for cooperation.  Other forms of work which are beneficial for economic and social development.

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IE Media Statement 18 Sep’12

CHINESE TERMS

International Enterprise (IE) Singapore 新加坡国际企业发展局 (企发局) Singapore-Jiangsu Cooperation Council 新加坡－江苏合作理事会 (SJCC) Mr Heng Swee Keat 王瑞杰先生 Minister for Education 新加坡教育部长

Co-Chairman 联合主席 Singapore-Jiangsu Cooperation Council (SJCC) 新加坡－江苏合作理事会 Mr Teo Ser Luck 张思乐先生 Minister of State for Trade and Industry 新加坡贸易及工业部政务部长

Vice Co-Chairman 联合副主席 Singapore-Jiangsu Cooperation Council (SJCC) 新加坡－江苏合作理事会 Mr Luo Zhijun 罗志军先生 Jiangsu Party Secretary 江苏省委书记 Mr Li Xueyong 李学勇先生 Jiangsu Governor 江苏省长

Co-Chairman 联合主席 Singapore-Jiangsu Cooperation Council (SJCC) 新加坡－江苏合作理事会 Mr Zhang Weiguo 张卫国先生 Jiangsu Vice Governor 江苏副省长

Vice Co-Chairman 联合副主席 Singapore-Jiangsu Cooperation Council (SJCC) 新加坡－江苏合作理事会 Mr Yang Weize 杨卫泽先生 Nanjing Party Secretary 南京市委书记

Mr Ji Jianye 季建业先生 Nanjing Mayor 南京市长 Ms Huang Lixin 黄莉新女士 Wuxi Party Secretary 无锡市委书记

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