Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Trade and Investment and Assistant Minister for Defence - Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee Meeting

Tomorrow’s eighth Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee (SAJMC) meeting will focus on ways to further strengthen our bilateral relationship with Singapore. The SAJMC has been held biennially since 1996.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop, Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb, and Assistant Minister for Defence Stuart Robert will meet their Singaporean counterparts to build on recent senior level visits.

Singapore is a significant strategic and economic partner for Australia. It is our fourth largest investor and one of our most important trading partners. We also have long-standing links in politics, defence and education, and strong people-to-people ties.

Ministers will promote Australia’s strengths and compatibilities as a destination for business and investment at a formal dinner with members of the Singapore business community. A high-level Australian aviation and aerospace business mission, led by Minister Robb, will also attend this event.

More than 100,000 Singaporeans have studied in Australia, and Singapore is one of the pilot destinations for the Government’s New Colombo Plan program. A reception will be held tomorrow night honouring original Colombo Plan scholars and some of the first New Colombo Plan students who are studying in Singapore.

The Foreign Minister will meet business figures and senior women leaders to advance Australia’s economic diplomacy agenda. Minister Bishop will also visit the Kranji War Cemetery to pay tribute to the thousands of Commonwealth casualties of the Second World War buried there.

Media Contacts:

Foreign Minister’s Office: Gabrielle Young 0408 275 340

Trade and Investment Minister’s Office: 0400 940 968 or 02 6277 7420

Assistant Minister for Defence’s Office: Richard Briedis 0477 391 174