LEE YI SHYAN VISITS TOMSK IN WESTERN SIBERIA, RUSSIA

Lee Yi Shyan, Minister of State (MOS) for Trade and Industry, was in the Western Siberian city of Tomsk in Russia on Friday. He met with Vice Governor Oksana Kozlovskaya and visited the innovation SEZ.

MOS Lee said at the local press conference, “The presence of institutes of higher learning and the tradition of R&D in Tomsk gives it the foundation to transform itself into an R&D hub. We recognize the strong desire of Tomsk to build a high-tech zone, aided by Singapore’s experience. We applaud their vision and would be keen to advise them in ways we can”.

MOS Lee added that “Tomsk could use Singapore as a window to market their technologies to international investors. Russian and Singaporean officials are already in discussions to establish a Russian incubator in Singapore”.

Tomsk was the last stop of a week-long official trip to Russia from 16-21 October which also covered Moscow and Tatarstan. It is a prominent academic and scientific center in Western Siberia. There are 6 universities, of which 3 have inked MOUs in May 06 with NUS to facilitate scientific, academic and technical exchanges. There are also over 100 research institutes, many of them with excellent research facilities, in fields ranging from nanotechnology, to materials science and new medicines. One-fifth of Tomsk’s population of 500,000 are students. Singapore plays an advisory role for the Tomsk SEZ under the MOU on Cooperation in SEZs signed between Russia and Singapore on 14 August 2006.

MOS Lee was accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Agency for Science and Technology (A*STAR), International Enterprise Singapore, Jurong Town Corporation, Economic Development Board of Singapore, and Singapore Technologies Engineering.

MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY
SINGAPORE
20 OCTOBER 2006

Vice-governor of Tomsk, Oksana Kozlovskaya, presenting a book on the city of Tomsk to MOS Lee Yi Shyan after their meeting