SPEECH BY MR LIM HNG KIANG, MINISTER FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY,
AT THE OPERA GALA DINNER IN CELEBRATION OF THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FRENCH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
HELD ON SATURDAY, 16 MAY 2009 AT 8.00PM, IN THE
SHANGRI-LA ISLAND BALLROOM

Your Excellency Pierre Buhler, Ambassador of France to Singapore

Mr Pierre Verdiere, President of the French Chamber of Commerce

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen

Good evening.

It is my pleasure to be here at the Opera Gala Dinner of the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore. This Gala offers Singaporeans a great opportunity to experience different facets of French culture and heritage. It is also an important platform to further strengthen the long-standing and close ties between France and Singapore.

Our two countries have many things in common, and tonight we are brought together by a shared desire to strengthen our economic relations.

Singapore has long been a regional platform for French companies, serving as a strategically-located base from which to expand into the nearby markets of ASEAN, China and India. We are pleased to play host to some 700 French companies, including industry leaders such as INSEAD, LVMH and Sanofi-Aventis. French companies here are particularly well-represented in the sectors of electronics, finance and pharmaceuticals. With €3.5 billion worth of French investments here, Singapore is the most popular Southeast Asian destination for French investors.

Our political relations are excellent, as illustrated by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s visit to Paris in January 2008 and Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo's more recent visit in January 2009.While in Paris, Minister Yeo signed a cultural cooperation agreement with his French counterpart, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. This further strengthened our already substantial and multi-faceted ties.

I am all in favor of more exchanges in business and the arts. I thank the French Chamber of Commerce for the excellent work it has done to build our strong bilateral economic relationship, and I look forward to seeing it accomplish even more in future.

On this note, I congratulate the French Chamber of Commerce on its 30th Anniversary here and wish all of you a memorable and enjoyable evening. Thank you.