Mr Lim Hng Kiang at the Latin Asia Business Forum 2008

SPEECH BY MR LIM HNG KIANG,MINISTER FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, AT LATIN ASIA BUSINESS FORUM 2008, 22 SEPTEMBER 2008, 9.15 AM AT SHANGRI-LA HOTEL, SINGAPORE

Your Excellencies

Distinguished guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning.

Developments inLatin America-Asia demonstrate positive prospects for increased engagement

Most people think of Latin America and Asia as two regions separated by culture, language and history. Yet, Asia and Latin America are more connected than we imagine.

In recent years, political and economic ties between Latin America and Asia have deepened. Not only have government–to-government links and interactions grown, but companies from both regions have increasingly come to realise the potential for doing business with each other. The growth in total trade flows between Latin America and Asia bear testament to this, having risen to reach US$267.3 billion in 2007, an increase of 24% over 2006.

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The increased trade flows are a manifestation of the similarities in our approaches to intra and extra-regional economic integration. Both Latin America and Asia are committed to furthering trade and investment liberalization, even in these current uncertain times.

In ASEAN, there has been good progress made towards achieving the ASEAN Economic Community. The recent conclusion of negotiations for the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA as well as the ASEAN-India FTA Trade in Goods during the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting in August will not only continue to deepen ASEAN’s internal integration, but also expand its external reach. In Latin America, 2008 bore witness to the establishment of the Union of South American Nations or UNASUR

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, which aims to create a single market and to integrate infrastructure.

These are similar efforts taking place more than 10,000 miles away from each other. These are significant developments which will support continued integration and diversification in both regions, as well as boost intra- and inter- regional trade flows. They bode well for increased cross-Pacific synergies. In fact, ASEAN and Mercosur

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[which is a customs union comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay] have already started a process of consultations with the aim of increasing economic linkages between the two regions.

Of course, while healthy economic growth has been the hallmark of both regions’ economic trajectories in recentyears, these are times of economic uncertainty. Both regions have nevertheless done well to improve their macroeconomic fundamentals. This will enable Latin America and Asia to better weather the challenges posed by the current environment. As each region continues to pursue long-term competitiveness and growth, we should not lose sight of, and continue, to build on the momentum generated thus far from increased engagement.

Singapore’s growing trade & investment links with Latin America

While trade links between Asia, as well as Singapore, and Latin America have grown, there is scope to do much more. For example, bilateral trade between Singapore and Latin America increased at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17% over the lastthree yearstoreachUS$8.89 billion (SS$ 13.4 billion) in 2007. Butthis only represents 0.07%

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of total world trade and 1.6%

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of Singapore’s total trade with the world last year. There are many areas where there are opportunities for collaboration, be it in agri-business, food and beverage, electronics, oil and gas, transport, logistics or infrastructure. In fact, an increasing number of our companies have made successful inroads into Latin America in these sectors. To date, there are about 56 Singapore-based companies with 191 points of presence throughout Latin America engaged in a variety of business and investment projects.

Latin America’s infrastructure sector in particular has attracted the interest of a number of Singapore companies. Latin American governments are placing increasing emphasis on investing in robust, well-integrated and efficiently managed infrastructure to sustain growth. This presents opportunities in transportation & logistics, urban planning, water and waste management, industrial park development, and oil & gas, amongst others, in both regions. Latin America’s need for expertise in infrastructure development dovetails well with Singapore companies’ infrastructure development capabilities and search for new markets.

SembCorp Marine and Keppel Offshore & Marine have been active in Brazil’s oil & gas sector for several years. Together they employ over 10,000 workers in Brazil. China and India’s growing energy needs which Latin America helps service coupled with the region’s resurgent oil and gas sector translate into opportunities for both companies to provide services in jack-up and offshore rigs, as well as conversion of tankers into floating, production, storage and offloading vessels.Keppel Seghers has already developed water treatment projects, at both municipal and industrial levels in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico.

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More recently,Jurong Consultants was appointed the master-planner for a Refinery & PetrochemicalPark in Panama.

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In July of this year, Inter-Roller continued its foray into Latin America by clinching its second Baggage Handling Systems project in Quito, Ecuador.

The newly introduced segment on Infrastructure in this year’s Forum is thus timely. I am sure there will be active interest to discuss the opportunities in this area.

Beyond the infrastructure sector, our companies and industry associations continue to make headway in Latin America. For example, a consortium led by CrimsonLogic was recently awarded a US$10 million (S$14.5million) contract to develop, operate and maintain an Integrated Customs Management System for the Panama Customs Authority. This is CrimsonLogic’s third success in Panama following its earlier contract to build and maintain a trade documentation system for the Colon Free Zone and its engagement by the Panama Canal Authority to build and maintain its automated pre-arrival declaration and mobile inspection system.

Singapore’s Efforts in Deepening Engagement with Latin America

These private sector activities will be complemented by efforts to deepen relationship at the government-to-government level, as well as partnerships between the public and private sectors. For example, to complement our current FTAs with Panama and Chile, Singapore signed an FTA with Peru this year, at a ceremony in Lima witnessed by President Alan Garcia. Singapore is also looking to do more by building on our existing MOU with Mercosur and work towards the possibility of an FTA. In addition, you would have just heard the range of IE Singapore’s initiatives

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geared towards enhancing business interactions including the appointment of Dr Alejandro Ferrer as Honorary Business Representative in Panama, further widening IE Singapore’s presence in Latin America.

I am also pleased to learn that Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and the Federation of Industries of Rio Grande do Sul (FIERGS) will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during this Forum

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. The MOU will serve as a concrete platform for SBF and FIERGS to strengthen and further grow existing bilateral investment and trade ties between Singapore and Brazil.

Latin America’s thriving private sector can also look to Singapore as their launching pad as they seek to expand their presence in Asia. In particular, Latin American companies’ strengths in the natural resources as well as food and beverage business segments dovetail well with Asia’s continued demand for such products. Blue chip companies from Latin America such as Embraer, Petrobras, Vale, Grupo Modelo from countries such as Brazil and Mexico amongst others, have established their presence in Singapore.We welcome companies to continue to leverage on our geographic location at the crossroads of Asia, excellent infrastructure, network of free trade/double taxation/investment guarantee agreements and strong capabilities in manufacturing, R&D, logistics and supply chain management.

Conclusion

Latin America and Asia are two regions rich in its diversity of culture, language and opportunities. Our respective strengths present opportunities for collaboration. The strong presence of the Latin American trade associations, businesses and government agencies here today also bears testimony to the increasing synergies between Singapore and Latin America.

Singapore is committed to deepening our links with Latin America.I am glad to see such a strong response to today’s Latin Asia Business Forum.This forum has grown from strength to strength reflecting its importance as a place to exchange ideas, network and forge rewarding partnerships. I am confident that the Latin Asia Business Forum will continue to be an important platform in bringing the two regions closer together.Let me conclude by wishing all of you a successful forum ahead.

Thank you. 

[1]USAID (Latin America= Latin America & the Caribbean; Asia=East Asia & Pacific + South Asia)

[2]UNASUR was established in May 2008 and aims to model itself after the EU.

[3]Mercosur or Mercado Comun del Sur (Common Market of the South), is a customs union comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Venezuela is in the process of Mercosur accession. Its entry as a member of Mercosur has been approved but has yet to be ratified by Brazil and Paraguay. Associate Mercosur members include Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

[4]Total world merchandise trade in 2007= $13.6 trillion (WTO)

[5]Singapore’s total trade in 2007 = $846.6 billion (DOS)

[6]Keppel Seghers website, http://www.keppelseghers.com 

[7]http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKN2062003520071121 (Project is worth US$40 billion)and Jurong Consultants website, http://www.jurong.com/others.html 

[8]Such platforms include the business missions, outreach events and activities e.g. roundtables and seminars, the BuySingapore programme which aims to connect global buyers and sellers with Singapore companies, and even launching an executive management programme in Latin America as part of the International Business Fellowship Programme to train executives.

[9]This will be held on the morning of 23 Sep 08 after Amb Leong Horn Kee's opening address.