TELNO OTTER 129
¥ 1405307 OCTOBER 21
NFC PEIORITY FCO
VISIT TO BRITAIN OF MINISTERIAL TRADE PROMOTION DELEGATION : FEBRUARY 1993.
CHAIRNAN
1. FOLLOWING SUGGESTION FONTED WITH EDB DURING JUNE VISIT OF
ROTE. HE HAVE CONTINUED TO DISCUSS WITH EDB AND MINISTRY JE TRACE POSSIBIL TY OF A VISIT TO BRITAIN BY A HIGH LEVEL SINGAPORE BUSINESS DELEGATION (BIR OEREK HORNBY'S LETTER OF 2 JULY TO PHILIP VED, 50S CHAIRMANY. COB'S MANCING DIRECTOR, TAN CHIN NAM. HAS NOW PUT A PROPOSAL TO ME.
3. THE RECENTLY APPOINTED SENJOR MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, LIN BACON HENG. HAS SEEN ASKED (APPARENTLY BY THE DEFUTY PRIME MINISTER, BG LEE) TO LEAD 4 DELEGATION OF AROUND A DOZEN TOF
26 SINGAPORE EXECUTIVES ON A VISIT TO FRANCE AND BRITAIN IN FEBRUARY 1992. THE PURPOSES OF THE VISIT 48 DISCUSSED WITH TAN, WOULD SE: (I) TO STRENGTHEN AND GIVE NEW IMPETUS TO OUR TRADE RELATIONS. (11) TO PROMOTE INVESTNENT BOTH WAYS (INCLUDING THE GROWTH TRIANGLE) (IZI) TO MAKE INDUSTRY IN BOTH COUNTRIES MORE AWARE OF THE DEGREE TO WHICH WE CAN HELP EACH OTHER MAKE COMMERCIAL INROADS INTOS OUR RESPECTIVE REGIONS, IE SINGAPORE AS A HUB AND POINT OF ENTREE TO SOUTHEAST ASIA AND BRITAIN AS A GATEWAY TO THE EC.
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3. THE DELEGATION WOULD PROPOSE TO ARRIVE FROM FRANCE OVER WEEKEND OF 15/16 FEBRUARY. A JOINT CONFERENCE, OPENED AND CHAIRED AT MINISTERIAL LEVEL, WOULD BE SCHEDULED FOR THE MORNING OF 17 FEBRUARY AS THE SET PIECE PRESENTATION OF THE VISIT. IT WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIRECT BILATERAL EXCHANGES BETWEEN SINGAPORE AND UK BUSINESSMEN, LASTING AS NECESSARY THROUGH TO WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY.
4. THE CONCEPT OF A CONFERENCE AND A MINISTERIAL LED DELEGATION IS ONE WHICH SINGAPORE HAS BEEN EXPLOITING AROUND THE REGION SUCCESSFULLY IN RECENT MONTHS EG IN JAPAN AND KOREA, TO PROMOTE THE GROWTH TRIANGLE SEMICOLON AND IN HONG KONG (MY TELNO 372 TO FCO) TO PROMOTE TWINNING AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION.
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S. THIS IS A WELCOME AND HEARTENING RESPONSE TO OUR INITIATIVE. WOULD GIVE A NECESSARY BOOST TO OUR COMMERCIAL PRESENCE IN THIS REGION AND ASSIST IN FOCUSSING THE ATTENTION OF SINGAPORE INVESTORS ON THE UK OPPORTUNITIES. IT COULD HELP PERSUADE BRITISH COMPANIES TO ESTABLISH A PRESENCE IN THE REGION. BRINGING COMMERCIAL DECISION
A POSITIVE RESPONSE MAKERS FACE TO FACE HAS PARTICULAR ATTRACTIONS.
FROM US WOULD GO FAR IN LAYING TO REST SUGGESTIONS THAT WE ARE NEGLECTING SINGAPORE. IT WOULD BE A HELPFUL AND APPROPRIATE FIRST LEG FOR A POSSIBLE RETURN VISIT BY THE MINISTER FOR TRADE (YOUR TELMO OTTER 137).
6. I HOPE THE MINISTER FOR TRADE WOULD BE ABLE TO CO-HOST THE PROPOSED CONFERENCE WITH MINISTER LIM. I IMAGINE WE WOULD WANT TO SEEK THE SUPPORT ALSO OF THE CGI. INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS, SEATAE AND OTHER APPROPRIATE BODIES. A NUMBER OF SENIOR BRITISH BUSINESSMEN WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH SINGAPORE RECENTLY (EVELYN ROTHSCHILD, WILLIAM BARLOW, JOHN ESAN, GEORGE YOUNGER, IAIN DALE, LORD CAULFIELD, BOB HAWLEY) HAVE ALL INDICATED THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ASSIST IN A PROMOTION OF THIS NATURE.
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I WOULD BE GLAD OF AN EARLY RESPONSE, AGRESING THE PROPOSAL IN PRINCIPLE, WHICH I CAN PASS TO THE MINISTER AND ED2.
DUGGAN