Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

216. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to make an official visit to Singapore before the end of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49469/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland and Singapore have enjoyed close and fruitful diplomatic relations since 1974. Ireland's resident Embassy in Singapore, which was opened in 2000, is now located together with regional offices for IDA Ireland, Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland within an "Ireland House".

Singapore remains one of the most economically and politically important countries in South East Asia and cooperation between our nations flourishes in the areas of education, trade, investment, culture and tourism, among others. Our dedicated Asia-Pacific Strategy to 2025 sets the framework for growing our political, economic and people-to-people relationships in the region. There is considerable scope for economic ties to develop further and I am pleased to note a 4.4% increase in goods exports to Singapore between 2019 and 2020.

While I am not scheduled to travel to Singapore before the end of this year, my Department engages frequently with Singapore on a range of bilateral and multilateral priorities. Singapore is a key member of ASEAN and, at the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 21 June, I highlighted the importance of increased bilateral engagement with ASEAN member states as well as regional engagement with ASEAN following the recently agreed ASEAN/EU Strategic Partnership.