PM Wong speaking to leaders from several countries to strengthen trade as US turns inwards

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong released a video on Apr. 25 addressing what Singapore has been doing in the face of global developments.

PM Wong noted that while Singapore might be too small to influence these developments, he said "we are certainly not helpless".

He shared that he had discussions over the past few weeks with leaders of several countries, including Malaysia, Japan, New Zealand, the EU bloc and the UK.

They agreed that while the U.S. might be "turning inwards", these countries do not have to follow its lead.

Instead they agreed they should "strengthen trade and investment links with one another".

One of the examples he gave was plans to do more on energy and food security with Indonesia, and pointing to major projects like the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with Malaysia.

PM Wong also shared that Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong had just attended an investor conference for the SEZ.

The prime minister also spoke about growing intra-Asean trade and investments, and enhancing cooperation in new areas like the digital economy.

Another key player PM Wong has had discussions with was the EU.

While Singapore already has FTAs with them, he said the two sides can do "more together" and take "concrete steps towards" an Asean-EU FTA.

He also raised the idea of working through the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPATTP), and forming a partnership with the EU.

PM Wong ended his video by saying that he and his team would never stop working for Singapore:

"We are now in the midst of the election campaign. But the work of governing Singapore does not stop. My team and I will never stop working – for you and for Singapore. We will stay nimble and look out for new opportunities. In this changed world, our mission is clear: to steer Singapore through the storm, and secure a brighter future for you."

Image from PM Wong's YouTube