ASEM Forum: Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius meets with Singaporean Counterpart Lee Hsien Loong

Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius, participating in the European-Asian Forum in Ulan Bator, met with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to discuss the bilateral relations and the cooperation in science and innovations. Prime Minister Butkevičius said that the cooperation may benefit from the appointment of Singapore’s Ambassador to Lithuania.
 
“Lithuania is inspired by Singapore, which has become one of the major centres of the global economy”, said the Prime Minister. “Your country’s economic transformation is impressive, and we are eager to strengthen ties with Singapore.

According to Prime Minister Butkevičius, the Lithuania Government consistently works to build a favourable investment environment in the country, and today we can offer free economic zones, financial and research centres, as well as skilled labour.

On the cooperation in science and innovation, the Prime Minister noted life sciences, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology as areas with significant potential..

Lithuania has everything necessary for innovative product development. Lithuania leads the European Union in terms of the highest number of university graduates, while the Lithuanian scientists are renowned internationally for their scientific achievements. There are five science and business valleys, 10 science and technology parks, talented business operators, managers. During the last financial period, science valleys were allocated hundreds of millions of euros.

The Prime Minister said that Singapore’s former Minister for Finance and Transport, Lim Hwee Hua, will have an opportunity to see all this new infrastructure when she comes to Lithuania with a delegation to participate in Life Sciences Baltics Forum.

The Singaporean Prime Minister expressed agreement as regards the promotion of bilateral relations and asked Lithuania’s support for stepping up the procedures for the European Union-Singapore Free Trade Agreement to come to effect.

The Prime Minister extended an invitation to the Singaporean Colleague to visit Lithuania.