Exchanges of mutual benefit

BUILDING on the already excellent relations between the two countries, this year has been marked by many exchanges between Switzerland and Singapore.

These have been coloured primarily with an education and vocational training flavour as the respective sides seek to leverage on their mutual advantages. There have, however, also been a fair number of official visits and delegations from Switzerland to maintain and deepen the excellent relationship with Singapore.

These include the official visit of the Swiss Finance Minister, Federal Councillor Evelyn Widmer-Schlumpf, in February to deepen the relations between Singapore and Switzerland in the field of finance and on tax issues. She met with her counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam. During her visit, Mrs Widmer-Schlumpf also paid a courtesy call on President Tony Tan Keng Yam. She also met with representatives from the Swiss finance industry and, at the Swiss Club, with the larger Swiss business community.