Presented by Ms Denise Cheng Assistant Director, Technical Cooperation Directorate

1. Regional Review Meeting on Aid for Trade, Jakarta, 14 June 2011 Session 3: Engaging the private sector in AfT initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region The Singapore Cooperation Programme- Singapore’s contribution to Aid for Trade & the Private Sector Development Presented by Ms Denise Cheng Assistant Director, Technical Cooperation Directorate Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore

2. Singapore Cooperation Programme • Started in 1992, administered by MFA • Singapore’s technical assistance programme to developing countries • Capacity building programmes - Training Courses, Workshops, Study Visits, Undergraduate Scholarships • 75,000 government officials trained from 170 countries – Asia-Pacific, Africa, Middle East, Eastern Europe, Latin America &Caribbean

3. 75,000 officials from 170 countries trained since 1992

4. “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for life.” Philosophy • Human Resource Development as catalyst for economic development • Singapore’s own experience - People are our only resource • Sharing Singapore’s development experience in trade-related & other areas with developing countries • Giving back to the international community

5. SINGAPORE’S AID FOR TRADE STRATEGY • 80% or more of SCP programmes contribute to Aid-for-Trade • Objective: • 1) - Boost economic level and productive capacity of developing countries • --> Enable them to participate more effectively in international trading system • 2) - Raise awareness of opportunities of open world market • --> Reduce their reluctance to further market opening

6. Singapore’s Aid for Trade Programmes • Two Modalities: • Bilateral – South-South Cooperation (e.g. IAI) • Third Country Training Programme (TCTP) • Benefits: - Triangular cooperation • - leverages on resources of • both partners to maximise outcomes • Training locations

7. 17 Partner Countries 26 International Organisations & NGOs

8. Over 60 Singapore Training Agencies

9. Singapore’s Aid for Trade Programmes: Four Strategic Levels • Level 1: Trade Policy and Regulations • Trade policy and planning • Trade liberalisation • Regional trade agreements • Trade negotiation and facilitation • Investment promotion • International trade • Dispute settlement • Customs clearance • Border management

10. Singapore’s Aid for Trade Programmes: Level 2: Building Economic Infrastructure • Port and airport management • Logistics and distribution • Information & communication technologies (ICT) • Urban management – city planning, land transport, water, environmental management • Public-private partnerships

11. Singapore’s Aid for Trade Programmes: Level 3: Building Productive Capacities • Macroeconomic & financial management • - IMF-Singapore Regional Training Institute • Trade financing • Enterprise development and competitiveness- Strategies for SME Internationalisation - Business Incubation in Singapore- Analyzing and Managing Risks in Public Private Partnership Infrastructure Projects • Seafood safety code • Tourism promotion

12. Singapore’s Aid for Trade Programmes: Level 4: General Support Level • Training programmes & study visits on Singapore’s development experience in: • Economic development • Macro-economic reforms • Trade liberalisation • Public Governance • Education

13. Singapore-WTO Third Country Training Programme • MOU signed in 1996, renewed in 2000 • Close to 30 Aid for Trade programmes conducted for almost 600 officials in Singapore • Collaboration has increased from one to 2-3 programmes annually

14. Singapore-WTO Third Country Training ProgrammeDiverse Training Areas: • Regional Trade Policy • Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) • TRIPS and Public Health • Dispute Management • Anti Dumping • Trade in Services • Non Agricultural Market Access • Environment, Market Access & Trade Liberalisation

15. Singapore-WTO Third Country Training Programme Asian Parliamentarian Workshop – 3 Runs (2009, 2010, 2011) • Collaboration between WTO, MFA and Temasek Foundation Centre for Trade and Negotiations • Aims: • Enhance capacity to make trade-related legislation • - Deepen understanding of WTO and current/future negotiating issues in international trade • 1st Workshop (June 2009): 20 Asian Parliamentarians • 2nd Workshop (May 2010): 24 Parliamentarians • 3rd Workshop (May 2011): 40 Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians

16. WTO-NUS Regional Trade Policy Course (RTPC) Singapore, 2007 - 2010 • Collaboration between WTO and National University of Singapore (NUS - Faculty of Law) • 3-month course covers every aspect of WTO’s agreements & negotiations + regional perspectives on trade issues • Beneficiaries: over 100 senior trade officials from more than 25 Asia Pacific economies • New: NUS-WTO “Dialogue on the Doha Development Agenda”, 5-7 October 2011

17. Singapore-ADB Third Country Training Programme • Since 1993, Singapore and ADB have trained close to 650 participants from developing member countries • Diverse areas that build trade or economic capacity: trade facilitation, port and airport management, tourism, technology transfer • Latest collaboration: ADBI-RSIS-MFA-ADB Regional Policy Workshop on Asian Economic Integration (15-18 February 2011)

18. Conclusion • Focus on human capacity development (value add) - strengthens trade & economic capacity of Asia Pacific economies • Work with international partners • Tap on knowledge & expertise of private sector • Support international forums on trade & development • Outcome: Open, pro-trade national environments that facilitate private sector development & increased trade  benefit Governments & private sector in Asia Pacific region