MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Aim, Objectives and Policies for the Next Five Years

The next five years present both challenges and opportunities. With uncertainties about a sustained economic recovery in the industrialised Western countries, the protectionist trend in trade is likely to continue. Singapore will also be facing greater pressure from the developed countries to "graduate" from its developing country status as its economy continues to grow at the targetted rate of 5-7%.

We have set our goal to make the big leap by 1999 into the first division of developed countries. We will have to be alert and sensitive to international and regional developments that affect our economic interests and take action whenever possible to protect these Interests and progress towards our goal. Our major trading partners in the West and Japan must be persuaded to understand that the process of "graduation" to developed country status for Singapore should not be hastened prematurely and that there should be mutual consultation to allow for orderly adjustments.

Singapore together with the other ASEAN countries will continue to contribute to greater economic cooperation, security and stability in the region. We will cooperate actively in ASEAN to counter protectionism and promote an open international economic system. Institutional and personal links with our ASEAN neighbours will be strengthened,

The established order in some neighbouring countries is facing more pressures and challenges. There are flash-points for conflict on the Thai-Cambodian border created by the Vietnamese military suppression of the Cambodian resistance. We need to monitor the gravity of these trends and work out ways to deal with the repercussions on us. We shall continue our efforts with others to bring about a political settlement in Cambodia.

The conduct of foreign policy depends on rapid access to information. In the course of the next few years the Ministry will be implementing its computerization programme. Computerization will result in more productive use of limited manpower and enable better policy formulation and implementation.

S DHANABALAN Minister for Foreign Affairs