OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMES

Dr Kanwaljit Soin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs (a) if he will give an update on the work of the Japan-Singapore partnership programme; (b) what percentage of the Gross Domestic Product goes to the programme annually; (c) what other Overseas Development Assistance Programme does Singapore participate in; and (d) what percentage of the GDP goes towards ODA.

Prof. S. Jayakumar: (a) Update of the work of the Japan-Singapore Partnership Programme

The Japan-Singapore Partnership Programme (JSPP) is a partnership between Japan and Singapore to help other countries. It was announced during Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong's visit to Japan in May 1993. The main component of the JSPP is the Third Country Training Programme (TCTP), which Singapore and Japan co-sponsor for the benefit of developing countries for training in Singapore. Under the JSPP, the number of courses for the TCTP will increase from nine in this financial year to a total of 12 courses in FY 1997. The TCTP provides developing countries with training in areas where Singapore has acquired some expertise, particularly fields where Singapore has benefitted from ODA and technology transfer from Japan. These fields of training include airport and port management, information technology, productivity improvement and food packaging technology. In this financial year, more than 140 participants from developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region will receive training under this programme.

We are also exploring with Japan the possibility of the joint despatch of volunteers to other countries under the JSPP.

(b) What percentage of the Gross Domestic Product goes to the programme annually?

In FY 1994, Singapore's share of the nine courses we co-sponsor under the TCTP with Japan will amount to around $760,000 or about 0.0008% of our GDP.

(c) What other Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) programmes does Singapore participate in?

Singapore has also teamed up with other donor partners to provide TCTPs to developing countries. Besides Japan, our other TCTP partners are Germany, United Kingdom, South Korea, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the United Nations Development Programme and the Asian Development Bank. Programmes in environmental management, communications and transport, health, management of public enterprises and export market development have been included under these TCTPs.

Singapore also provides ODA through our training awards to ASEAN countries, member countries of the Colombo Plan as well as through the Indochina Assistance Fund (ICAF) and Myanmar Technical Assistance Fund (MTAF). The US$10 million Indochina Assistance Fund enables Singapore to assist in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Indochina. The US$3 million Myanmar Technical Assistance Fund is aimed at helping Myanmar open up its economy and develop through technical manpower training. The ICAF and MTAF focus on upgrading the skills of the people in recipient countries through the provision of training programmes and consultancy expertise. Assistance has been also extended to a number of countries in Africa.

(d) What percentage of the GDP goes towards ODA?

About 0.02% of our GDP goes towards ODA.