SINGAPORE CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRES

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Chew Heng Ching) in the Chair]

Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Minister for Trade and Industry how will Singapore's convention and exhibition centres be affected by the recently completed multi-million dollar convention and exhibition hall in Yogjakarta.

The Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry (Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam) (for the Minister for Trade and Industry): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the S$10 million Jogja Expo Centre in Yogjakarta was opened last year. We understand that its main purpose is to provide a platform for small and medium-sized enterprises, especially vendors of arts and craft, to showcase and sell their products. Given the richness and diversity of Indonesian products in this area, such a centre is important in promoting commerce. As its primary focus is on domestic trade fairs and conventions, the Jogja Expo Centre will complement rather than compete with Singapore, which is targeting mainly international exhibitions and conventions.

Mdm Ho Geok Choo (West Coast): Sir, it was reported in the newspapers on 9th December that Yogjakarta intends to establish some direct trade routes with the region. Because of its landlocked nature in the past, it had always been operating through Bali, Jakarta and Medan. One of the options is to establish direct trade routes with Singapore. In view of this, what is Singapore's position with regard to this intention on the part of Yogjakarta?

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam: Mdm Ho is quite right about Yogjakarta's intention to boost its role in the region. They are trying to promote themselves as a cultural, educational and tourism hub to compete with Bali and other centres of attraction in Indonesia. We see this as complementary with us. The more links we have to the region, the better. It enhances our role and we also want the various centres of commerce in Indonesia to succeed. So, it is complementary.

Mdm Ho Geok Choo: It is also understood that Yogjakarta is known to be a nest for fundamental Islam in this part of the world. In view of its intention to establish direct trade links via Singapore, how would this impact our security and competition in Singapore?

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam: We have trade links with all parts of the world. We have trade links with parts of the world which are politically stable as well as those that are politically complex. I do not think that we should be distracted from providing this connectivity where there is business to be done. If there is a case for security measures, when it comes to relationships with particular cities or countries, that would be undertaken in a sensible fashion. But it should not distract us from being able to conduct trade and boost commerce with all countries in the world.