It will never be known how the communist in Ho
Chi Minh, the founding father of modern Vietnam, would have felt had he known
that his statue would be unveiled officially in Singapore one day. Such a sight
would have been quite unimaginable during the Cold War, particularly after the
Vietnamese invasion and occupation of Cambodia. Singapore played a key role in
framing, driving and articulating Asean's fierce and ultimately successful
diplomatic resistance to the crisis.
However, the nationalist in Uncle Ho - as he
was fondly known and remains entrenched in Asian hearts to this day - would no
doubt have been happy to countenance Singapore's recognition in bronze of his
life and work. Both Vietnam and Singapore are creations of anti-colonial
nationalism which have come together in an Asean whose contours today attest to
the integrative energy of the globalised post-Cold War world. Vietnamese
President Truong Tan Sang's just-concluded visit to Singapore reaffirmed those
ties and provided a glimpse of the way forward.
Economic relations are flourishing. President
Tony Tan Keng Yam noted in his speech welcoming President Sang that bilateral
trade had increased four-fold in the past decade and had reached US$10.1
billion (S$13 billion) last year. Singapore is among the top three foreign
investors in Vietnam with over 930 projects worth nearly US$23 billion. But
bilateral relations go well beyond trade statistics. The Connectivity Framework
Agreement, which is in its seventh year, provides the main framework in which
to increase cooperation in the key areas of education and training, finance,
information technology and telecommunications, investment, trade and services,
as well as transportation. The momentum gained in these areas has spilled over
into other areas.
As for the future of economic relations, of
particular interest are the prospects of Singapore-linked industrial parks in
Vietnam. Like their counterparts in China and India, these ventures are both an
external wing of the Singapore economy and embody its confidence in the
economic potential of the host country. Singapore and Vietnam will now study
the feasibility of building an industrial park in the province of Quang Ngai.
If it materialises, it will be the fifth such park to be run by the
Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park joint venture. As Vietnam's growth spreads
into areas beyond the traditional core, Singapore should be present there and
spur the success of one of Asia's sunrise economies.
News Desk
The Straits Times
Business & Investment Opportunities
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Consulting, Investment and Management, focusing three main economic sectors: International PR; Healthcare & Wellness;and Tourism & Hospitality. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programs. Sign up with twitter to get news updates with @SaigonBusinessC. Thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment