Start-ups from Singapore and Russia to have access to networks, markets and resources

Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Maxim Akimov holding up the signed Joint Statement of the Ninth Session of the IGC in Singapore, on Sept 19, 2018. PHOTO: MFA SINGAPORE

SINGAPORE - Start-ups from Singapore and Russia will be allowed access to business networks, markets and resources in both countries following the signing of two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) on Wednesday (Sept 19).

The signing took place at the ninth session of the Russia-Singapore Inter-Governmental Commission, which is an annual high-level bilateral dialogue to strengthen broad-based cooperation between the two countries.

It was witnessed by the co-chairs of the commission, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Maxim Akimov.

One MOU was signed between a Russian venture capital fund, Internet Initiatives Development Fund, and Singapore's Action for Community Entrepreneurship.

The other MOU was signed by the Russian Export Centre, Skolkovo Foundation, Sistema Group and Enterprise Singapore.

The two DPMs also agreed to further encourage commercial partnerships in the information and communications technology sector and digital economy, according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) statement on Wednesday.

"The DPMs agreed that both sides should keep up the momentum of cooperation achieved in recent years, and identified new areas of cooperation to broaden and deepen the relationship," said MFA.

They welcomed expanding new collaborations in innovation, transport and logistics, among others, it added.

They also reaffirmed Singapore and Russia's strong support for the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, which will deepen economic ties between Singapore and Russia as well as other EAEU member states.

The DPMs also noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Singapore.

Russia was Singapore's 24th largest trading partner last year, and bilateral trade stood at $7.38 billion. Last year, Singapore received 80,000 Russian visitors.

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