The 25-member delegation is co-led by chair of the US-Singapore Business Council of the US-ASEAN Business Council, Mr. Robert Bauerlein, Vice President of International Operations of the Boeing Company, and Mr. Matthew Daley, President of the Council.

“We look forward to entering into our fourth year of implementing the Singapore-US Free Trade Agreement, and to continuing the partnerships developed with Singapore. We congratulate Singapore for constantly setting a standard for excellence in governance, business facilitation, and globalization,” said Mission Co-Leader Robert Bauerlein.

During the two-day mission, the delegation met with Prime Minister & Minister of Finance Lee Hsien Loong; Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong; Minister of State Mrs. Lim Hwee Hua, Ministry of Transport; Minister Mah Bow Tan, Ministry of National Development; Minister Teo Chee Hean, Ministry of Defence; Minister of State S Iswaran, Ministry of Trade and Industry; Prof Tommy Koh, Chairman, Institute of Policy Studies; Temasek Holdings; Mr. Khoo Chin Hean, Chief Executive, Energy Market Authority; and Ambassador Patricia Herbold, US Embassy Singapore.

The Council's primary topics of discussion with Singaporean policy makers included: US-Singapore bilateral relations, new business and cooperative opportunities that Singapore offers, and commending Singapore for its leadership in advancing the ASEAN integration efforts.

“The American business community has a strong interest in expanding our robust bilateral relationship with Singapore. The United States is Singapore’s largest foreign investor and its second largest trading partner. We were here to underscore the central importance to the business community of the U.S.-Singapore partnership, “ said Matthew Daley.

US exports to Singapore in 2006 reached US$24,683.7 million and imports to the US from Singapore hit US$17,768.1 million. During the first three years of the US-Singapore FTA, which came into effect January 1, 2004, two-way trade has increased 34 percent and US exports by nearly 49 percent. Singapore is the second largest recipient of US FDI (US$ 48.1 billion) in Asia after Japan (US$ 75.5 billion), and fourteenth largest recipient worldwide.

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The US-ASEAN Business Council and affiliates are dedicated to strengthening bilateral and US ASEAN relations and building strong economic and commercial ties. Members of the Council include Fortune 1000 companies in support of promoting trade, investment, and technology cooperation, advancing US ASEAN relations through strong participation in public-private partnerships, and committing to development and corporate social responsibility. The Council's members are represented in diverse industries, including aerospace, agribusiness, automobiles, computers and information technology, consumer goods, energy exploration and development, express delivery services, financial services, health care and pharmaceuticals, media & entertainment, mining, software, and telecommunications.

For information on the US-ASEAN Business Council or general information visit www.us-asean.org.