At a state banquet hosted in Mr Duda’s honour, Mr Tharman said bilateral trade has grown significantly, and there is much more that both sides can do to capitalise on each other’s roles as hubs within their respective regions.
“There is a Polish saying that goes ‘grain by grain, the measure will be filled’,” said President Tharman.
“Step by step, we will build a meaningful relationship. And that epitomises the way we are going about our strategic relationship.”
Mr Duda expressed Poland’s intent to deepen its engagement in the region.
“My visit is a confirmation of Poland’s growing presence in Southeast Asia and its interest in developing comprehensive relations with the countries of the region,” he added.
“Singapore has long been a key partner for Poland in this region, and we will wish for our relations to rise to a new, much higher level.”
The two leaders encouraged businesses to explore investments in each other’s countries.
There are around 170 Polish companies in Singapore, while Singapore also invests significantly in Poland’s transport and logistics sector.
Since the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA) came into force in 2019, bilateral goods trade between Singapore and Poland has grown by 50 per cent, reaching a high of nearly S$1.7 billion (US$1.3 billion) last year.
