SINGAPORE: (Bernama) Singapore and Indonesia are exploring opportunities to strengthen collaboration with Malaysia towards renewing the Singapore-Johor-Riau Islands (SIJORI) partnership.
Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said the renewed partnership could deliver tremendous benefits to all three countries amid ongoing global uncertainties.
"Within our region, we also hope to see more investments in transport connectivity and digital projects, and to also bring to reality the Asean Power Grid," he said in a joint press conference with Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono on Tuesday (May 12).
Balakrishnan is currently on a three-day working visit to Indonesia from May 11 to 13, 2026, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Commenting on geopolitical developments, Balakrishnan said the ability of Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia to maintain the Straits of Malacca and Singapore as an open, safe, and vital waterway served as a positive model for other regions globally.
This happened through the Co-operative Mechanism on Safety of Navigation and Environmental Protection in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, formulated pursuant to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
"The point here is that the success of Indonesia and the effective cooperation that we have in our region has a major impact on the prospects for Asean but can also serve as a positive example for the rest of the world," he added.
Meanwhile, Balakrishnan also highlighted that both countries remain among among each other’s biggest trading partners, with Singapore having been Indonesia’s biggest foreign investor for more than a decade.
This reflects Singapore’s confidence in and belief in Indonesia's long-term economic strength, he said.
"We are also seeing good prospects for further growth, especially in the digital and green economies.
"That is why we are looking for more opportunities to enhance our engagements with the large number of provinces in Indonesia," he added. - Bernama
