Singapore reaffirms Poland relations with expanded trade, culture

Bilateral trade has surged since the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement came into effect.

Singapore and Poland reaffirmed and expanded their longstanding bilateral ties, particularly in trade and culture, in honour of Polish President Andrzej Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda.

During a State Banquet, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam emphasised the depth of the two nations’ historical links, noting that "the diplomatic relations between Singapore and Poland go back to the late 1960s," but that connections date even further back.

President Tharman also highlighted lesser-known contributions to Singapore’s urban development. “What few know is that Polish architect Krystyn Olszewski was the chief designer of Singapore’s first land use plan in 1971,” he said, noting that this foundational work helped shape new townships and led to the relocation of the international airport to Changi.

Economic cooperation was a focal point of the address. Tharman observed that bilateral trade has surged since the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement came into effect: “Our bilateral trade in both goods and services has grown by almost 50% since 2019.”

He praised Poland's role as “one of Europe’s most dynamic logistics hubs” and noted Singapore's growing interest in the region, pointing to PSA International’s landmark 2019 investment in DCT Gdańsk, the largest container terminal in Poland and the Baltic Sea region.

President Tharman also welcomed Polish firms seeking entry into Asia-Pacific markets via Singapore, especially in sectors like logistics, advanced manufacturing, and offshore wind.

Another area of collaboration is food security. The Singapore Food Agency has approved Polish beef, poultry, and eggs for import. “I am heartened to see more Polish food products – from staples like eggs to even caviar – appearing on our shelves,” said Tharman, calling it both a business opportunity and a contribution to food diversity.

Cultural and educational exchanges are also growing. “Three universities in Singapore – NUS, NTU, and SMU – have signed MoUs with six Polish institutions for student exchanges,” the President noted.