The Singapore International Foundation and the Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association on June 29 renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), committing to another five years of cooperation between Singapore and Vietnam at the people-to-people level.

(Left to right) SIF Chairman, Ambassador Ong Keng Yong, Ambassador of Singapore to VN Catherine Wong, SIF Executive Director Jean Tan, VSFA Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hung and VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga at the signing ceremony.

Announced at the SIF Connects! Hanoi event, the renewed MOU, which was first signed in 2017, will pave the way for further cross-border collaboration between the two communities, in the areas of healthcare, education, arts and culture, and social entrepreneurship.

Over the last 25 years, the SIF has collaborated on various projects with different Vietnamese partners. In 2018, the SIF launched a three-year Haemodialysis Care Project in Hanoi in partnership with the Hanoi Medical University to improve the overall quality of haemodialysis care in North Vietnam. As of today, the project has trained over 180 healthcare professionals and is expected to benefit over 5,000 kidney patients in the region.

The SIF also embarked on a second run of its signature Words on Wheels (WoW) programme in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). The project aims to inculcate the joy of reading and lifelong learning to over 7,000 Vietnamese schoolchildren by 2020. It builds on the success of WoW HCMC’s first edition which empowered over 11,000 schoolchildren between 2014 to 2017. WoW HCMC is conducted in partnership with The General Sciences Library of Ho Chi Minh City and sponsored by Keppel Land Limited.

Since 2014, the VSFA has held various initiatives in Vietnam and Singapore to strengthen cross-cultural understanding between the peoples of both countries. These initiatives are in the areas of cultural exchange, education and training, business and investment promotion, and volunteer activities.

In 2018, the VSFA, together with Singaporean partners, carried a series of activities in Singapore in celebration of 45 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Activities included the Viet Nam – Singapore Art Exhibition titled A Glance, as well as business networking seminars and roundtables.

Speaking at the event, SIF Chairman, Ambassador Ong Keng Yong acknowledged the support from the Vietnamese community and partners, including VSFA in facilitating SIF’s endeavors in the country.

He recalled numerous milestones of SIF in Vietnam, noting that "Hanoi was one of the first stops in SIF's journey to make friends with people around the world and bringing world communities together to do good.”

“The SIF-VSFA MOU renewal underscores the strong ties and trust that have developed over the years between the people of Singapore and Vietnam. The SIF and VSFA share a common goal to strengthen intercultural understanding through cooperation. In this regard, the partnership will augment SIF’s projects in Vietnam, spanning the areas of healthcare, education, arts and culture, and social entrepreneurship, to uplift lives”, he said.

SIF Chairman, Ambassador Ong Keng Yong speaks at the event.

SIF Chairman expressed his hope that the renewed MOU will reaffirm the commitment of SIF and VSFA to further cooperate and look at areas of interest of both Vietnam and Singapore. He also emphasized SIF's recent focus on the area of special education, committing to empowering people with special needs, helping them become more self-reliant.

“I am confident that multiplying our efforts to collaborate over the next five years will further advance good relations and yield positive and sustainable outcomes for both communities,” he stated, adding his hope that local friends will continue to stand by SIF’s side to help the organization fulfill their projects fruitfully, in accordance with Vietnam’s rules and laws.

On behalf of VSFA, VSFA Vice Chairman, former Ambassador of Vietnam to Singapore, Nguyen Duc Hung expressed VSFA’s pleasure to extend the partnership with the SIF after two successful years together.

According to him, the renewal serves as testament to the friendship and cooperation Singapore has years of working closely committed to the people of Vietnam through the SIF’s active initiatives in Hanoi and HCMC.”We look forward to deepening this friendship over the next five years”, he said, voicing VSFA's expectation to receive further support from SIF, especially for Vietnamese social entrepreneurs.

VSFA Vice Chairman also emphasized the significance of the renewed MOU will facilitate activities of NGOs at home and abroad and engage people from different parts of the world, particularly Vietnam and Singapore, in jointly creating positive impact.

The MOU was co-signed by SIF Executive Director Jean Tan and VSFA Vice President Ambassador Nguyen Duc Hung, witnessed by Singapore’s Ambassador to Vietnam Catherine Wong and President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organization Nguyen Phuong Nga.

The MOU was co-signed by SIF Executive Director Jean Tan and VSFA Vice President Nguyen Duc Hung. The ceremony was witnessed by Singapore’s Ambassador to Vietnam Ambassador Catherine Wong and the President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organization (VUFO) Nguyen Phuong Nga.

In addition to the celebration of SIF’s 25-year journey of supporting Vietnam and the renewal of the MOU, SIF Connects! Hanoi was also a platform for the SIF to re-engage with friends of Singapore, programme alumni in Vietnam and alumni of Singaporean universities.

At the event, the participants had chance to enjoy a Vietnamese folk cultural show and two short movies of Singaporean young producers. The two movies, namely Shanti and Buddies, were made based on true stories of the power of friendship, compassion and empathy.

One of the directors was present at the event to interact with the audience and share more about his film-making journey.

About SIF and VSFA

The Singapore International Foundation (SIF) makes friends for a better world. Its mission is to build enduring relationships between Singaporeans and world communities, and harness these friendships to enrich lives and effect positive change. SIF's programmes bring people together to share ideas, skills and experiences in areas such as healthcare, education, the environment, arts and culture, as well as livelihood and business.