MFA's mission is to advance and safeguard the interests of Singapore and Singaporeans through effective diplomacy. A budget of $447.26 million has been allocated to MFA in FY2009 to achieve this mission.

MFA aims to achieve the following outcomes:

• The advancement of Singapore’s national interests through the conduct of our foreign relations and working through regional and international organizations
• Reinforcing the international recognition of Singapore as a worthy partner, being effective, constructive and principled
• Providing prompt and effective consular services for Singaporeans

Advancement of Singapore’s national interests through the conduct of our foreign relations and working through regional and international organisations

MFA aims to strengthen relations with our neighbours, ASEAN partners and key regional players such as the US, China, India, Japan, the EU/Europe, Russia, Australia and New Zealand. We aim to continue engaging emerging markets, including the Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and Latin America. We will also enhance relations with all our friends and partners. On the multilateral front, we will make our contributions to strengthen international and regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN, ARF, APEC, EAS and ASEM. We will play an active role in international organisations, to defend and advance our interests, and continue to build an international constituency of support for Singapore.

To achieve this outcome, we will:

• Maintain a steady level of visits and exchanges
• Leverage on Singapore's Chairmanship of APEC (Jan to Dec 2009) to engage key regional players and keep regional economic integration on the agenda in the Asia Pacific region
• Maintain the implementation of the ASEAN Charter as a key priority and work towards strengthening economic integration among ASEAN countries
• Build up our knowledge and expertise on emerging markets by enhancing our diplomatic presence in key regions
• Support the efforts of our economic agencies in expanding our web of Free Trade Agreements and promoting our business and commercial interests and activities overseas
• Support the work of our think tanks, such as ISEAS, RSIS and ISAS, as well as that of new centres, such as the Middle East Institute

$239.3m will be allocated to the above efforts. This constitutes 53.5% of MFA’s total budget.

Reinforcing international recognition of Singapore as a worthy partner, being effective, constructive and principled

MFA aims to enhance Singapore’s role in international organisations in collaboration with other Singapore agencies, through constructive participation and by taking principled positions at the UN and key international forums. MFA will continue to build goodwill towards Singapore and profile the Singapore brand name through technical assistance, outreach activities and cultivation efforts.

To achieve this outcome, we will:

• Play an active role in international organisations and forums such as the UN, WTO, IMO, ICAO, IAEA, WIPO, WHO, ILO, UNESCO, the Commonwealth, and the Proliferation Security Initiative, and participate in efforts to enhance their role and effectiveness
• Play a leadership role in APEC during Singapore’s Chairmanship in 2009
• Serve as the Secretariat for the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change
• Support the efforts of Singapore agencies to participate more effectively in international forums by providing training and foreign policy inputs
• Work with other ministries to support Singapore’s candidatures for key international organisations
• Provide technical assistance through the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) and share Singapore's developmental experience with developing countries

$129.6m will be allocated to our participation in and contributions to regional and international organisations, the Singapore Cooperation Programme and outreach activities.

Prompt and effective consular services for Singaporeans

MFA aims to provide better, more timely and effective consular services through Singapore’s overseas missions, the network of Honorary Consuls General (HCGs) and friends of Singapore. This would include

• Improving the e-Registration system for Singaporeans traveling overseas
• Working with other agencies to strengthen our crisis management competencies through participation in Emergency Preparedness exercises
• Working closely with the Overseas Singaporean Unit (OSU) in their efforts to engage Singaporeans overseas

$78.3m will be allocated to providing consular services.

To find out more about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our initiatives, visit our website at www.mfa.gov.sg.