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Singapore and Turkey strengthen cultural ties, commemorates 50 years of diplomatic relations

5 April 2019

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Joint Press Release by MCI and NLB

SINGAPORE AND TURKEY STRENGTHEN CULTURAL TIES, COMMEMORATES 50 YEARS OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

NLB concludes Memoranda of Understanding with Turkish institutions to facilitate cooperation in archive and heritage work

Minister Iswaran witnesses signing of MOU between NLB and the Turkish National Library.

  1. Minister for Communications and Information & Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations S Iswaran was on an official visit to Turkey from 2 to 4 April 2019. Minister Iswaran’s visit reaffirmed Singapore’s ties with Turkey in the year that both countries commemorate 50 years of diplomatic relations.

  2. In Ankara, Minister Iswaran witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the National Library Board (NLB) and the Turkish National Library. This MOU will facilitate cooperation in the digitalisation of records. Minister Iswaran also presented to the Turkish National Library a set of books about Singapore. The gift comprises 200 titles that will add to the Turkish National Library’s collection of books on Singapore, further promoting understanding of Singapore’s history, society, culture, literature.

  3. While in Ankara, Minister Iswaran also toured the National Archives where he presented a compilation of digitised documents from the National Archives of Singapore (NAS) that depict the historical links between Singapore and Turkey. Prior to this visit, in February 2019, NAS, an institution of NLB, had also signed an MOU with the Directorate of State Archives of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey on the sharing of knowledge and materials relating to the archives.

  4. In Istanbul, Minister Iswaran visited the Ottoman Archives, which hold important primary materials tracing the history between the Ottoman Empire and Southeast Asia. These materials include correspondence between the Ottoman Sultans and Southeast Asian rulers, Haj and Umra records of Muslims in the region, as well as details on an Ottoman Consulate in Singapore.

    • Minister Iswaran visits the Ottoman Archives in Istanbul.

  5. Minister Iswaran said, “In the year that we mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Singapore, we strengthen the cultural and historical ties between our two nations. The MOUs that NLB concluded with the Turkish National Library, and earlier with the Directorate of State Archives of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey are positive steps in that direction. They promote exchange and will go a long way to deepen understanding between our peoples, our heritage and our cultures.”

  6. Minister Iswaran was accompanied on the visit by officials from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Communications and Information, Enterprise Singapore and the National Library Board.

  7. For more information on the MOUs, please refer to Annex A.

Ministry of Communications and Information, and National Library Board
5 April 2019

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