The Strait Times: Western Australia seeks Singapore tie-up on LNG

Western Australia wants to expand ties with Singapore by using it as a trading hub for the state's massive supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG), and its Premier, Mr Colin Barnett, will push for collaboration on gas projects when he arrives in Singapore today.

He also hopes that Singapore can help to develop his state's wine and agricultural products industries.

Ahead of his four-day visit, Mr Barnett told The Straits Times  he wants to use the visit to boost trade and social relations, claiming that Perth - sometimes dubbed "Singaperth" - has one of the highest populations of Singaporeans in any city outside Singapore.  The 2011 national census revealed there were 13,972 Singapore-born residents in the state. That's about 29 per cent of all Singaporeans in Australia.

 "Our relations are historically strong and we are physically close - it is a natural fit to do more together," Mr Barnett said. MORE