SINGAPORE, May 21 — Singapore supports the joint efforts by the 11 remaining signatories of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) to sustain the trade deal, said its Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang.

"It is important that we keep up (the) momentum. Singapore will participate constructively in this collective process to harvest the TPP’s benefits,” he said in a statement here.

The statement said ministers had tasked senior officials to work out the options to bring the TPP into force expeditiously over the next few months.

The 11 remaining TPP signatories met today on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in Hanoi.

The statement said recognising the economic and strategic benefits of the TPP, and its potential to spur growth and increase opportunities for businesses and people, the TPP signatories were united in their desire to take the TPP forward.

Singapore is encouraged by its partners’ commitment to the TPP.

This will have a positive spillover effect on economic integration in the region, and the agreement will also provide for others to join in when ready, said the statement. — Bernama