Singapore & International Partners

In the spirit of cooperation, and believing in the benefits of cross-pollination, Singapore has long engaged its Asian and International partners in the Media arena. It has done so both at Governmental and inter-agency levels, through government-to-government bilateral Co-Production Treaties and Memoranda of Understanding on media cooperation that the MDA have signed with various overseas counterparts. Such agreements open doors to exchanges of equal importance, to win-win business deals as well as meaningful creative and cultural exchanges. Building these platforms spur our media companies to reach out for wider markets, and enable them to do so with success. These platforms also enhance the awareness of, interest in and demand for Singapore media capabilities, products and services. This forward-looking and open-minded strategy is vital to the continued growth and diversification of the Singapore media industry.

Government-to-Government Bilateral Co-production Agreements & MOUs

Bringing together the media talents and resources of two countries can enable the creation of high-quality media content targeted at the International market. The co-mingling of talents, creative and cultural capital, as well as other resources, can help projects come together more quickly, tapping on best practices from collaborating countries. Furthermore, each film or programme approved under an official co-production agreement could qualify as ‘national content’ in each participating country for the purposes of audiovisual regulation. For Singapore media companies, successful applicants for the official co-production status can also apply for any benefits or programmes of assistance that are applicable to Singapore productions.

To date, the Singapore Government and MDA have entered into official Co-Production Agreements with:

• Australia - approved co-production projects are considered local content for regulation and national productions eligible for schemes of assistance in Singapore and Australia

• Canada – approved co-production projects are considered as a national production in each of the co-production countries and co-producers can apply for benefits or programs of assistance available in their country for such co-productions

• China – approved feature film and telemovie projects are considered as national productions in each of the co-production countries. The co-producers can apply for schemes of assistance available in their countries for such co-productions.

• Korea - approved TV co-productions qualify as local content to fulfil content programming hours and are national productions eligible for schemes of assistance in Singapore and Korea

• New Zealand - approved co-production projects are entitled to all the benefits which are, or may be, accorded to national productions (e.g. subsidies, tax incentives, or other financial benefits) by Singapore and New Zealand

For more information on Official Co-production Agreements and Official Co-production Status Application

Singapore and MDA have also signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with partners in the region and around the world. These MOU are agreements of cooperation, which set out guidelines facilitating activities such as industry co-productions, attendance at media festivals and trade events of participating countries, training exchanges, and collaborations in marketing and distribution of each other's media content, etc.

Singapore's MOU partners include media organisations in China, France, Philippines, Australia, Korea, Italy, Thailand, Canada, Japan, as well as the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

Read more on the various alternative dispute resolution services provided by WIPO.

Going Forward

Singapore and MDA have seen the value of existing agreements and partnerships with regional and global partners in the media arena. MDA will continue to cultivate strategic partnerships and forge agreements with more international partners. MDA will also deepen the media engagements with key media markets through government-to-government exchanges and business trade missions. This is to pave the way for more co-productions and collaborations, further develop Singapore's media market, add value to the local media industry and, at the same time, promote Singapore as an attractive location for media businesses and talents.
As Singapore's network of strategic partners grows, so does the worldwide market for Singapore media capabilities, services, talents and "Made-By-Singapore" media content.