Singapore is able to offer the Kingdom expert advice on how to prepare its education system for the country's industry needs, a visiting government official said here Wednesday.

Lee Yi Shyan, senior minister of state in the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of National Development, said at a press conference that Singapore could provide expertise on primary school education and vocational training.

He said that the Singapore government runs the country's kindergarten and lower primary education schools. If there are solid proposals from the Saudi side, it would be willing to share its experience, he said.

Lee praised Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for developing a knowledge-based economy.

He said Singapore played a role in setting up the Kingdom’s prestigious King Abdullah City for Science and Technology.

While some Saudi students are pursuing their higher studies in Singapore on the King Abdullah Scholarship Program, the number could be increased, he said.

Lee said trade between Saudi Arabia and Singapore now stood at $25 billion, with oil products making up the lion's share.

He said Singapore Airlines would be willing to help Saudi Arabia turn Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport into the Middle East’s largest hub, but the Kingdom would have to further liberalize its civil aviation sector.

He said Singapore’s Free Trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council was a milestone agreement. Imports from Singapore were now 10 percent cheaper, he said.

Earlier, Lee spoke about mutual investment prospects at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), at an event organized by Singapore’s International Enterprise government agency and the consulate in Jeddah.

JCCI Vice Chairman Mazen Batterjee said that Jeddah has been open to foreign traders for more than 1,400 years because of its proximity to the two holy mosques.

Zainul Abidin Rasheed, chairman of the Singapore Business Federation, said that the country's Changi Airport Group is actively involved in Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport project. He said there are 15 Singapore companies operating in the Kingdom, with 30 Saudi companies in Singapore.

Singapore Ambassador Lawrence Anderson and Consul General Raziff Aljunied spoke about improving bilateral trade.