SINGAPORE — Singapore and Australia on Friday (June 2) signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen cybersecurity cooperation, agreeing to regular exchanges of information on cybersecurity incidents and threats.

The MOU, signed at the Istana as part of the 2nd Singapore-Australia Leaders’ Summit, was witnessed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull.

As part of the agreement, the two countries also committed to promote voluntary norms of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace. As a first step, Singapore and Australia will jointly organise an Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) cyber-risk reduction workshop at the end of the year.

The agreement also covers areas such as sharing of best practices to promote cybersecurity innovation and training in cybersecurity skillsets.

Singapore and Australia will also be holding joint cybersecurity exercises with a focus on the protection of critical information infrastructure, and will collaborate on regional cyber capacity and confidence-building measures.

Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) chief David Koh, who signed the agreement with Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Ambassador for Cyber Affairs, Dr Tobias Feakin, said the MOU demonstrates both nation’s commitment to work together to build a secure and resilient cyberspace.

“Singapore and Australia share close bilateral relations and both countries have a shared vision that cybersecurity is an enabler which supports innovation, economic growth and social development,” Mr Koh said.

This is the sixth bilateral MOU by the CSA. It will last for two years. Singapore has also signed cybersecurity MOUs with France, India, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States.