MFA Press Statement: Visit of the United Nations Development Programme Administrator Mr Achim Steiner to Singapore

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Mr Achim Steiner is visiting Singapore from 9 to 11 October 2018 to attend the UNDP Asia Pacific Regional Management Meeting and the 2018 Responsible Business Forum on Sustainable Development.

Mr Steiner paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong this afternoon. They reaffirmed the long-standing relationship between the UNDP and Singapore. Mr Lee acknowledged the historical role played by the UNDP in Singapore’s early development and expressed support for UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ efforts on UN reform. Both sides welcomed the implementation of the third phase of the UNDP Global Centre in Singapore, the UNDP Global Centre for Technology, Innovation and Sustainable Development (GC-TISD), which was launched on 1 September 2018. The GC-TISD will serve as a platform to test-bed innovative solutions to help countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.    

Mr Steiner also called on Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and Minister for Finance Mr Heng Swee Keat, earlier this morning.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan delivered the keynote address at the UNDP Asia Pacific Regional Management Meeting, also on 9 October 2018. Minister, Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Finance and Second Minister for Education Ms Indranee Rajah will deliver remarks as Guest-of-Honour at the UNDP Welcome Reception later this evening.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

9 OCTOBER 2018