Joint Press Statement: 6th Meeting of the Qatar-Singapore High Level Joint Committee, 14 November 2013

The Sixth Meeting of the Qatar-Singapore High Level Joint Committee (HLJC) was held in Singapore on 14 November 2013. The HLJC was co-chaired by H.E. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the State of Qatar and Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs of the Republic of Singapore. The meeting was held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere.

2 The Qatari delegation included H.E. Dr Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ali Sherif Al Emadi, Minister of Finance, H.E. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Minister of Economy and Trade, H.E. Dr Issa Bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi, Minister of Administrative Development, H.E. Dr Hessa Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Communication and Information Technology, H.E. Jassim Seif Ahmed Al Sulaiti, Minister of Transport, H.E. Dr Sheikha Abdullah Al Misnad, President of Qatar University, H.E. Ahmad Mohammed Al Said, President of Qatar Investment Authority, H.E. Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways and H.E. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Jassim Al Thani, President of Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

3 The Singapore delegation included Mr Lui Tuck Yew, Minister for Transport, Mr S Iswaran, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade & Industry, Mr Masagos Zulkifli Bin Masagos Mohamad, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs, Ms Josephine Teo, Senior Minister of State for Finance and Transport, Mr Teo Ser Luck, Minister of State for Trade & Industry and Dr Maliki Osman, Minister of State for National Development and Defence.

4 The HLJC agreed that good progress has been made in bilateral cooperation since the last meeting in Doha, Qatar. With the entry into force of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (GSFTA) on 1 September 2013, the HLJC noted that there is scope for economic relations to strengthen further. The HLJC encouraged companies from both countries to make full use of the benefits under the GSFTA. During the meeting, the Public Utilities Board of Singapore presented on the topic of water security and management while the Civil Service College of Singapore shared its leadership development initiatives. Qatar Rail updated the HLJC on Qatar railway projects. The HLJC welcomed the sharing of experiences between both sides. Qatar and Singapore faced common challenges in areas such as environment management, sustainable development and urbanisation. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate in areas of common interest, both bilaterally and in multilateral fora.

5 The HLJC welcomed the signing of five Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) between Qatar and Singapore. First, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar (Diplomatic Institute) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore (Diplomatic Academy) signed an MOU on enhancing cooperation on the training of foreign service officers. Second, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore and the Ministry of Administrative Development of Qatar signed an MOU on the implementation of a Training Programme for the Asia-Middle East Dialogue countries at the Regional Training Centre for Public Administration in the State of Qatar. Third, Qatar Leadership Centre and Civil Service College of Singapore signed an MOU on cooperation and exchange in the area of capacity development of government officials and sectoral leaders. Fourth, Qatar University and the Middle East Institute of the National University of Singapore signed an MOU on mutual academic cooperation. Fifth, the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology of Qatar (MICT) and CrimsonLogic signed an MOU to facilitate public-private partnership cooperation projects between MICT and CrimsonLogic.

6 The HLJC agreed to hold the next meeting in Qatar at a mutually convenient date in 2014 and to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Singapore.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, STATE OF QATAR
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE
14 NOVEMBER 2013