MFA Press Statement: Appointment of Singapore's Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt and Appointment of Singapore's Non-Resident High Commissioner to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

        The Government has appointed Mr S Premjith as Singapore's next Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt and Mr Karan Singh Thakral as Singapore’s next Non-Resident High Commissioner to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

        Mr Premjith joined the Singapore Foreign Service in 1994.  His most recent appointment was as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia (August 2010 to June 2013).  He served as First Secretary (Political) at the Singapore Embassy in Jakarta (1997 to 2001).  In the Ministry’s headquarters, Mr Premjith served as Director of South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa Directorate from April 2005 to July 2010 and Deputy Director for Southeast Asia (Indonesia) from September 2002 to March 2005.  Mr Premjith will assume post as Ambassador in Cairo on 21 July 2013.   

        Mr Premjith graduated with a Bachelor of Economics (Honours I) from Murdoch University, Australia, in 1994.  In 1995, he obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in World Trade Policy from the World Trade Organisation.  In 2001, Mr Premjith was awarded the Chevening Scholarship from the British Government and obtained a Master of Philosophy from University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, in 2002.

        Mr Premjith is married to Ms Libby Sang.

         Mr Thakral is currently Executive Director in the Thakral Group of Companies.  He is also Chairman of the South Asia Business Group, the Business India in Singapore and Givo Limited in India, a company listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange of India (NSE).

         Mr Thakral is a Board Member of the ASEAN India Business Council and Member of the Advisory Board, Singapore of Global Schools Foundation (Worldwide).  He is also Chairman Emeritus of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Singapore, and Member Emeritus of TiE’s Global Board of Trustees.  In addition, Mr Thakral is a Trustee for Justice Onkar Singh Free Legal Aid Service Trust and Patron for the World Punjabi Organisation.  He is also involved in the non-profit organisation, One Laptop Per Child in India.  Mr Thakral takes a keen interest in mentoring budding entrepreneurs.  He is a member of the Indian Angel Network which is involved in promoting entrepreneurship. 

         Mr Thakral is married to Mrs Devinder Kaur Thakral and they have a son and four daughters.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

26 JUNE 2013

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BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY

OF MR S PREMJITH

            Mr S Premjith was Singapore’s Ambassador to the Royal Kingdom of Cambodia from August 2010 to June 2013.

            Mr Premjith graduated with a Bachelor of Economics (Honours I) from Murdoch University, Australia, in 1994.  In 1995, he obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in World Trade Policy from the World Trade Organisation. He has a Master of Philosophy from University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, obtained in 2002.

            Mr Premjith joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1994.  He was assigned to the Policy Planning & Analysis Directorate II and the International Economics Directorate. He was posted to the Singapore Embassy in Jakarta as First Secretary (Political) from 1997 till 2001.  In 2001, Mr Premjith was awarded the Chevening Scholarship from the British Government to pursue a postgraduate programme at University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.   Upon his return to the Ministry's headquarters in 2002, he was appointed Deputy Director for Southeast Asia (Indonesia), a position he held till March 2005.  From April 2005 to August 2010, he held the position of Director of South Asia and Sub Saharan Africa Directorate. 

            The Singapore Government appointed Mr Premjith as Singapore’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia on 30 August 2010.  On 18 October 2010, he presented his credentials to His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia.  

            Mr Premjith is married to Ms Libby Sang.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY

OF MR KARAN SINGH THAKRAL

            Mr Karan Singh Thakral was born in Singapore on 7 April 1955.  He is currently an Executive Director in Thakral Group of Companies.

            Mr Thakral is also the Chairman of South Asia Business Group. He is Chairman of Givo Limited in India listed on Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange of India and is Director in many Thakral Group of companies. 

            He is a Board Member of the ASEAN India Business Council and Member of the Advisory Board, Singapore of Global Schools Foundation (Worldwide).  He is the Chairman Emeritus of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Singapore and Member Emeritus of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Global Board of Trustees.  Mr Thakral is a Trustee for Justice Onkar Singh Free Legal Aid Service Trust and a Patron for World Punjabi Organisation.  He is also involved in the non-profit organisation, One Laptop Per Child in India.  Mr Thakral takes a keen interest in mentoring budding entrepreneurs.  He is a member of the Indian Angel Network which is involved in promoting entrepreneurship. 

            Mr Thakral is married to Mrs Devinder Kaur Thakral and they have a son and four daughters.

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