MFA Press Statement: Official Visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam to the Sultanate of Oman, 19 – 20 May 2012

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam will make an official visit to the Sultanate of Oman from 19 to 20 May 2012. It will be Minister Shanmugam’s first visit to Oman and also his first to the Middle East since assuming post as Foreign Minister.

Minister Shanmugam will be hosted by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman Sayyid Badr bin Hamood Al Busaidi. Minister Shanmugam will also meet with the Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, the Chairman of the Majlis A’Shura (Consultative Assembly) Khalid bin Hilal Al Mawali, and the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Ahmed Hassan Al Dheeb. Minister Shanmugam will discuss the state of our bilateral relations and identify new areas of cooperation with the Omani leaders.

Minister Shanmugam will sign and witness several Memoranda of Understanding, including the MOU to establish the Regional Institute of Infrastructure Development (RIID), as well as MOUs on enhancing cooperation in the areas of civil service training, technical education and SME development.

Located in the Sultan Qaboos University campus, the RIID will provide a good vehicle for both the private and public sector in Singapore to offer capacity building courses in Oman. The first course under the RIID, which will be held from 20 − 22 May 2012 will be conducted by trainers from Singapore Power and the Energy Market Authority, and will cover the policy approach and experiences of Singapore's electricity industry. Minister will visit the RIID and observe the conduct of this course.

Minister Shanmugam will also meet the Singaporean community in Oman at a reception hosted by Singapore’s Non-Resident Ambassador to Oman Teng Theng Dar.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
19 MAY 2012