MFA Press Statement: Official Visit to Singapore by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdogan, 8 to 9 January 2014

                The Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, will make an Official Visit to Singapore from 8 to 9 January 2014 at the invitation of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.  This is Prime Minister Erdoğan’s first Official Visit to Singapore and highlights the rapidly developing bilateral relationship between Singapore and Turkey.

                 Prime Minister Erdoğan, his wife Mrs Emine Erdoğan and his daughter Ms Sümeyye Erdoğan will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç, Minister of European Union Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekci, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yıldız, Minister of Youth and Sports Akif Çağatay Kılıç, Minister of National Defence İsmet Yılmaz, Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Lütfi Elvan, senior government officials and an 80-strong business delegation.

                  An official Welcome Ceremony will be held in honour of Prime Minister Erdoğan at the Istana on 9 January 2014.  Prime Minister Erdoğan will call on President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and meet Speaker of Parliament Mdm Halimah Yacob.  Prime Minister Lee will also host an Official Lunch in honour of Prime Minister Erdoğan that afternoon. 

                    International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and the Turkish Ministry of Economy will hold the third Turkey-Singapore Business Forum (TSBF) on 9 January 2014.  Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry, Lim Hng Kiang, and Turkish Minister of Economy, Nihat Zeybekci will speak at the forum.  There will also be a panel discussion on infrastructure opportunities in Turkey and Singapore companies’ experience in doing business there. The TSBF provides a platform for Singapore and Turkish business leaders to meet, network and gain insights into the economic developments, as well as business opportunities in both countries.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

8 JANUARY 2014