MFA Press Statement: Presentation of Credentials Ceremony, 23 February 2017

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco presents his credentials to President Tony Tan Keng Yam

Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia presents his credentials to President Tony Tan Keng Yam

High Commissioner of the Independent State of Samoa presents her credentials to President Tony Tan Keng Yam

     The following foreign Heads of Mission presented their credentials to President Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam in separate ceremonies at the Istana today:

(a)     The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco

         His Excellency Ouadiâ Benabdellah

(b)     The Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

         His Excellency Arega Hailu Teffera

(c)      The High Commissioner of the Independent State of Samoa

          Her Excellency Hinauri Petana

Their bio summaries are attached.   

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE 

23 FEBRUARY 2017

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OUADIÂ BENABDELLAH

AMBASSADOR TO SINGAPORE

KINGDOM OF MOROCCO

Mr. Ouadiâ BENABDELLAH was during 15 years (3 mandates) member of parliament with different occupations in the board. He was also previously President  of the Parliamentary Group of RNI (56 parliamentarians) before being appointed as the Ambassador of His Majesty Mohammed VI, the King of the Kingdom of Morocco, to His Excellency Dr. Tony Tan Keng Yam, the President of the Republic of Singapore on 13 October 2016.

Mr. Ouadiâ BENABDELLAH was a three-time member of the Political Bureau of the Rassemblement National des Indépendants Party (RNI). 

Mr. Benabdellah obtained an Architect D.P.L.G in 1983 from Rouen University, France, and a diploma in Urban Geography and Territorial Planning in 1985 from Sorbonne University, France.

Mr. Benabdellah was a member of the Moroccan National Order Council of Architects for three mandates, Mayor of the district of Anfa/Casablanca from 1999 to 2002 and a member of the same commune from 1992-2002.  He represented the RNI as Vice-President of the Moroccan Parliament.

Mr. Benabdellah is married and has two daughters.  He is an active founder, president and member of many local, national and international associations.

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AREGA HAILU TEFFERA

AMBASSADOR TO SINGAPORE

FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF  

ETHOPIA 

Arega Hailu Teffera is Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to Indonesia, with concurrent accreditation to Singapore, Malaysia and ASEAN.  Prior to this appointment, Ambassador Teffera was Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand.  

In the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Teffera served as Director-General of the Asia and Oceania Directorate, Director-General of the Economy and Business Diplomacy Directorate and Assistant Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.  He had also worked closely with international organisations such as the United Nations, World Trade Organisation and World Customs Organisation.

Ambassador Teffera obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Addis Ababa University, Master of Business Administration from Open University in the United Kingdom, Master of Laws (High Distinction) in International Business Law from Université libre de Bruxelles in Belgium, and  Master of Science (Distinction) in Economics of Globalisation and European Integration from  Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium.

Ambassador Teffera is married with three children.

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HINAURI PETANA

HIGH COMMISSIONER  TO SINGAPORE

INDEPENDENT STATE OF SAMOA

Ms Hinauri Petana graduated from the University of the South Pacific, Fiji, in 1979, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Management. She commenced her public service career in the same year with the Ministry of Finance. After 30 years in the Ministry, including 10 years as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) from end 1999-2009, she left in September 2009, joining the private sector as a consultant, undertaking consulting work with AusAID, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), UN Development Programme (UNDP) and NZAID.

Ms Petana also held many positions including Alternate Governor for Samoa on the ADB, the World Bank and the IMF Governing Boards. She was also Chairman of the Samoa National Provident Fund and Development Bank, the Samoa Qualifications Authority, and was a director on most state-owned corporation boards.  In March 2015, she was appointed by the Government of Samoa as High Commissioner of Samoa to Australia, with accreditation to six foreign countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Timor Leste, Thailand and Qatar. She presented her credentials in Indonesia and Timor Leste in 2016.