MFA Press Statement: State Visit by President Tony Tan Keng Yam to the Kingdom of Norway, 9 to 14 October 2016

      President Tony Tan Keng Yam will make a State Visit to the Kingdom of Norway from 9 to 14 October 2016 at the invitation of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway.  This is the first State Visit by Singapore to Norway, and reaffirms Singapore’s warm and longstanding relations with Norway.   President Tan will visit Oslo and Tromsø, Norway’s Arctic capital.

        In Oslo, President Tan will receive a ceremonial welcome at the Royal Palace, and be hosted to lunch by Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja, who will also host a Gala Dinner.  President Tan will also meet President of the Storting (Parliament) Olemic Thommessen; and meet and be hosted to lunch by Prime Minister Erna Solberg.  In addition, President Tan will attend a Singapore-Norway Business Forum, and a Singapore-Norway Research and Enterprise Seminar.  A number of bilateral agreements in the areas of business, maritime cooperation, education and research will be signed during the State Visit.  President Tan will attend a reception for the overseas Singaporean community in Norway. 

        In Tromsø, President Tan will be hosted to lunch by Mayor Kristin Roymø and tour the University of Tromsø, the Arctic university of Norway. He will also be briefed on climate change in the Arctic onboard the University’s research vessel Helmer Hanssen.  President will also visit Sommarøy, a key hub for the Norwegian fishing industry.

        President Tan will be accompanied by Mrs Mary Tan; Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli; Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Manpower Sam Tan Chin Siong; Members of Parliament Ms Cheryl Chan and Ms Joan Pereira; and officials from the President’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the Building and Construction Authority, and the National Research Foundation.  A business delegation led by the Singapore Business Federation will also visit Norway in conjunction with the State Visit.

        During President Tan’s absence, Mr J Y Pillay, Chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers, will exercise the functions of the office of the President from 9 to 10 October 2016, and Madam Halimah Yacob, Speaker of Parliament, will exercise the functions of the office of the President from 11 to 15 October 2016.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

8 OCTOBER 2016