MFA Press Statement: State Visit to Singapore by the President of the Portuguese Republic His Excellency Aníbal Cavaco Silva, 27 to 28 May 2012

President of the Portuguese Republic Mr Aníbal Cavaco Silva will make a State Visit to Singapore from 27 to 28 May 2012 at the invitation of President Tony Tan Keng Yam.  This will be the first State Visit from Portugal.

President Cavaco Silva will be accompanied by First Lady Mrs Maria Cavaco Silva, Minister of Economy and Employment Mr Álvaro Santos Pereira, Secretary of State of Portuguese Communities Abroad Mr José Cesário, officials from the President’s Office, and a business delegation.

An official Welcome Ceremony will be held in honour of the distinguished visitors from Portugal at the Istana on 28 May 2012.  In addition to meeting President Tan and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, President Cavaco Silva will also witness the signing of three bilateral agreements between Singapore and Portugal, together with President Tan.  The three agreements are the Protocol Amending the Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income, the Cooperation Agreement in the Fields of Education, Science, Technology, Higher Education, Culture, Arts, Youth, Sports and Media, and the Agreement on Air Transport.

The visit programme of President Cavaco Silva will also include an address to the Portugal-Singapore Business Forum, which is co-organised by the Singapore Business Federation and the AICEP Portugal Global, as well as a visit to PSA and a tour of Pasir Panjang Terminal. 

President and Mrs Cavaco President will also visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens, where an orchid hybrid will be named in their honour, and meet with the Portuguese community resident in Singapore.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

27 MAY 2012