MFA Press Statement: Visit by Heir Apparent of Qatar, His Highness Sheik Tamim Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani to Singapore

Heir Apparent of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Khalifa Bin Hamad Al-Thani, will lead a high level delegation to Singapore from 29 to 30 October 2007 to co-chair the Second Meeting of the Qatar-Singapore High-Level Joint Committee (HLJC) with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Wong Kan Seng. His Highness Sheikh Tamim will be accompanied by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani, Finance Minister and Acting Minister of Economy and Commerce His Excellency Yousef Hussein Kamal, Minister of State for Interior Affairs His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Al-Thani, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture His Excellency Sheikh Abdulrahman Bin Khalifa Al-Thani and other senior representatives. In addition to DPM Wong Kan Seng, the other Singapore members of the HLJC include Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Law Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, Minister of State for Finance and Transport Lim Hwee Hua, Minister of State for Trade and Industry Lee Yi Shyan and Minister of State for Education RADM (NS) Lui Tuck Yew.

His Highness Sheikh Tamim and DPM Wong Kan Seng co-chaired the Inaugural Meeting of the HLJC in Doha, Qatar from 8 to 10 October 2006. The HLJC is the primary bilateral mechanism to provide strategic direction to advance Qatar-Singapore cooperation. Singapore's cooperative ties with Qatar have made significant progress since the Inaugural Meeting and now cover a broad spectrum ranging from security and environmental cooperation to collaboration in finance and business. As a reflection of the growing ties between Qatar and Singapore, His Highness Sheikh Tamim and DPM Wong Kan Seng will witness the signing of seven MOUs and agreements to cooperate in product standards, Information Communications Technology (ICT), the setting up of a civil defence training institute in Qatar, mutual recognition of certificates in maritime issues for seafarers, economic, commercial and technical cooperation and finally cooperation between the respective Chambers of Commerce. In addition, Qatar Public Works Authority (Ashghal) will award the tender for the design, building, operation and maintenance of the largest wastewater treatment plant in Qatar and the Middle East to Keppel Seghers Engineering Pte Ltd.

During the visit, His Highness Sheikh Tamim will call on President S R Nathan. His Highness Sheikh Tamim will also be hosted to meals by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
28 OCTOBER 2007

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