MFA Press Statement: Visit of Deputy Prime Minister, Co-ordinating Minister for National Security, and Minister for Law Professor S Jayakumar to Panama and Cuba, 7-12 May 2007

Deputy Prime Minister Prof S Jayakumar will be making an official visit to Panama from 7 to 9 May 2007, and to Cuba from 9 to 12 May 2007.

While in Panama City, Panama, DPM Jayakumar will call on President of Panama Martin Torrijos. He will also have meetings with First Vice President and Minster of Foreign Affairs Samuel Lewis Navarro, Second Vice President Ruben Arosemena Valdes, Minister of Commerce and Industries Alejandro Ferrer and Minister for Canal Affairs Dani Kuzniecky. In conjunction with DPM Jayakumar's visit, IE Singapore has organised a business mission to Panama comprising companies from the InfoComm Technology, trading, marine, and aerospace sectors to explore further business opportunities for cooperation arising from the Panama-Singapore Free Trade Agreement signed in February 2006.

In Havana, Cuba, DPM Jayakumar is expected to meet with senior Cuban government leaders. He will also visit the "Pedro Kouri" Tropical Medicine Institute (IPK). DPM Jayakumar's delegation to Cuba will include officials from National Environment Agency (NEA) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) who are exploring opportunities for bilateral collaboration in areas of mutual interest such as biotechnology and environmental epidemiology with their Cuban counterparts.

DPM Jayakumar will be accompanied by Non-Resident Ambassador-designate to Panama Mrs Mary Seet-Cheng, and IE Singapore and MFA officials in Panama and Cuba.

. . . . .

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
6 MAY 2007