MFA Press Statement: Visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo to Meulaboh and Medan, 1-2 July 2010

Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo visited Meulaboh in Aceh on 2 July 2010 to attend the handover ceremony of the Cut Nyak Dhien Meulaboh General Hospital.

Before the ceremony, Minister Yeo was hosted to breakfast by Regent of West Aceh Ramli MS. Minister Yeo then presided over the handover ceremony together with Indonesian Minister for National Development Planning Armida Alisjahbana, Governor of Aceh Irwandi Yusuf and Regent of West Aceh Ramli MS. Minister Yeo also toured the Meulaboh General Hospital and was hosted to lunch. The rebuilt hospital houses upgraded facilities such as paediatrics and gynaecology departments, and will serve a population of more than 200,000 in South and West Aceh. The Singapore Red Cross Society and hospitals in Singapore have also provided training for healthcare workers from the Meulaboh General Hospital.

The successful completion of the Meulaboh General Hospital project is significant as it is the last of Singapore's major tsunami reconstruction projects, as part of the US$10 million pledged by the Singapore Government for the reconstruction efforts in the tsunami-affected countries of Indonesia, the Maldives and Sri Lanka. It also signifies the close friendship between the peoples of Indonesia and Singapore.

Minister Yeo was also in Medan and met with prominent business leaders. Minister Yeo and the business leaders discussed economic opportunities and how the multi-faceted ties between Singapore and Medan can be further strengthened.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
2 JULY 2010