MFA Press Statement: Visit of Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of Manpower Sam Tan to Norway, 6 to 11 February 2017

        Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Manpower Sam Tan will visit Trondheim, Norway to attend the 21^st Saami Conference and various other Saami events from 6 to 11 February 2017. 

        MOS Tan will attend the 5^th Saami Parliamentary Conference on 7 February, at the invitation of President of the Saami Parliamentary Council Vibeke Larsen.  The conference is an annual meeting of Saami parliamentarians from Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia.  At the invitation of President of the Saami Council Áile Jávo, MOS Tan will attend the 21^st Saami Conference from 9 to 10 February, and deliver remarks on 10 February.  The Saami Conference is the Saami Council’s highest decision-making body that meets every four years.  This is the first time that Singapore has been invited to both conferences.

        While in Trondheim, MOS Tan will meet Norwegian State Secretary of Local Government and Modernisation Anne Karin Olli, and key Saami leaders from Finland, Norway and Sweden.  MOS Tan will also visit the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and SINTEF, Norway’s largest independent research institute, to explore further research and education collaborations.

        The Saami Council is one of six Permanent Participants in the Arctic Council.  Singapore was admitted as an Arctic Council observer in 2013.

        MOS Tan will be accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

5 FEBRUARY 2017