MFA Press Statement: Working Visit by President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, 7 Apr 2017

       President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani called on President Tony Tan Keng Yam and met with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana today.  This is the first official visit to Singapore by an Afghan President.  Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean also hosted President Ghani and his accompanying delegation to lunch.    

      President Tan and President Ghani reaffirmed the friendly relations between Singapore and Afghanistan, and agreed that there was scope to further enhance bilateral cooperation and exchanges in areas of mutual interest.  Prime Minister Lee and President Ghani discussed opportunities for collaboration in areas such as public service training, and anti-corruption measures.  They exchanged views on national and regional developments, and expressed support for the efforts by the international community in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.  President Tan and Prime Minister Lee also reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to continue playing a role in support of Afghanistan’s development through capacity building programmes under the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP), and expressed Singapore’s willingness to share its development experience with Afghanistan.  Since the inception of the SCP in 1992, almost 700 Afghan officials have attended programmes in areas such as public administration and governance.

      Following their meeting, Prime Minister Lee and President Ghani witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation (MOU) between Singapore and Afghanistan.  Under the terms of the MOU, Afghanistan will send senior officials to Singapore to attend customised programmes on various topics of interest to Afghanistan such as public administration, civil service development, vocational training, urban planning and sustainable development.

     Over lunch, Deputy Prime Minister Teo and President Ghani had further exchanges of views on developments in their respective regions, and also explored potential areas of bilateral and security cooperation between Singapore and Afghanistan.

     Earlier today, President Ghani visited HDB where he was given a briefing on Singapore’s public housing policy and development.  This evening, he will speak at the National University of Singapore Society Dialogue 2017 on “Afghanistan – New Era, New Opportunities” where he will share his views on trade and investment opportunities in Afghanistan.  He departs Singapore tonight.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

7 APRIL 2017

Senior Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Transport Mrs Josephine Teo and the Minister of Economy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Abdul Sattar Murad signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation, during the working visit of the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani. The signing was witnessed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President Ghani. (Photo credit: MCI)