Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rasheed is in Kazakhstan on an official visit. From 13-14 October 2008, SMS Zainul visited Almaty, the commercial centre of Kazakhstan, and met the overseas Singaporean community resident there.
SMS Zainul was the Guest of Honour at a dinner hosted by Singapore's Non-Resident Ambassador (NRA) to Kazakhstan, Mr Sim Cheok Lim for the Singaporean community in Almaty. Among the diverse mix of Singaporeans present at the dinner were executives from major Singapore companies such as ST Electronics and Capitaland, businessmen, a humanitarian aid worker, a student studying the Russian language and the head chef of the restaurant where the meal was hosted. Also present was Singapore's Honorary Consul in Almaty, Grigori Marchenko, a former Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan and now a leading banker.
During dinner, the Singaporean community shared with SMS Zainul their experiences of living and working in Kazakhstan as well as the challenges of being away from home.
On 15 October 2008, SMS Zainul visited the Kazakh lake resort of Borovoe. SMS Zainul was briefed on the tourism prospects of the area and the upcoming tourism developments in the area, such as integrated resorts.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
16 OCTOBER 2008