Call on Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan by the Permanent Representatives of Belize, El Salvador, Lesotho, Maldives, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The Permanent Representatives (PR) are visiting Singapore for the 3rd Forum of Small States (FOSS) Fellowship Programme. [From left to right: PR of El Salvador Mr Ruben I. Zamora, PR of Maldives Mr Ahmed Sareer, PR of Belize Ms Lois Michele Young, Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, PR of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ms Inga Rhonda King and PR of Lesotho Mr Kelebone Maope.] [Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore]Five Permanent Representatives to the United Nations are in Singapore on a study visit from 25 to 29 July 2016 under the 3rd Forum of Small States (FOSS) Fellowship Programme. The delegates represent Belize, El Salvador, Lesotho, the Maldives, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The Permanent Representatives called on Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan earlier today. They discussed common concerns of small states such as the challenges of sustainable development, and issues of governance.
The Permanent Representatives met Senior Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Transport Mrs Josephine Teo earlier this week. They visited the Marina Barrage, the URA Singapore City Gallery, the Port of Singapore, the Singapore Aviation Academy, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, the Gardens by the Bay, the National Gallery, and the Institute of Technical Education. They were briefed by the various agencies on Singapore’s approach towards sustainable development in areas such as urban planning, water and sanitation, maritime affairs, civil aviation, governance, and education.
The FOSS, founded by Singapore in 1992, is an informal platform at the United Nations in New York that brings together states with populations under ten million to exchange views on issues of common concern. There are currently 107 FOSS member states. The FOSS Fellowship Programme is organised by the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs to foster closer cooperation among FOSS states. Under the Fellowship Programme, Permanent Representatives to the UN from FOSS states are invited to Singapore for study visits where they have the opportunity to exchange views on development challenges with Singapore’s leaders and policy makers.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
29 JULY 2016