10 Nov 2010
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRESS STATEMENT: STATE VISIT OF PRESIDENT S R NATHAN TO THE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN, 22-24 NOVEMBER 2010
President S R Nathan is on the second day of his State Visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain. He is accompanied by Mrs Nathan, Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rasheed, and Members of Parliament Irene Ng and Dr Lim Wee Kiak.
President Nathan met prominent members of the Bahrain business community at a luncheon hosted by the Chairman of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Dr Essam Abdulla Yousif Fakhro. The Bahraini businessmen briefed President about the economic opportunities in Bahrain. President encouraged more exchanges of visits between the private sectors of Bahrain and Singapore to explore business collaboration. President and the Bahraini businessmen also had an exchange of views on the growing economic opportunities in East Asia and the Middle East.
Mrs S R Nathan was separately hosted to a luncheon by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka Bint Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa at the Rowda Palace in Manama, capital of Bahrain.
In the late afternoon, President Nathan received a call by the Chairman of the Bahrain Shura Council, Shaikh Ali Bin Saleh Al Saleh. President and Shaikh Ali noted the growing links between the legislatures of both countries through the exchanges of visits. President encouraged greater interaction between members of Bahrain's legislature and the Singapore Parliament to further strengthen bilateral ties at all levels. (Note: Bahrain's bicameral legislature comprises the Shura Council, whose members are appointed by the King, and the Council of Representatives, whose members are elected.)
This morning President Nathan visited the National Museum of Bahrain which houses an impressive collection of Bahrain's archaeological artefacts and treasures and covers 6000 years of the country's history.
This evening, President Nathan will attend a reception hosted by Ambassador to Bahrain Wong Kwok Pun and Mrs Wong for President to meet members of the Singapore community in Bahrain.
President's State Visit will conclude tomorrow with a visit the Salman Industrial Estate and the King Fahd Causeway which links Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
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