11 Mar 2009
REMARKS TO THE PRESS BY EMBASSY OF SINGAPORE
"MILESTONE VISIT BY SINGAPORE PRESIDENT TO MARK QUARTER CENTURY OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN QATAR AND SINGAPORE"
STATE VISIT BY HIS EXCELLENCY S R NATHAN
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE
TO THE STATE OF QATAR
16 TO 19 MARCH 2009
His Excellency S R Nathan, President of the Republic of Singapore, will make the first ever visit by a Singapore Head of State to Qatar from 16-19 March 2009.
According to Umej Bhatia, Charge d'affaires and Head of Mission of the Singapore Embassy in Doha: "The visit is a double milestone since it is the first State Visit to Qatar and also marks a quarter century of diplomatic relations between Qatar and Singapore."
President Nathan will be accompanied by Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Dr Lee Boon Yang, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rasheed, Parliamentary Secretary for National Development Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman three Members of Parliament and a number of senior officials. President Nathan will also be accompanied by a business delegation of around 60 entrepreneurs and professionals featuring a large group of 15 healthcare and medical groups.
Bhatia stated that "the visit will help deepen and strengthen our strong political and economic ties in practical areas for mutual benefit. This is part of the win-win partnership between Singapore and Qatar".
Bhatia added that the President Nathan's State Visit follows the successful convening of the 3rd Qatar-Singapore High-Level Joint Committee from 1-3 March 2009.
He noted that "the regular exchange of high-level visits showed the commitment of both countries to work together to forge a strategic partnership. The large size of the business delegation also shows the growing interaction between the business communities in both countries. This showed the bilateral relationship had broadened and expanded beyond the political realm, and that business-to-business and people-to-people interactions was also increasing."
Besides Qatar, President Nathan will also visit the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates during his tour of the Gulf region.
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE
DOHA, STATE OF QATAR
11 MARCH 2009