17 Jun 2018
Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam had meetings over the last four days with government leaders in Kenya (12-13 and 15 June 2018) and Rwanda (13 to 14 June 2018) as part of Singapore’s deepening engagements in the growing Sub-Saharan Africa region.
2 During the call on President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta at the State House in Mombasa on 15 June, DPM Tharman and President Kenyatta discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in port operations, aviation, fintech, skills development and Kenya’s ambitious plans for housing development. They also discussed issues in public sector reform. DPM Tharman also met Deputy President William Ruto, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Monica Juma, Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Planning Henry K Rotich, Cabinet Secretary for Industry, Trade and Cooperatives Adan Mohammed, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure Development James Macharia, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Najib Balala, and Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya Dr Patrick Njoroge during his visit. The launch of Enterprise Singapore Nairobi Overseas Centre and the signing of the Bilateral Investment Treaty and the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement during the visit will help strengthen bilateral economic links and support the growing number of Singapore companies interested in Kenya.
3 DPM Tharman visited Rwanda from 13 to 14 June 2018 during which he called on Prime Minister Dr Edouard Ngirente and had fruitful discussions with other key Rwandan leaders including Minister of Infrastructure Claver Gatete, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Dr Uzziel Ndagijimana, Minister of Trade and Industry Vincent Munyeshyaka, and Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda John Rwangombwa. They explored how both sides could deepen cooperation and technical assistance in a range of areas, including public sector management, aviation safety, land use planning, water management, skills development and domestic financial market development. PM Ngirente also conveyed the interest of President Paul Kagame, who was in Russia at the time of DPM’s visit, in extending Rwanda’s close partnership with Singapore. DPM Tharman and PM Ngirente also witnessed the signing of the Bilateral Investment Treaty and the Bilateral Air Services Agreement. DPM Tharman and SMS Koh Poh Koon also laid a wreath at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in commemoration of the more than one million Rwandans killed during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide.
4 DPM Tharman returns to Singapore today.
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PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
16 JUNE 2018