Qatar-Singapore ties a model partnership: PM

Singapore, The Gulf Observer: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and Prime Minister of Singapore H E Lee Hsien Loong opened 8th meeting of the Qatar-Singapore High-Level Joint Committee (HLJC), in Singapore yesterday.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Prime Minister of Singapore welcomed the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and the accompanying delegation, noting the importance of the meetings of the joint committee as well as the meetings that take place between officials of both countries in order to strengthen the bilateral and strategic relations between Qatar and Singapore.

He expressed his country’s aspiration to advance cooperation with Qatar to broader horizons, especially in the areas of artificial intelligence and digital economy, and praised the work of the joint committee between the two countries over the past 17 years.

A joint statement released after the meeting said that the co-chairs reaffirmed their commitment to the HLJC as a key vehicle for expanding the already robust Qatar-Singapore partnership, in line with the interests shared by both countries. They welcomed the series of high-level and sectorial engagements that have taken place between the two countries over the past year, including Singaporean President Halimah Yacob’s state visit to Qatar in June 2023.

They noted the mutual desire to strengthen collaboration in areas such as economy, trade and investment, energy, security, social development and the family, education, human capital development, smart cities infrastructure and AI. Both countries will explore avenues for further collaboration as partners in growth.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Singaporean Prime Minister for the generous hospitality and warm welcome accorded to him and the accompanying delegation.

Since the establishment of the joint committee in 2006, the two sides have been keen to continue strengthening bilateral relations in various fields, he said. The relations are a successful model of partnership and distinguished projects between the two countries, he noted, adding that visits, meetings and bilateral meetings between the two countries contribute to the development of relations between the two governments.

During the meeting, they discussed relations between the two countries and ways of developing them, especially in the political, economic, investment, education, tourism, civil development, joint investment projects and artificial intelligence fields within the framework of the agreements and memorandums of understanding signed between the two countries. The most important developments and issues of common interest were also discussed.

The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister of Singapore listened to a presentation by the Qatari side delivered by CEO of the Investment Promotion Agency, H E Sheikh Ali bin Alwaleed Al Thani on investment opportunities in Qatar, the state’s plans to promote and establish infrastructure for open and free investment, and ways of joint investment with Singapore.

Since its launch four years ago, the agency, he said, has succeeded in creating a world-class conducive business environment, contributing to highlighting Qatar’s potential as a distinctive destination for foreign investments.

He added that the agency was keen to benefit from the experiences of international investment promotion agencies and to follow modern and innovative methods in promoting and attracting foreign investments in order to achieve a qualitative leap in providing services in the field of investment promotion.

The two prime ministers also listened to a presentation by the Singaporean side on the development of smart city infrastructure and artificial intelligence strategies, including the ethical and regulatory framework for governance. The meeting concluded with the announcement of the joint minutes between the two sides. The meeting was attended by members of the official delegation, businessmen and senior officials accompanying the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. It was also attended by a number of ministers, businessmen and senior officials from the Singaporean side.

The eighth meeting of HLJC was co-chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security of Singapore H E Teo Chee Hean. The meeting was also attended by ministers and senior officials from both countries, said a joint statement released after the meeting.

The Qatar delegation included Minister of Finance H E Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, Minister of Commerce and Industry H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al Thani, Minister of Education and Higher Education H E Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, Minister of Social Development and Family H E Mariam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, Qatar Airways CEO H E Akbar Al Baker, Chairman of the Qatar Free Zones Authority H E Ahmad bin Mohamed Al Sayed, President of the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau H E Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Mubarak Al Khalifa and Chief of Asia Pacific and Africa Investments at Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) H E Sheikh Faisal bin Thani Al Thani.

The Singapore delegation included Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan; Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Second Minister for Education Dr Mohamed Maliki Osman; Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry Dr. Tan See Leng; and Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information and Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Health Dr. Janil Puthucheary. Qatar and Singapore welcomed the signing of the following agreements and MoUs: An MoU between the Ministry of Social Development and the Family of Qatar and the Ministry of Social and Family Development of Singapore in the Field of Social Development and the Family.

An Executive Programme on Education between the Ministry of Education of Singapore (MoE) and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education of Qatar.

An MoU between Singapore’s National Water Agency, PUB and the Qatar Research Development and Innovation Council on knowledge exchange, collaboration on Open Innovation Challenges related to water, and participation in Singapore International Water Week.

An MoU between Enterprise Singapore and the Qatar Development Bank on Enterprise Digitalisation and Innovation.

An MoU between Enterprise Singapore and the Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar on fostering private sector partnerships. Singapore also welcomed Qatar’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia in 2022 and its growing engagement with the region. Both sides emphasised their shared commitment to maintaining and promoting peace, security, and prosperity in the region, and to an Asean-centred, open, inclusive, transparent, resilient, and rules-based regional architecture that upholds international law.

During the 8th HLJC, the Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar (IPA) presented on investment opportunities with specific focus on opportunities within Qatar’s manufacturing and logistics ecosystem, and its developing semiconductor industry.

The Smart Nation and Digital Government Office of Singapore presented on Singapore’s Smart Nation strategy including Smart Cities, and artificial intelligence (AI) development journey. Qatar and Singapore also agreed to convene the 9th HLJC in Doha at a mutually convenient time.