Sub-Saharan African officials to visit Singapore

SINGAPORE - Ministers and Senior Officials from seven Sub-Saharan African countries will be in Singapore for the Sub-Saharan Africa High Level Ministerial Exchange Visit (AHLMEV) from August 25 to 26.

The theme of the AHLMEV is "Singapore-Africa: Partnering for Growth".

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam will host an official welcome lunch for the African Ministers and officials on August 25 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On the following day, he will hold separate bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Mauritius, Rwanda and Tanzania.

Minister Shanmugam and Her Excellency Louise Mushikiwabo, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda, will also sign an Avoidance in Double Taxation Agreement on August 26.

The seven African Ministers and Senior Officials will pay a joint courtesy call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on August 26. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam will also host an official dinner for all delegates on the same day.

As part of their visit programme, the African delegates will visit the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College Central and Hyflux to learn more about Singapore's developmental experience in urban planning, education and water technologies.

ljessica@sph.com.sg