S'pore, Qatar To Boost Bilateral Cooperation in Ict, Cultures

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah SINGAPORE, March 12 (Bernama) -- Singapore and Qatar are expected to sign memorandums of understanding to enhance bilateral cooperation in the areas of information and communication technology (ICT) as well as culture in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the signing ceremony will be held at the Fifth High-Level Joint Committee Meeting between the two countries. The Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, Teo Chee Hean, who is visiting Doha from Monday till March 15, will co-chair the meeting with the Heir Apparent of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Hamad Al-Thani. The committee is the main platform of engagement that charts the strategic direction of Qatar-Singapore relations. The two countries have taken turns to host the committee since its inaugural session in Doha in October 2006. The fourth committee meeting was held here in November 2010. Singapore's ties with Qatar have deepened and expanded steadily through the years, and bilateral cooperation now encompasses various areas such as security, labour, health, culture, environment, finance, and trade and investments. Teo will be accompanied by Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts and Minister-In-Charge of Muslim Affairs, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim; Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Teo Ser Luck; Minister of State for Finance and Transport, Josephine Teo; Minister of State for National Development and Manpower, Tan Chuan-Jin; Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Community Development, Youth and Sports, Sam Tan; and senior officials from various ministries and government agencies. As part of his programme in Doha, Teo is scheduled to call on Sheikh Hamad Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, Abdullah Hamad Al Attiyah, Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority and Sheikh Abdullah Nasser Al Thani, Minister of State for Interior Affairs. Teo will also visit the Domestic Solid Waste Management Centre in Mesaieed managed by Keppel Seghers as well as meet the Singaporean community in Qatar. -- BERNAMA