The Minister of Environment and Water Resources of Singapore calls on the President

The Minister of Environment and Water Resources of Singapore, H.E. Masagos Zulkifli, paid a courtesy call on President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, this morning, at the President’s Office.

During the call, the President welcomed the Minister to the Maldives and conveyed greetings and good wishes to Her Excellency President Halima Yacob and the Prime Minister of Singapore, H.E. Lee Hsien Loong. The President noted with appreciation that the Maldives values the excellent relations with Singapore spanning over a period of 42 years of diplomatic relations.

In connection, the Minister concurred with the President and stated that Singapore also greatly values its relations with the Maldives over the years. The Minister also touched on bolstering the long history of good relations with the Maldives.

In the discussions that followed, the President stated that enhanced bilateral trade between the two countries and Foreign Direct Investment in both public and private sectors of the Maldives would aid the Government’s efforts to improve the Maldivian economy, which would in turn, pave the way to progress and prosperity of the Maldives.

Highlighting the shared values expressed in the international foras by both countries, the President and the Minister also discussed on combating terrorism and all its forms in the international, regional and national fronts, and expressed great confidence in strengthened collaboration in this field.

The Minister also commended on the Maldivian Government’s position and action on the issues of Climate Change. He stated that the Maldives is exemplary in the care for marine life. In this regard, stressing on the Climate change and its effects, the President stated that the issue is of great concern to all low lying islands, and that the Maldives waits for greater commitment from the international community in their efforts to mitigate the effects.

The call ended with hopes of working closely to enhance the commitment for greater collaboration and cooperation between the two countries on Climate Change and Counter-terrorism.

The President was accompanied at the call by the Minister of Environment and Energy, H.E. Thoriq Ibrahim, and the Minister of State for Foreign Relations at the President’s Office, H.E. Mohamed Naseer.