A senior-level Saudi delegation, led by the Minister of Commerce, Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi, concluded a pivotal three-day visit to Singapore today. Comprising 36 key figures from both public and private sectors, the team embarked on a mission to bolster bilateral trade ties and fortify the economic partnership between the two nations.
During the visit, Dr. Al-Qasabi held a series of ministerial dialogues with Singaporean counterparts, including Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong, Minister of Social Development who is also the Minister-in-charge of Muslim affairs, Masagos Zulkifli and Communications and Information Minister Josephine Teo. These discussions, graced by the presence of the Saudi Ambassador to Singapore, Abdullah Al-Madhi, centered on enhancing trade exchanges and strategic sectoral partnerships.
The delegation's packed agenda featured six high-profile meetings with top Singaporean officials. Notable discussions were held with Mr. Beh Chye Hiong, Chairman of the Economic Development Board, and Mr. Tan Chong Meng, CEO of the Port of Singapore (PSA International), among others. Bilateral cooperation in mutual areas of interest was the focal point of these engagements.
The schedule featured two notable visits. The first was to the Asia Competitiveness Institute, where discussions centered on service economy collaboration and strategies to boost competitiveness. These talks involved the Institute's Director, Professor Cheong Paul, and the Deputy Dean of Executive Education, Professor Mancini Francesco. The second stop was at Tuas Port, recognized as the world's largest automated port. The delegation met with top executives from the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA International) and got insights into the port's ongoing development strategy
The trip culminated in the Saudi-Singapore Business Forum, a collaborative effort between the National Competitiveness Center, the Council of Saudi Chambers, and the Singapore Business Federation. The forum spotlighted the Kingdom's transformative economic reforms, emphasizing their role in streamlining business operations for entrepreneurs.
The Saudi delegation was comprised of representatives from 14 government bodies. These included the Ministries of Commerce, Investment, Education, Health, Industry and Mineral Resources, as well as organizations like the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization, Monsha'at (SMEs Authority), SDAIA (Data and AI Authority), the Ports Authority, the Food and Drug Authority, the National Competitiveness Center, the Saudi Economic Business Center, the National E-Learning Center, and the Saudi Logistics Academy. Additionally, representatives from the Council of Saudi Chambers and several national companies were part of the delegation.