The first female President of the Republic of Singapore, Mdm Halimah Yacob, is currently on a state visit to Qatar, at the invitation of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. This is a momentous occasion that marks a milestone in the last four decades of friendship between Singapore and Qatar.
It is particularly significant as Mdm Halimah’s visit coincides with the 10th anniversary of the successful reign of His Highness the Amir, who is a special friend of Singapore and the people of Singapore. In fact, after Mdm Halimah took office in September 2017, the first foreign leader whom she received was His Highness the Amir in October 2017. Under His Highness the Amir’s able stewardship, the relations between Singapore and Qatar have grown from strength to strength. Singapore is the only country to have a High-Level Joint Committee (HLJC) with Qatar, an institutionalised platform that charts the strategic direction of bilateral relations. I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, to Singapore this year to co-chair the next round of the HLJC.
Singapore enjoys excellent relations with Qatar. As small states, we share common interests and challenges. In spite of our size, our two countries have always striven to be active, responsible, and constructive members of the international community. We may be small in size and population, but that does not limit us from seeking to play a meaningful role regionally and globally. As Mdm Halimah said recently, diplomacy today is a far more complex task. We cannot assume that open markets and globalisation are part of the ‘natural order’, especially in the face of rising protectionist, insular and nationalist sentiments. In this regard, I am pleased to note that both Singapore and Qatar have been strong proponents of an open and rules-based multilateral trading system. Singapore was the first country to conclude a Free Trade Agreement with the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), signed in Doha during Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s Official Visit in December 2008.
Singapore sees tremendous economic potential in the GCC, and we view Doha as an important energy, aviation, logistics, and sports hub. In 2022, the total trade between Singapore and Qatar amounted to over US$6.1bn, a steady increase of 6% from the previous year. The investment linkages between the two countries have also grown deeper over the years, particularly after Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) set up its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore in 2021. Today, economic co-operation between Singapore and Qatar spans the energy, infrastructure, urban planning, and technology sectors, among others. During Mdm Halimah’s visit, our two countries will sign important agreements in several areas, such as cybersecurity, food security, innovation exchanges, technical co-operation, and low-carbon technology collaborations. These will pave the way for new frontiers in our bilateral ties.
In Singapore, we have great admiration for the Qatari leadership for its long-term vision and seriousness to develop the country, while preserving its rich cultural heritage. Over the course of my tenure here, I have seen remarkable developments in Qatar – I was especially fortunate to witness the spectacular FIFA World Cup 2022! In spite of the rapid changes, the Qatari leadership has always made it a point to retain its Qatari identity. This quest to balance modernity and national identity is yet another similarity that binds our two countries together. We wish Qatar well in its journey towards National Vision 2030, and look forward to working together to further enhance the special bond between our two countries and people.
