Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts, 36th Storey, PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Road, Singapore 119963. Tel: 3757794/5
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRESS STATEMENT
APPOINTMENT OF MR RIDZWAN DZAFIR AS HIGH COMMISSIONER TO THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH
The Government has decided to appoint Mr Ridzwan bin Haji Dzafir, 70, Director-General of the Trade Development Board, as Singapore's High Commissioner to the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Mr Ridzwan will be resident in Singapore.
Mr Ridzwan had his secondary education at Raffles Institution. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Malaya in Singapore in 1952.
Mr Ridzwan joined the Customs and Excise Department in October 1952. He was seconded to the Commerce & Industry Division from 1960 to 1961. He was absorbed into the Singapore Administrative Service as Administrative Assistant in 1961. He served as Singapore's Trade & Cultural Representative in Jakarta from 1961 to 1963. He was transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he served in the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur from 1965 to 1966 and in the Singapore Embassy in Jakarta from 1966 to 1968. Upon his return to Singapore, he assumed the post of Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1969 to 1972, he was re-posted to the Trade Division of the Ministry of Finance as Director. He was also with the Department of Trade from 1972 to 1982, where he assumed the posts of Director and Deputy Secretary. He was appointed Director-General of the Trade Development Board since 1983 to date. He was also the Ambassador to Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Panama, resident in Singapore, from 1986 to 1996.
Mr Ridzwan is a member of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights, the Council of Presidential Advisers and the Board of Trustees, National Trade Union Congress. He is also a member of the National Heritage Board and the Board of Governors, Singapore International Foundation. He is an Executive Board Member of Intraco Ltd and the Pro Chancellor of the National University of Singapore. He is also on the Board of Directors of Sime Singapore Ltd and Second Chance Enterprises Ltd.
Mr Ridzwan was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 1968. He was awarded the NTUC Friend of Labour Medal and the Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 1981. He received the PSC Travel Award to USA in 1982, the Royal Decoration of the Order of the White Elephant (2nd Class) by the Thai Government in 1984, the Public Service Star award in 1990 and the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association Medal of Honour (Gold) in 1991. He also received the NTUC Meritorious Service Award in 1993, the Long Service Medal in 1994, the Excellent Achievement Award by the People's Association Malay Activity Group Coordinating Council in 1995 and the "Bernardo O'Higgins - Gran Cruz" Award by the Government of Chile in 1996.
Mr Ridzwan is married with five children.
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
4 APRIL 1997