Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong will make an official visit to Doha, Qatar from 28 January to 1 February 2008 at the invitation of the Heir Apparent of Qatar His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, followed by a working visit to Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 1 to 3 February 2008.   The visits are part of Singapore’s on-going efforts to deepen our political and economic engagement with the Middle East.  Senior Minister Goh last visited Qatar in April 2005 and Dubai in May 2005.

                   In Qatar, Senior Minister will meet the Amir His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Heir Apparent His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani and other members of the royal family and cabinet.

                   Senior Minister will address the inaugural Qatar-Singapore Business Forum that is jointly organised by the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) and the Singapore Business Federation (SBF).  Senior Minister will also officiate at the unveiling of the foundation stone for the Doha North Sewage Treatment Works, a project awarded to Keppel Seghers, and the signing of MOUs between QBA and SBF and between QBA and SPRING Singapore to strengthen cooperation between the two sides.  Senior Minister will also visit the Qatar Foundation, ASPIRE (Qatar's Academy for Sports Excellence) and Pearl-Qatar.

                   In Dubai, Senior Minister is expected to meet members of the Dubai royal family, ministers and business leaders.  Senior Minister will also visit Palm Jumeirah, Mall of the Emirates and Burj Dubai and meet Singaporeans working in Dubai.

                   Senior Minister will be accompanied by Minister of State for Education RADM (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Parliamentary Group on the Middle East Dr Ahmad Magad, senior government officials and a Singapore business delegation.

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PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE

28 January 2008