13 March 2008
Abu Dhabi: A number of major partnerships were announced yesterday as part of the inaugural Abu Dhabi-Singapore Joint Forum held at the Emirates Palace.
The forum was co-chaired by Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority, and Lee Yi Shyan, Singapore's Minister of State for Trade and Industry.
They oversaw the signing of major deals between Abu Dhabi Department of Civil Service and the Sing-apore Civil Service College to establish a public service training institution; the Maritime Authority of Singapore and Abu Dhabi Transport Department to facilitate cooperation in maritime policy and planning, port regulation, vessel safety and maritime environment protection and between Gisco Bin Ham-oodah of Abu Dhabi and CBM of Singapore to establish a facilities management joint venture in Abu Dhabi.
The forum also celebrated the announcement of the establishment of the embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Abu Dhabi and the official opening of the International Enterprise Singapore Overseas office in Abu Dhabi.
"The forum has begun to establish itself as an unprecedented space for dialogue and cooperation between the governments of Abu Dhabi and Singapore, as well as the business communities in each of our economies," Al Mubarak told the forum.
"Today's announcements add even more momentum to the dynamic relationship that is developing between our countries, with new and exciting collaborations across an increasingly diverse range of areas," he said.
Bright future
Al Mubarak told Gulf News after the signing ceremony that the future belongs to industrial cooperation between Abu Dhabi and Singapore.
Lee Yi Shyan said: "The forum marks another milestone in our strategic partnership. It reflects the deepening cooperation and exchange of views between our governments in many diverse areas including public administration, urban development and infrastructure building. It also witnessed the private sectors coming together to participate in the numerous opportunities that exist in the emirate."
Agreement: Utility services
The Higher Corporation for Specialised Zones (ZonesCorp) of Abu Dhabi and Singapore-based Sembcorp Industries (Sembcorp) yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly establish a world-class utility services company.
The agreement was signed by ZonesCorp chief executive Engineer Jaber Hareb Al Khaili and Tan Cheng Guan, executive vice-president of Sembcorp.
The new company is expected to provide highly efficient utility services to ZonesCorp's specialised economic zones and significantly add to the attractiveness of Abu Dhabi as a location for establishing manufacturing and related industrial enterprises.
By Samir Salama
Gulf News 2008. All rights reserved.
