President Tharman to visit Belgium and Luxembourg on first state visit by a Singapore leader

BRUSSELS – President Tharman Shanmugaratnam will embark on the first state visit by a Singapore leader to Belgium and Luxembourg, in a trip that will include meetings with top political and business leaders in both European states.

Mr Tharman will be in the Kingdom of Belgium from March 23 to 26, and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on March 27 and 28. The state visit to Luxembourg marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

The President will attend a state banquet in Brussels, hosted by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, and another in Luxembourg, hosted by Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa.

In Belgium, he will meet Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, the mayor of the city of Brussels, senators and members of the House of Representatives.

The King and Mr Tharman will also hold joint meetings with Belgian organisations on youth empowerment, and meet Belgian business leaders from various sectors, including nanoelectronics, biosciences, renewable energy, and finance, according to a statement from Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr Tharman will also visit PSA Antwerp’s Europa terminal at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, the Universite catholique de Louvain, and the particle accelerator facilities of Ion Beam Applications in the Louvain-la-Neuve Science Park.

While in Belgium, the President will meet Singaporeans based in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands at a reception.

In Luxembourg, Mr Tharman will also meet the president of the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies, Mr Claude Wiseler, Prime Minister Luc Frieden, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Xavier Bettel.

A meeting with representatives from the country’s financial sector is also on the agenda.

The President’s Luxembourg schedule includes visits to the Societe Europeenne des Satellites – a satellite communication service provider – the National Fire and Rescue Centre, and the contemporary art museum Mudam.

He will be accompanied by his spouse, Ms Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance Chee Hong Tat, Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development Sun Xueling, and MPs Vikram Nair and Sharael Taha.

Officials from the President’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Transport, Singapore Civil Defence Force, Economic Development Board and Monetary Authority of Singapore will also be part of the entourage.

• Clement Tan is an assistant foreign editor at The Straits Times. He helps to oversee coverage of South Asia, the US, Europe, the Middle East and Oceania.

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