President Halimah to make state visits to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan
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![On Sunday, 14 May 2023- For the second consecutive year, PPIS (Singapore Muslim Women[EMOJI]s Association) will be organising its annual interfaith Harmony Raya celebration in-person at Furama Riverfront. Harmony Raya was launched in 2017 but had to change to a virtual celebration during the COVID pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Organised by PPIS Research and Engagement Department (RED), the event will be officiated by President Halimah Yacob. An estimated 100 women representatives and community leaders from various secular and faith-based organisations are expected to attend.
2. This year[EMOJI]s multifaith Eid gathering is twice as special as it also falls on Mother[EMOJI]s Day. To commemorate the double festivities, the event is themed [EMOJI] [EMOJI]Women's Greatest Role Models (Legacies & Life Stories)[EMOJI], in honour of past and present women role models; women leaders and trailblazers who have redefined success in their respective fields and created pathways for the future generations.
3. We would like to invite you and your cameraman/photographer to cover the event. Please note that all attendees are required to be fully vaccinated. More details of the event are provided in the media invite, as attached.
4.
Kindly RSVP your attendance by Monday, 8th May 2023, with your details (full name, designation and mobile number) to this email.
5. We look forward to hearing a response from you soon. Should you have any further enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us at our mobile 65 9144 7476.](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/straitstimes/d871d5688cb2d35ad2b180886e490c5a2db83022bdbe965fb5a018caab93a48e?w=480)
President Halimah Yacob will also meet Singapore and local business leaders in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY
Michelle Ng
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SINGAPORE - President Halimah Yacob will make state visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan from Sunday to Thursday, marking the first such visits by a Singaporean head of state to Central Asia.
Madam Halimah’s visit to Kazakhstan comes at the invitation of its President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, as the two countries celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations in 2023, said Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Saturday.
In Kazakhstan’s capital Astana, she will be accorded a state welcome ceremony at the Akorda Palace and will call on President Tokayev, who will host a state luncheon in her honour. She will be hosted to dinner by Kazakhstan Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov.
During her trip, she will also meet Singapore’s and Kazakhstan’s business leaders at the Singapore-Kazakhstan Business Forum and visit the Astana International Financial Centre and the Nazarbayev University, said MFA.
Madam Halimah last visited Kazakhstan in 2017 in her capacity as Speaker of Parliament.
On Tuesday, she will fly to Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent, where she will call on President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, said MFA.
Her visit to Uzbekistan comes at the invitation of President Mirziyoyev, who visited Singapore in January. This year marks the 25th year of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
In Tashkent, Madam Halimah will be accorded a state welcome ceremony at the Kuksaroy Palace, and President Mirziyoyev will host a state luncheon in her honour.
She will also meet Singapore and Uzbek business leaders at the Singapore-Uzbekistan Business Forum and visit the Academy of Public Administration.
In addition, she will visit Samarkand and be hosted to lunch by its governor Erkinjon Turdimov.
The President will be accompanied by her husband, Mr Mohamed Abdullah Alhabshee, Second Minister for Education and Foreign Affairs Maliki Osman, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng, and MPs Gan Thiam Poh and Tin Pei Ling.
Officials from the President’s Office, MFA and Ministry of Trade and Industry and Enterprise Singapore will be part of the delegation.
Mr Eddie Teo, who chairs the Council of Presidential Advisers, will be Acting President while Madam Halimah is away.
