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RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories: Singapore will launch more courses to strengthen the Palestinian Authority\u2019s ability to work towards sustainable peace and development, Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said on Tuesday (Nov 4).<\/p>\n
He was speaking at a cheque handover ceremony in Ramallah, where he presented a US$500,000 donation from the Singapore government to the World Food Programme (WFP) for its emergency operations in Gaza.<\/p>\n
Dr Balakrishnan said two new courses \u2014 on the digital economy and digital entrepreneurship \u2014 will be rolled out in 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese courses will strengthen the Palestinian Authority\u2019s capacity to administer effectively and lay to the groundwork for sustainable peace, prosperity and development,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The initiatives follow Dr Balakrishnan\u2019s announcement in July that Singapore will launch two other programmes next year \u2014 a course on community policing in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and a Young Leaders\u2019 Programme for emerging Palestinian leaders.<\/p>\n
The new courses will be part of the Enhanced Technical Assistance Package, Singapore\u2019s long-term capacity-building initiative for the Palestinian Authority.<\/p>\n
Dr Balakrishnan was in Ramallah – the administrative capital of the Palestinian Authority – as part of a four-day visit to the Palestinian Territories and Israel from Monday to Thursday.<\/p>\n
He said the donation to the WFP was made \u201cin support of your vital work in Gaza\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cSingapore will do our part to support the WFP in its mission to fight hunger and bring hope to people in crisis,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cyour work has been critical in supporting the people of Gaza and it reflects a deep sense of our shared humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Balakrishnan also extended Singapore\u2019s deepest appreciation to WFP staff who have \u201cshown extraordinary courage and your sense of humanity to reach out to those most in need, regardless of the dangers\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou bring not only food, but more importantly, dignity and hope,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Before the cheque handover ceremony, Dr Balakrishnan met with Palestinian Authority\u2019s Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian and Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Estephan Salameh in various government buildings in Ramallah.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI look forward to reciprocating this when PM Mustafa, and Ministers Aghabekian and Salameh visit Singapore, hopefully soon,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n