NEW ZEALAND GOVERNOR-GENERAL VISITS SINGAPORE

The Governor-General of New Zealand, His Excellency, The Honorable Sir Anand Satyanand, is in Singapore for a four-day visit from 15 to 18 May.

Accompanied by Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan, and Chief of Defence Force Major-General Neo Kian Hong, Sir Anand was hosted by Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral Chew Men Leong during a visit to the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) Changi Command and Control (C2) Centre on 17 May.

At Changi C2 Centre, Sir Anand was shown how the Information Fusion Centre (IFC) acts as a platform for information sharing among maritime agencies to enhance multilateral cooperation for maritime security in the region.

He also interacted with personnel from the RSN Maritime Security Task Force and an officer from the Royal New Zealand Navy, who is an International Liaison Officer stationed at the IFC.

Sir Anand's visit underscores the close and long-standing defence relations between Singapore and New Zealand. Both countries are members of the Five Power Defence Arrangements and the Singapore Armed Forces and the New Zealand Defence Force also interact regularly through bilateral exercises and professional exchanges. The two armed forces are currently working together in the multinational reconstruction efforts in Bamiyan province, Afghanistan.