On Thursday, 13th August, the UAESBC EXCO Members bid their fond farewell to the outgoing UAE Ambassador to Singapore and Patron of the UAESBC, His Excellency Dr Mohamed Omar Abdulla Balfaqeeh. His Excellency officially ended his 4 year tenure as Ambassador to Singapore on Friday, 14th August to return to Abu Dhabi.
The farewell meeting was organised at the Embassy in accordance to COVID19 social distancing guidelines and attended by UAE Office Bearers: Dr Brian Shegar (President), Mr Lee Soon Kiat (Vice President) and Mr Clarence Singam-Zhou (Secretary). Dr Shegar presented a token of appreciation on behalf of all EXCO Members who were virtually present via Zoom, some of whom were connected from Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
During his opening remarks, UAESBC President, Dr Brian Shegar, emphasized His Excellency's instrumental role in the setting up of the UAESBC and referred to His Excellency's role in our successes including the stipulation of the UAESBC in the Singapore UAE Comprehensive Partnership Agreement document signed by the Singapore and UAE governments. Dr Shegar expressed his and the EXCO Members's sadness at His Excellency's departure from Singapore. He reiterated our profound gratitude for the valuable leadership and support the Council has received from him. Dr Shegar added that the Patrons, EXCO Members and regular members of the UAESBC will always remember His Excellency with great fondness and will miss his role as Patron of the UAESBC. The remaining EXCO Members in attendance also shared their appreciation for His Excellency's kindness
and support to them personally and also to the company they represent.
His Excellency thanked the EXCO members for the token presented to him which was a framed wooden carving depicting Singapore landmarks themed “City in a Garden”. He said that it will always remind him of his enjoyable stint in this beautiful Garden City. His Excellency congratulated the UAESBC and emphasized the important role it plays in promoting bilateral relations between UAE and Singapore. He said he was very pleased with the progress of the Council thus far and wished us continued success and growth.
The UAESBC bids His Excellency farewell, best wishes, happiness and success for the future!
UAESBC's Video Tribute to H.E. Dr Mohamed Omar
As a tribute to His Excellency Dr Mohamed Omar Balfaqeeh's contributions to the UAE Singapore Business Council during his tenure as UAE Ambassador to Singapore, we have created a music video featuring a montage of photos entitled "Memoir of HE Dr Mohamed Omar in Singapore" to the tune of "Singapura, Oh Singapura".
HE Dr Mohamed Omar Balfaqeeh's significant role in the creation and success of the UAESBC will always be remembered and appreciated.
Photos of the eventful farewell captured that day can be viewed below: