Speech by President S R Nathan at the state banquet hosted in honour of His Excellency Hifikepunye Pohamba, President of the Republic of Namibia

Your Excellency President Hifikepunye Pohamba
Madam Penehupifo Pohamba
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

     On behalf of the people of Singapore, it gives my wife and I great pleasure to welcome Your Excellency, Madam Penehupifo Pohamba and members of your delegation to our country.  Your Excellency’s visit, the first ever State Visit from a President of Namibia, has provided us with a good opportunity to further boost our bilateral relations and to discuss the challenges that face both our regions today.

     Singapore is honoured to have played a small part in Namibia’s passage towards independent statehood.  In 1989, Singapore contributed a contingent of police officers to the UN civilian police component of the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG).  Our participation in UNTAG marked Singapore’s first foray into UN peacekeeping operations.  We also sent election supervisors to help conduct Namibia’s UN-supervised elections in November 1989.  Since diplomatic relations were established in 1994, our bilateral relations have been warm and friendly.  There has been regular contact at international fora where our officials have cooperated on issues of mutual interest.  We were honoured to host Your Excellency’s predecessor, Dr Sam Nujoma, when he visited Singapore.  Our former Prime Minister, Mr Goh Chok Tong, also spoke highly of Namibia following his official visit to Namibia in 1997.  I am heartened that relations between our countries continue to flourish and to deepen with time.

     Namibia’s independence was achieved through the persistent efforts of several of your distinguished politicians.  The Government of Namibia faces new challenges today.  I am confident that, under Your Excellency’s able leadership, Namibia will overcome them and chart a fresh path to success.  Although Singapore is a small country with limited resources, we will assist Namibia in this journey in areas of human resources development, where we may have some expertise.  Being a small island with no natural resources, Singapore learnt quickly that our most important resource was and still is our people.  This is an area where we have been able to share our experience with Namibia.  To date, Singapore has trained 140 Namibian officials in a wide range of areas including civil aviation, productivity management, public administration and urban development.

     Namibia is more fortunate than Singapore in that you have a beautiful country possessing bountiful natural resources and natural beauty.  The Nambi Desert, the abundant wildlife evident in the well-known Etosha National Park, and the enormous and magnificent Fish River Canyon are some examples.  Beauty is not restricted only to the geographical landscape.  There is also beauty and grace in the swiftness of athlete Frankie Fredericks, Nambia’s first Olympic medallist and world renowned runner.  This beauty has survived despite the strife that occurred before independence was won.  This speaks volumes of the strength of spirit and resilience of Namibia and its people.

Your Excellency

     In an address made during the 16th anniversary of Namibia’s Independence Day celebrations in Windhoek, Your Excellency had said, and I quote, “There will be times when the seas are stormy and the mission appears difficult.  That is part of the journey and we should never give up, because there will come a brightest day.”  While Namibia’s brightest day has yet to come, the future is yet young for your country.  Globalisation and strategic changes worldwide will have their impact on Namibia as it will on others like us.  Through the guidance of your leadership and the fortitude of your people, I am certain that Namibia can look towards a brighter and better tomorrow.

Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen

     May I now invite you to join me in a toast to the continued good health and success of His Excellency, President Hifikepunye Pohamba and Madam Penehupifo Pohamba; to peace and prosperity for the people of Namibia; and to closer relations between the Republic of Namibia and Singapore.