​A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Israel and Singapore was signed this morning (Sunday, April 17 2016) by Ambassador Gil Haskel, the Head of MASHAV – Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, and Singapore's ambassador to the State of Israel, Ambassador Winston Choo Wee Leong. The memorandum relates to cooperation between MASHAV and the Technical Cooperation Directorate (TCD) of Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and was signed in the run-up to the visit of the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, to Israel.

The signing of the MOU signifies the successful conclusion of the discussions and development dialogues held by the two sides, beginning in 2013 in Singapore and their subsequent resumption in 2015 in Jerusalem. According to the MOU, the two countries will cooperate by providing training in various spheres of development (economic development, innovation, health and sustainable development) to professionals from developing countries around the world. The training courses will take place in Singapore, in Israel, or in a third country, and will be funded by both states.

The first joint course, with the participation of experts from both countries, was successfully held in November 2015 in Singapore. The course focused on the topic of public health, and some 20 professionals from countries in the Pacific and the Caribbean participated. The second planned joint activity is due to take place in May 2016. The topic of the course is the empowerment of women in politics, and 15 trainees from Africa are expected to participate. The course will be held at the MASHAV facility on Mount Carmel, Haifa.