SMS Dr Koh Poh Koon leads delegation to the 39th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry

Sep 27, 2017

Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for National Development, and Trade and Industry is leading a delegation to the 39th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) and 17th Meeting of the AMAF Plus Three Meetings in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from 28 to 29 September 2017.

The Meetings will discuss the progress of cooperation in food, agriculture, and forestry among ASEAN Member States as well as strengthen collaboration in these areas with the People’s Republic of China, Japan, and Republic of Korea.

Singapore will be handing over the AMAF Chairmanship to Thailand in Chiang Mai.  As the AMAF Chairman for the past year, Singapore has hosted several events including the 38th Meeting of the AMAF and 16th Meeting of the AMAF Plus Three in October 2016, various Sectoral Working Group Meetings over the course of the year, as well as the Special Senior Officials’ Meetings last month. At the 38th AMAF Meeting, AMAF Leaders finalised the signing of the Agreement on the Establishment of ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Animal Health and Zoonoses. This Centre will enhance the prevention and control of trans-boundary animal and zoonotic diseases in the region.

In support of AMAF's commitment to build partnerships and technical capacities to address Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Singapore has also developed, in consultation with ASEAN Member States, the ASEAN Guidelines on Prudent Use of Antimicrobials in Livestock.  This will be tabled for the AMAF Leaders’ endorsement in Chiang Mai.

Dr Koh is accompanied by officials from the Ministry of National Development and the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority.