'Close friends' boost Singapore interests

The Straits Times, April 11, 2007


CHAT AMONG FRIENDS: (From left) Mr Lakhani, Foreign Minister George Yeo, Mr Habis and President S R Nathan at a dinner yesterday at the Istana.





LEBANESE Joseph Habis remembers harrowing days during Lebanon's civil war when he would hide in a bomb shelter in his cellar faxing reports to Singapore's Foreign Ministry.

Singapore's Honorary Consul-General in Lebanon since 1974 said of the strife his country endured between 1975 and 1990: 'Bombs and rockets were always flying around. I sent my family to Europe because it was so dangerous. But I had to stay to protect my business and employees, and to continue to function as the honorary consul.'

Mr Habis showed his cool under fire again last year, helping to evacuate Singaporeans after Israel unleashed its offensive against the Hizbollah militia in Lebanon.

And yesterday, the 62-year-old businessman and 24 other honorary consuls were described by Foreign Minister George Yeo as Singapore's 'close friends' for helping promote the Republic's interests in the world as more Singaporeans and local businesses venture further afield.

Speaking at the opening of the 5th Meeting of Honorary Consuls-General and Honorary Consuls at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Mr Yeo said the workload of diplomatic missions has increased.

But he added: 'With a Singaporean population of only three million plus, our resources are limited and finite.'

That is why 'our honorary consuls will play a growing role, opening doors for our companies and alerting them to opportunities and dangers', he said.

Singapore has appointed honorary consuls in 31 countries and cities where it has no official presence, from Peru to Papua New Guinea.

The honorary consuls are businessmen and professionals who are approached by the MFA to represent Singapore, something they do in their own time and at their own expense.

But while there may be no financial incentive to do the job, Mr Habis says the pride of being associated with Singapore is reward enough.

'I've watched Singapore grow up, and I love the way it's brought up,' he explained.

Being an honorary consul is no simple prestige position either. It involves hard work doing everything from processing visas to rescuing Singaporeans who are stranded on mountain treks.

As Mr Amin Mohammed Lakhani, Singapore's consul in Pakistan for the past 18 years, told The Straits Times: 'Singapore is a very important country....You don't sit there and enjoy the position. You have to put in your time and be useful.'

The 25 honorary consuls will stay until Saturday to acquaint themselves with Singapore's latest developments.

They had dinner yesterday at the Istana hosted by President and Mrs S R Nathan, and will call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today.

Tomorrow, they will visit Eunos for a glimpse of Singapore's heartland, followed by a trip to Esplanade - Theatres On The Bay.