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Permanent Mission of the Republic of Singapore to ASEAN
Feature Articles

Remarks by Permanent Representative Gerard Ho at the Closing Ceremony of “Workplace Communications: Effective Writing Skills” Under the Enhanced Technical Assistance Programme for the Strengthening of ASEAN Secretariat (ETAP), 2 April 2026

2 April 2026

This workshop is part of Singapore's Enhanced Technical Assistance Programme for the strengthening of ASEAN Secretariat (ETAP), which was launched in 2018, and underscores Singapore's continued commitment to strengthening ASEC’s capacity as we work towards a more resilient, integrated, and effective ASEAN.

Good afternoon.

Thank you, Dr Alvin Pang from the Civil Service College, for hosting this course. The Civil Service College is a good institution where all Singapore public servants attend courses. It is great that Dr Pang can come here to share writing skills and knowledge with you.

This programme is part of Singapore’s Enhanced Technical Assistance Programme for the Strengthening of the ASEAN Secretariat or ETAP. Singapore has been conducting this programme for several years. It was one of our deliverables during Singapore’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2018, and the first run of the programme commenced in 2020.

It is important for ASEC colleagues to attend this course and participate actively. Based on the interactions I’ve seen so far, I can tell that these four days have been fulfilling for all of you.

ASEAN has 11 member states and many external partners. For us, ASEC is the institutional voice of ASEAN. The work that you do is meaningful and important. The documents that you produce, whether they be summarised records of meetings or information notes, are essential for us Member States in our decision-making. Further, ASEAN’s external communications are read by everybody. It is therefore critical that ASEC communicates effectively.

This is why we have put our resources in this programme. We hope that this will make a meaningful difference to the work that you do, the image that ASEAN projects to the rest of the world, and the work of Member States.

I hope that you have enjoyed this course and absorbed the lessons that Dr Pang has shared with you. Beyond equipping you to be more effective in your work, us Member States always appreciate when ASEC produces top-quality products.

Like other ASEC participants before you, I hope you have found this meaningful and that this will continue to aid you in your growth and development at ASEC.

Thank you very much. 

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Group Photo with Permanent Representative Gerard Ho with the Participants of the Workshop

Group Photo with Permanent Representative Gerard Ho with the Participants of the Workshop Photo Credits: ASEAN Secretariat

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