Diplomatic Network (Asia)’s July networking lunch was attended by the Ukrainian head of mission in Singapore as well as by Gardens by the Bay chief executive.  

The exclusive networking lunch was held on Thursday at restaurant 665 Degrees Fahrenheit, located on the 38th floor of the Hyatt Group’s Andaz Singapore Hotel. 

The guest of honour was Her Excellency Kateryna Zelenko, the head of mission from Ukraine. The Ukrainian ambassador shared a few important facts about her country and its current situation with the rest of the attendees. 

Sebastian Quirós Fernandez, who is the marine director of the Marine Technical Department at the Panamanian embassy in Singapore, also shared important news. He said that the International Maritime Organisation, a London-based entity that is part of the United Nations. elected its first Latin-American secretary general. The honour was given to Arsenio Dominguez, a Panamanian national. 

The Singaporean corporate sector was represented by Gardens by the Bay Chief Executive Felix Loh. Gardens by the Bay is an iconic landmark of Lion City in Singapore, which houses a great number of botanic species from across the globe. 

Left to right: MM2 CEO Long Jong Chang; the Ukrainian head of mission, HE Kateryna Zelenko; DNA Senior Editorial Advisor Rodrigo Chiari; Gardens by the Bay CEO Felix Log; Sebastian Quirós Fernandez, who is the marine director of the Marine Technical Department at the Panamanian embassy in Singapore; and Ascott International Management Assistant Sales Manager Elwen Poon.
Left to right: MM2 CEO Long Jong Chang; the Ukrainian head of mission, HE Kateryna Zelenko; DNA Senior Editorial Advisor Rodrigo Chiari; Gardens by the Bay CEO Felix Log; Sebastian Quirós Fernandez, who is the marine director of the Marine Technical Department at the Panamanian embassy in Singapore; and Ascott International Management Assistant Sales Manager Elwen Poon. Image: Koh Zhisheng / DNA.

Loh spoke about his past interaction with diplomatic missions in Singapore and looks forward to expanding Garden by the Bay’s reach to other embassies and high commissions as well as increase its botanical offerings. 

Also present from the corporate sector was Long Jong Chang, the CEO of movie company MM2. MM2 owns the Cathay cinema chain in Malaysia and Singapore and runs a film production house, best known for series “Ah Boys to Men”. MM2 also has presence also in China, Taiwan and the USA. 

Last, but not least, Elwen Poon, the assistant sales manager at Ascott International Management, attended July’s networking lunch too. 

Ascott International owns and manages fifteen hospitality properties across Singapore, including deluxe service apartments – something that can be convenient for recently arrived diplomats to the country. 

The wines at the exclusive event were sponsored by wine company South African Wine Cellar.