Singapore and Thailand Conclude Bilateral Army Exercise

 The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Royal Thai Army (RTA) concluded an annual bilateral army exercise, codenamed Exercise Kocha Singa this afternoon. The closing ceremony was officiated by Chief of Army Major-General Ravinder Singh and Commander-in-Chief of RTA General (GEN) Prayut Chan-O-Cha in Sa Kaeo Province, Thailand. Thai Prime Minister Her Excellency Yingluck Shinawatra, Thai Minister of Defence Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat and Singapore's Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and National Development Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman attended the ceremony. As part of his programme, Dr Maliki also interacted with SAF troops who participated in the exercise. 

The exercise, which was the 14th in the series, was held in Thailand from 20 Mar to 5 Apr 2012 and involved personnel from the 5th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment and the 1st Infantry Battalion from the 2nd Infantry Regiment of the RTA. The exercise included professional interactions, exchanges in motorised infantry operations and culminated in a combined live firing exercise. 

First conducted in 1997, Exercise Kocha Singa underscores the close and longstanding defence ties between Singapore and Thailand, and also provides an excellent opportunity for the two armies to strengthen the professionalism and mutual understanding among their personnel.