Singapore welcomes three new Heads of Mission, reaffirming its commitment to strong diplomatic relations and international cooperation.

Singapore, 29 July 2025 – In separate credential ceremonies held at the Istana, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam received the letters of credence from the newly appointed Heads of Mission representing the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the Republic of El Salvador, and the Republic of Zimbabwe.

HER EXCELLENCY FERDOUSI SHAHRIAR
HIGH COMMISSIONER OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH TO SINGAPORE

High Commissioner Ferdousi Shahriar is a career diplomat who joined the Bangladesh Foreign Service in January 1999. Prior to this, High Commissioner Shahriar served as Additional Foreign Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka. She was previously Director-General of the Ministry’s Myanmar Wing from 2023 to May 2025. Her earlier assignments include Director-General of the Americas Wing and Director in the Office of the Foreign Secretary.

High Commissioner Shahriar has also served in various overseas postings. These include Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Bangladesh in Washington, D.C., Assistant High Commissioner in Manchester and Counsellor at the Embassy of Bangladesh in Rome. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Dhaka and a Master’s degree in Diplomacy and Trade from Monash University in Australia.

HIS EXCELLENCY JAIME JOSÉ LÓPEZ BADíA
AMBASSADOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF EL SALVADOR TO SINGAPORE

Ambassador Jaime José López Badía most recently served as El Salvador’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (ROK), with concurrent accreditation to Malaysia and the Philippines. Ambassador López Badía’s diplomatic career began in 2005 and includes extensive responsibilities in consular affairs, bilateral cooperation, and trade promotion. He brings over 20 years of experience in public service, diplomacy, and Asian studies, having previously held senior postings in the ROK and Taiwan. 

Ambassador López Badía holds two Master’s degrees from leading Taiwanese institutions: an Executive Master’s in Asia-Pacific Political Studies from Tamkang University and an International MBA from National Chengchi University. He also holds a Bachelor’s in Economics and Business from the Superior School of Economics and Business in El Salvador, and has completed more than half a dozen specialised certifications in areas such as trade negotiations, regional integration, and investment promotion.

Throughout his career, Ambassador López Badía has played a pivotal role in negotiating economic agreements with Taiwan, the European Union, and the Caribbean Community. He has also represented El Salvador in multilateral trade forums including the World Trade Organization. Ambassador López Badía was born in San Salvador, El Salvador.

HIS EXCELLENCY MARTIN MAKURURU
AMBASSADOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE TO SINGAPORE

Ambassador Martin Makururu has been Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Indonesia since August 2024, with concurrent accreditation to Laos since July 2025. He was Director of Human Resources and Training in the Zimbabwe Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade from 2022 to 2024, and has been posted to Zimbabwe’s diplomatic missions in South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Namibia. During his career at the foreign ministry, he also held positions in the Protocol and Administration Departments, and on the Africa, America, Europe, and Pacific Desks.

Ambassador Makururu graduated from the University of Zimbabwe with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Economic History and obtained a Postgraduate Degree from the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in London, United Kingdom.

Source: MFA

ERNEST MBAIMBA NDOMAHINA HIGH COMMISSIONER TO SINGAPORE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE

Mr. Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina is the High Commissioner of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the Republic of Singapore, with residence in Beijing. He is also the Ambassador of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the People’s Republic of China, since 2018, and is also concurrently accredited to Malaysia; the Republic of India; the Commonwealth of Australia; the Republic of Indonesia; the Republic of Japan; New Zealand; the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka; the Kingdom of ºÚÁÏÉç; and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

High Commissioner Ndomahina previously worked as an accountant and was a businessman. He has also served as Co-Chairman of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), Co-Chairman of the Fund-Raising Committee of the SLPP, and Leader & Co-Chairman of the Committee during which he oversaw the inauguration of His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio, the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

High Commissioner Ndomahina is married and has four children.

SOPHIA NYAMUDEZA AMBASSADOR TO SINGAPORE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE

Ms. Sophia Nyamudeza is the Ambassador of the Republic of Zimbabwe to the Republic of Singapore, with residence in Jakarta. She is concurrently accredited to the Republic of Indonesia as well as to ASEAN.

Ambassador Nyamudeza joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Zimbabwe in 1988 and has accumulated 33 years of diplomatic experience. She previously served as the Deputy Permanent Representative at the Zimbabwe Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York (2006 – 2013) and as the Counsellor at the Zimbabwe Embassy in Rome, Italy (1995 – 2000).

She was also previously Deputy Director in the Zimbabwe Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of Policy Research and Communication, as well as Deputy Director of its Africa Department. She was also the Senior Desk Officer in the Zimbabwe Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Multilateral Affairs Department, International Organisations Department and Asia Department.

Ambassador Nyamudeza speaks English and Shona. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Zimbabwe and a Master’s Degree in Development Studies from the UK Open University.

She is a mother of two sons.

KINZANG DORJI AMBASSADOR TO SINGAPORE KINGDOM OF BHUTAN

Mr. Kinzang Dorji is the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bhutan to the Republic of Singapore, with residence in Bangkok. He is concurrently the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bhutan to the Kingdom of ºÚÁÏÉç.

Ambassador Dorji joined the Civil Service in 1993 and has served in various capacities, including in public administration, public finance management, and bilateral and multilateral diplomacy. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador to Singapore, Ambassador Dorji served as the Governor of Haa District in Bhutan (2016 – 2021). He served as Minister/Deputy Head of Mission at the Royal Bhutanese Embassy in New Delhi (2011 – 2015), Head of Multilateral Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2009 – 2011), Chief of Planning and Policy Division in the Ministry of Finance (2007 – 2009), and Commissioner of Tax Division in the Ministry of Finance (2000 – 2007).

Ambassador Dorji holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Sherubtse College (affiliated to Delhi University) in Bhutan and a Master’s Degree in Economics and Political Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He speaks Dzongkha, English, Nepali, and Hindi.

He is married and has two daughters and two sons.