Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf leads a state visit to Singapore to strengthen ties and foster collaboration.
Sweden and Singapore have enjoyed over 50 years of successful bilateral relations, and the upcoming state visit by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden from November 19 to 21 aims to solidify their long-term partnership.
During the visit, Sweden looks to strengthen cooperation with Singapore across several key areas, including trade, innovation, investment, and sustainability. A delegation of over 100 Swedish business representatives will accompany the King, making this one of the largest business groups Sweden has sent abroad.
King Carl XVI Gustaf noted that both countries, despite being relatively small economies, share common goals in terms of global competition, particularly in innovation. He expressed the desire to explore new sectors for collaboration, reinforcing Sweden’s commitment to being an active partner in the Asian market. Queen Silvia, known for her advocacy in dementia care, also hopes to deepen collaboration in healthcare, particularly in finding solutions for dementia.
A business forum, scheduled for November 20, will further discuss opportunities for Swedish companies in Singapore. The visit is also expected to yield over 10 agreements in areas like trade, health, and security.
In an interview, Hakan Jevrell, State Secretary to Sweden’s Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, emphasized the importance of expanding Sweden’s international presence amid a challenging geopolitical landscape. He noted that Singapore, as a regional hub, plays a vital role in global trade, and Sweden aims to increase its footprint in Asia.
Sweden’s Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard also highlighted shared values between the two nations, especially regarding free trade. She stressed that as global economic uncertainty grows, maintaining open markets remains crucial.
This state visit, the first of its kind, is an important milestone in Swedish-Singaporean relations. The King and Queen had previously visited Singapore in 1982 and 1991, but this trip marks a new chapter in the countries’ collaboration.
