5-10-2023 (SINGAPORE) Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong of Singapore is set to embark on an 11-day working trip to the United States, visiting Arizona, New York, and Washington DC. The visit, starting on Thursday (Oct 5), aims to reinforce the “robust and multi-faceted relationship” between the two countries, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
This will be Mr. Wong’s first working visit to the US since assuming the role of Deputy Prime Minister. The PMO issued a press statement highlighting the significance of the visit in enhancing bilateral ties.
During his visit, Mr. Wong will pay a visit to Peace Carvin II, the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s longest-running overseas detachment, located in Arizona. Peace Carvin II is an F-16 fighter training detachment stationed at Luke Air Force Base.
In New York City, Mr. Wong, who also serves as the Finance Minister, will attend a GIC Investment Forum and unveil a new node of the Global Innovation Alliance led by government agency Enterprise Singapore. This initiative aims to support the expansion of Singaporean tech startups into the New York and broader US market. Enterprise Singapore has already established Global Innovation Alliance nodes in cities such as San Francisco, London, Berlin, Seoul, and Bangkok.
While in Washington DC, Mr. Wong is scheduled to meet with Cabinet secretaries and high-ranking officials from the Biden Administration to discuss opportunities for further bilateral cooperation in emerging areas. He will also deliver opening remarks at the inaugural US-Singapore dialogue on Critical and Emerging Technologies.
During the ASEAN Leadership Forum, Mr. Wong will engage in a dialogue session hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on October 13. The session will be livestreamed on the CSIS website.
Previously, Mr. Wong visited the US in April 2022 as the Finance Minister to attend G20 and World Bank-IMF meetings.
Accompanying Mr. Wong on this year’s trip are Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo, and Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth and Trade and Industry Alvin Tan. Officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Finance will also be part of the delegation traveling to the US.
