German Chancellor Scholz Visit Singapore

GERMAN Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz is on an Official Visit to Singapore on 14 November 2022. This will be Chancellor Scholz’s first visit to Singapore as Federal Chancellor of Germany, and reaffirms the excellent relations between Singapore and Germany, underpinned by frequent high-level interactions and wide-ranging cooperation across various sectors.

Following a keynote address at the 17^th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK), Chancellor Scholz goes on to an official Welcome Ceremony held in his honour at the Istana where he calls on President Halimah Yacob and meet Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who will also host an Official Dinner for the Chancellor. A new orchid hybrid will be named in his honour during the visit, and they will hold a Joint Press Conference. Chancellor Scholz is accompanied by senior officials from the German Federal Chancellery and a business delegation comprising CEOs of top German companies.

According to the German Emmbassy in Singapore Chancellor Scholz’s visit rounds off a series of high-level visits to Singapore, which began with German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s visit in June this year. The arrival of both Chancellor Scholz and Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck at the APK in Singapore signals Germany’s commitment to shared goals in the Asia Pacific, particularly in reducing dependencies on supply chains during a period of heightened tensions, and a green transformation of economies. These distinguished visitations are a testament to the warm relationship between Germany and Singapore, and Singapore’s strategic position as the gateway to the ASEAN region.

German Ambassador Dr Norbert Riedel commented: “Three top-level visits within one year are a clear signal of commitment from Germany. Singapore is our regional key partner when standing in for common values in international politics and preserving the rules-based international order. Together, we discuss means to counter climate change in sustainable and digitalized economies. Singaporean Startups in digitalization and sustainable food production have found a welcome reception in Germany. And in Singapore, German researchers work on innovations that will become flagships for the entire region. 200 years after the first German came to Singapore, our two countries are more than ever mutual gateways to Europe and Asia.”