Zaqy Mohamad Addresses European Business Leaders at EuroCham Strategic Security and Aerospace Committee Launch
Acting Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs and Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr. Zaqy Mohamad attended the launch of the European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) Singapore’s new Strategic Security and Aerospace Committee at the Airbus Singapore Campus on 4 September 2026. The Committee was established to facilitate dialogue on economic security, supply-chain resilience and strategic industries amid evolving geopolitical and technological conditions.
The launch was attended by almost 100 guests and members representing aerospace and defence, banking and finance, energy, automotive, risk and security, technology, consulting, legal services and academia. Diplomatic representatives included H.E. Sadık Arslan, Ambassador of Türkiye to Singapore, Ms. Joyleen Santos, Minister and Consul General at the Philippine Embassy in Singapore, and representatives from the embassies of France, Lithuania and Switzerland and the British High Commission in Singapore.
Mr. Zaqy delivered remarks before the Committee’s formal launch, highlighting the importance of trusted partnerships as security, technology, industry and supply chains become increasingly interconnected. He said, “In a more contested world, our strong web of trusted partnerships is a strategic advantage.”
Mr. Zaqy noted that Singapore’s approach was not to retreat from an interconnected global economy, but to build resilience while maintaining openness and trusted international relationships. He also highlighted the growing overlap between commercial, dual-use and defence technologies, including artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, semiconductors, quantum, cyber and space technologies.
He said the new Committee could serve as “another node to connect our established defence and aerospace relationships with the wider strategic-security ecosystem”, while creating opportunities for research and development, innovation and capability development in critical technologies, supply-chain resilience and critical infrastructure.
EuroCham Singapore President Jens Rübbert said the Committee would provide a practical space for businesses to discuss strategic issues affecting corporate decision-making. Airbus Asia-Pacific President and EuroCham board member Mr. Anand Stanley said the Committee could support business resilience and economic prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
The event also featured remarks by Mr. Philipp Dupuis, Head of the Economic and Trade Section of the European Union Delegation to Singapore, followed by a panel discussion on economic security and its implications for business investment, supply chains, digital disruption and emerging technologies.
The Committee will focus on Security and Resilience, Global Economic Shifts, and Aerospace, Defence and Space. It will convene executive-level discussions and closed-door dialogues involving business leaders and policymakers.
The launch preceded the 50th anniversary of EU–ASEAN Dialogue Relations and Singapore’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2027. EuroCham Singapore currently has ten active committees, while around 14,000 European businesses operate in Singapore.
Source: European Chamber of Commerce (Singapore)
