and Information (MDDI)
DPM Heng meets UK leaders and discusses economic, healthcare, and innovation collaborations from September 29 to October 4, 2024.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat of Singapore has completed a working visit to the United Kingdom, where he held discussions with key UK leaders and explored opportunities for collaboration in economic transformation, healthcare, and research.
During his visit, DPM Heng met with Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner in London. The two leaders held a warm and constructive discussion focusing on areas of shared interest, such as economic transformation, tripartite cooperation, skills development, and public housing strategies.
DPM Heng also had a meeting with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, who hosted a dinner in his honor. The discussions centered on shared healthcare challenges and solutions adopted by both Singapore and the UK, particularly in supporting longer lifespans and improving the quality of care. Both parties highlighted the importance of innovation and technology in enhancing healthcare services and explored potential collaborations in these fields.
and Information (MDDI)
In Manchester, DPM Heng met with the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham. They discussed ways in which government, academia, finance, industry, and talent could collaborate to build integrated and vibrant innovation ecosystems. These ecosystems, paired with diverse educational pathways and lifelong skills development, are seen as pivotal to creating future economic opportunities.
As Chairman of the National Research Foundation Singapore, DPM Heng visited various research institutes in London and Manchester. In London, he witnessed the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs): one between Enterprise Singapore and InnovateUK, and another between the National Research Foundation Singapore, Health Data Research UK, and its partner institutes. These MOUs aim to deepen strategic partnerships and foster research, innovation, and enterprise collaborations between Singapore and the UK.
During his trip, DPM Heng also engaged with Singaporeans based in the UK at a reception in London on September 29, 2024. Following the conclusion of his UK visit, DPM Heng will travel to Japan for a working visit.
Source – MFA
