Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam is embarking on a five-day state visit to Sweden from October 17 to 21, marking the first such visit by a Singaporean president. This trip aims to bolster the diplomatic and economic ties between Singapore and Sweden as they celebrate 60 years of bilateral relations.
During his visit, President Tharman will receive a ceremonial welcome at Stockholm’s Royal Palace and attend a state banquet hosted by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. He is scheduled to meet with Swedish parliamentary leaders, including Speaker Andreas Norlén and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, to discuss strengthening cooperation between the two nations.
The president’s itinerary includes engagements with Swedish entrepreneurs and business leaders to explore opportunities for collaboration. He will visit the youth empowerment organization Fryshuset and deliver a lecture at the Stockholm School of Economics, highlighting the importance of education and youth development.
In Gothenburg, President Tharman, alongside King Carl XVI Gustaf, will visit Chalmers University of Technology and the World of Volvo automotive museum. These visits will focus on developments in transport and business, areas of mutual interest for both countries.
Accompanying President Tharman are his spouse, Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam, along with several Singaporean government ministers, members of parliament, and representatives from business and government organizations. This high-level delegation underscores the significance of the visit in reinforcing Singapore-Sweden relations.
The visit comes in the context of ongoing high-level exchanges, with Sweden’s king scheduled to visit Singapore in November 2024, followed by reciprocal visits by senior officials from both countries. Economic cooperation remains a cornerstone of their relationship, with trade in goods reaching $1.9 billion in 2025 and trade in services totaling $1.4 billion in 2024. Additionally, Sweden’s foreign direct investment in Singapore was valued at $9.7 billion in 2024, compared to Singapore’s $1.6 billion in Sweden. Nearly 600 Swedish companies currently operate in Singapore, reflecting the robust commercial ties and potential for future collaboration.