The state visit of Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia to Singapore (from November 19 to 21) is expected to bolster business ties between the largest of Scandinavian countries and the tiny but dynamic Asian island nation.
While Singapore media have reported the visit today, a press release was published a few days ago by the Swedish Royal Court, outlining the royal couple’s programme in Singapore. They are visiting at the invitation of Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
The Swedish Royal Court press release said: “The aim of the State Visit is to consolidate and develop the good relations between Sweden and Singapore and strengthen economic and political ties, focusing on trade, innovation, investment and green transition.”
To that end, the king and queen will be accompanied by several ministers from the government of Sweden as well as a business delegation.
The Government will be represented by Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard; Minister for Infrastructure and Housing Andreas Carlson; State Secretary Håkan Jevrell from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs; and State Secretary Miriam Söderström from the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. Around 50 Swedish companies, government agencies, and higher education institutions will take part in the business delegation arranged by Business Sweden.
Swedish Royal Court press release
XL-size business delegation from Sweden to Singapore
A report by The Straits Times said: “More than 100 business delegates will visit Singapore with the Swedish royal couple. The business delegation is one of the largest ever put together by Sweden for any state visit, reflecting robust interest from Swedish firms to enter the Singapore market or expand existing businesses, said the King on Nov 12.”
ST said that King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia received a group of reporters from Singapore on a visit to the royal palace, in the Swedish capital city of Stockholm. This media visit (from Nov 11 to Nov 14) came a few days ahead of their state visit to Singapore.
“This [state visit] is to show the continuity, hopefully to make a long-lasting collaboration in any kind of business, and… hopefully, we can find new interesting sectors [for collaboration],” the king was quoted as saying by ST.
Though Sweden is a country with a large landmass and Singapore is geographically very small, the king cited things common to both the economies during the media interaction in Stockholm — for instance, both the nations were “fearless” innovators, he said.
The queen spoke of more areas of collaboration between Sweden and Singapore in health care, especially elder care. During her visit to Singapore, the queen will attend a health care symposium, where a Memorandum of Understanding is expected to be signed.
Orchid-naming ceremony part of the royal visit
Besides promoting business, the royal couple from Sweden will have the pleasure of visiting the Singapore Botanic Gardens, where they will participate in an orchid-naming ceremony.
The Swedish Royal Court press release said: “The King and Queen will take part in an orchid-naming ceremony at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. In accordance with Singaporean tradition, a special hybrid orchid is produced and named after high-level visitors.”
It added: “Ms Malmer Stenergard, Mr Carlson, Mr Jevrell, and Ms Söderström will also attend the ceremony. Singapore Botanic Gardens is a 165-year-old tropical garden on the outskirts of the Orchard Road shopping district. It is one of just three gardens – and the only tropical garden – on the UNESCO World Heritage List.”
