Sam Tan, a former minister of state( MOS) for foreign affairs, led the Singapore delegation to the 21st Singapore-Kagoshima Conference( SKC) on November 22, 2023, with His Excellency Shiota Koichi leading the Japanese delegation.
Both sides emphasized the long-standing and cordial ties between Singapore and Kagoshima during the conference. Delegates had in-depth discussions with the goal of deepening interpersonal relationships, boosting tourism, and strengthening economic ties.
The SKC, which was founded in 1982, aims to promote trade, tourism, the arts and culture, sports, and youth exchanges between Singapore and Kagoshima Prefecture. Notably, Kagoshima performing groups have been a part of Singapore’s Chingay Parade since 1993, and the Kirishima International Music Festival has been held annually in Singapore since 1998. The SKC is the longest-running forum of its kind that Singapore, which has a Japanese prefecture, maintains. Singapore hosted the previous SKC in 2020.
During the conference, former MOS Tan, who is currently Singapore’s Special Envoy for Arctic Affairs and Non-Resident High Commissioner to Canada, was crucial in enhancing diplomatic ties.
