Lee Hsien Loong

Singapore slams 'smear campaign' from ex-PM Lee Hsien Loong's brother

The escalating war of words between the city's government and Hsien Yang stems from a bitter, yearslong family feud

Ex-PM Lee lauds SICCI for aiding Singapore firms in Indian market outreach

The Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) has helped strengthen economic links between Singapore and India by providing local firms with market outreach and advisory on the Indian market, former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said. These efforts have helped us to benefit from India's tremendous growth potential, Lee said in a farewell letter to the SICCI after relinquishing the premiership on Wednesday in a political leadership renewal process of the People's Action Party which has ruled the prosperous city-state for six decades. He noted SICCI's significant contribution to Singapore's economic growth, highlighting, You helped many local Indian firms grow their businesses through transformation, innovation, and overseas expansion. SICCI has also been a close partner of the government, providing valuable feedback on government policies, said Lee who led Singapore for 20 years and now sits as a senior minister in the Cabinet headed by Lawrence Wong -- sworn in

Wong to be sworn in as Singapore's PM as Loong bows out after 20 years

Singapore's deputy leader Lawrence Wong is set to be sworn in Wednesday as the nation's fourth prime minister in a carefully planned political succession designed to ensure continuity and stability in the Asian financial hub. A US-trained economist, Wong (51), succeeds Lee Hsien Loong (72), who stepped down after two decades at the helm. Lee's resignation marked the end of a family dynasty led by his father Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's charismatic first leader who built the colonial trading outpost into a business-friendly, affluent country during 31 years in office. Wong, a civil servant turned politician, came to prominence while coordinating Singapore's successful fight against COVID-19. But he wasn't the first choice for the top job. Heng Swee Keat, a former central bank chief and education minister, was the anointed successor but he withdrew his nomination in 2021. Wong was then picked by the ruling People's Action Party in 2022 to fill the vacuum and was quickly promoted to deput

Singapore PM defends exclusive deal with Taylor Swift that irked neighbours

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday defended an exclusive deal his city-state struck with Taylor Swift that prevents the pop star taking her current Eras Tour to anywhere else in Southeast Asia. Swift is performing six concerts from March 2 to 9 in Singapore under an exclusive deal that has been criticised by some Southeast Asian neighbours who complain they have been deprived of the tourist boom that her concerts have brought elsewhere. Lee confirmed that Swift was provided with certain incentives from a government fund established to rebuild tourism industry after COVID-19 disruptions to make Singapore her only Southeast Asian destination. He did not say how much the deal cost. He said he did not regard the deal as unfriendly toward his neighbours in the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It has turned out to be a very successful arrangement. I don't see that as being unfriendly, Lee said in the Australian city of Melbourne where he is attending

Singapore unveils new work visas to lure talent in next-gen industries

"Singapore is still a global city," Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in an address last month, in which he vowed to bolster the national workforce's skills

Covid-19 pandemic has taught Singapore valuable lessons, says PM Lee

Lee credited Singapore's resilient healthcare system, an effective public health response and a high degree of public trust with making a big difference in weathering the pandemic

Singapore PM says his govt 'did not get every call right' during Covid-19

Public mindsets also had to be changed, such as the considerable public anxiety that came with high daily cases and urging COVID-19 patients to recover at home, he said

War in Ukraine has implications for Asia Pacific: Singapore PM Lee

The ongoing war in Ukraine has implications for the Asia Pacific, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore said cautioning the international community

Biden to host Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong at White House next week

US President Joe Biden will host Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the White House next week, Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced.

Singapore easing Covid-19 measures, ensuring situation stabilises, says PM

"What I am trying to do is to ease up a little bit, make sure things stabilise, ease up a bit more, make sure things stabilise again and ease up a little bit more," Lee said

Singapore to 'defuse resentments over foreigners' after racist incidents

Country's PM devotes part of his speech to racial harmony, referring to racist incidents that targeted Indians

Malaysia and Singapore terminate agreement to build high-speed rail link

Singapore and Malaysia said a deal to build a high-speed rail (HSR) link between the two neighbours will be terminated, after a suspension period to negotiate terms of the project expired on Dec 31

G20 Summit: Singapore PM calls for equitable distribution of Covid vaccines

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has called on the world leaders to work together to ensure affordable and equitable distribution of Covid-19 vaccines

Singapore's fortune is tied to water but sand may hold key to the future

Singapore's stockpiles are as strategic as America's petroleum reserves. Sand, or something like it, will be a hot commodity as long as there is a Singapore

Singapore hopes US can stabilise its ties with China: PM Lee

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said that he hope the US will stabilise its ties with China as Asia depends on a stable relationship between the world's two biggest economies

Indian-origin politician becomes Singapore's first Leader of Opposition

Singh's Workers' Party won 10 parliamentary seats out of the 93 contested in the July 10 general elections held, making it the biggest opposition presence in Singapore's Parliament

No democracy without opposition

What India could learn from Singapore's spirit of democracy

Singapore PM arrives in Delhi, takes bus to hotel

Loong will also meet President Pranab Mukherjee, while Union Minister Sushma Swaraj will call on the visiting dignitary.

Singapore PM to kickstart five-day India trip today

Lee will be hosted for lunch by Modi and the leaders will hold bilateral talks to explore ways to bolster ties between the two countries.

Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong to visit India from October 3 to 7

The Singaporean Prime Minister would be accompanied by his wife Ho Ching, a number of key Ministers and senior officials