Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam is embarking on a significant diplomatic journey to Sweden, marking the first state visit by a Singaporean president to the Nordic nation. Scheduled from October 17 to 21, this five-day visit aims to bolster diplomatic, economic, and business ties between the two countries, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
During his visit, President Tharman will be officially welcomed at Stockholm’s Royal Palace and will attend a state banquet hosted by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. In addition to these ceremonial engagements, he will meet with key Swedish parliamentary leaders, including Speaker Andreas Norlén and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, to discuss bilateral cooperation.
President Tharman’s itinerary underscores a strong focus on economic collaboration and innovation. He will engage with Swedish entrepreneurs and business leaders, visit Fryshuset, a youth empowerment organization, and deliver a lecture at the Stockholm School of Economics. His journey will further extend to Gothenburg, where he and King Carl XVI Gustaf will explore developments in transport and business at Chalmers University of Technology and the World of Volvo automotive museum.
Accompanying President Tharman are his spouse, Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam, along with government ministers, members of parliament, and representatives from Singaporean business and government sectors. This state visit is part of a series of high-level exchanges between Singapore and Sweden, following the Swedish king’s state visit to Singapore in November 2024 and subsequent visits by senior officials from both nations.
The economic relationship between Singapore and Sweden is robust, with trade in goods reaching $1.9 billion in 2025 and trade in services amounting to $1.4 billion in 2024. Sweden’s foreign direct investment in Singapore was $9.7 billion in 2024, compared to Singapore’s $1.6 billion investment in Sweden. The presence of nearly 600 Swedish companies in Singapore highlights the strength and potential for further cooperation in business, technology, and innovation.
