Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is set to undertake his first working visit to the United States starting Thursday (Oct 5), as announced by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The visit aims to enhance the strong and multi-faceted relationship between Singapore and the US.

Wong, who also serves as Minister for Finance, will travel to Arizona, New York, and Washington DC, returning to Singapore on October 15. His itinerary begins in Arizona, where he will visit Peace Carvin II, Singapore’s longest-running overseas detachment, located at Luke Air Force Base, which focuses on F-16 fighter training.

Following Arizona, Wong will attend the GIC Investment Forum in New York City, following his recent appointment as deputy chairman of the sovereign wealth fund. During his time in New York, he will also launch a new Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) node, spearheaded by Enterprise Singapore, to support the growth of Singapore-based tech startups and small and medium-sized enterprises in the US market.

The final leg of Wong’s visit will be in Washington DC, where he will engage with Cabinet secretaries and senior officials from the Biden administration. These discussions will focus on enhancing bilateral cooperation in emerging sectors. Wong is scheduled to deliver opening remarks at the inaugural US-Singapore Dialogue on Critical and Emerging Technologies and participate in a dialogue at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Wong will be accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Communications and Information Minister Josephine Teo, and Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth and Trade and Industry Alvin Tan, along with officials from the PMO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Finance.

This visit follows a series of high-level interactions between the US and Singapore, including previous visits by six Cabinet ministers over the past year and a working visit from US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in June.

The United States is Singapore’s largest foreign direct investor, with an investment stock of S$421.8 billion as of 2022. Notably, Singapore has become the largest recipient of US foreign direct investment in Asia, surpassing investments in China, Japan, and South Korea combined. Beyond economic ties, Singapore and the US maintain a longstanding defense relationship, which was formalized through agreements beginning in 1990, allowing US forces access to Singapore’s military facilities.