Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Singapore)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Abbreviation: MFA; Malay: Kementerian Ehwal Luar Negeri; Chinese: 新加坡外交部; Tamil: வெளிநாட்டு அலுவல்கள் அமைச்சு) is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for conducting and managing diplomatic relations between Singapore and other countries and regions. It is headed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the office currently held by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Logo of the MFA
Agency overview
Formed9 August 1965 (1965-08-09)
JurisdictionGovernment of Singapore
Headquarters1 Sherwood Road, Singapore 248163
MottoEstablishing Our Place in the World
Employees1,616 (2018) [1]
Annual budget 466.70 million (est) SGD (2019) [1]
Ministers responsible
Agency executives
  • Chee Wee Kiong, Permanent Secretary
  • Stanley Loh[2], Second Permanent Secretary
  • Ng Teck Hean, Deputy Secretary (Asia Pacific and SE Asia)
  • Ong Eng Chuan, Deputy Secretary (Management)
Child agency
Websitewww.mfa.gov.sg

History

The Ministry was established on 9 August 1965.

Responsibilities

The MFA provides consular assistance to Singaporeans travelling, working and studying overseas.

Organisational structure

The Ministry now has 50 overseas missions including 7 High Commissions, 21 Embassies, 4 Permanent Missions to the United Nations, and 17 consulates. Singapore has appointed 31 Honorary Consuls-General/Consuls abroad and has 46 non-resident Ambassadors and High Commissioners based in Singapore.

The MFA is currently divided into 11 Directorates which deal with political and economic matters, and 7 Directorates which oversee matters relating to protocol, consular issues and the Singapore Cooperation Programme among others. The Corporate Affairs Directorate oversees organisational and resource management while the Human Resource Directorate and Diplomatic Academy manage the development of personnel and training.

Impact

Singapore maintains diplomatic relations with 188 countries. In Singapore, there are 70 resident foreign Embassies and High Commissions, 43 foreign Consulates, and 11 International Organisations based in Singapore. In addition, more than 60 non-resident foreign Ambassadors are accredited to Singapore.

Ministers

The Ministry is headed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, who is appointed as part of the Cabinet of Singapore. The position is currently held by Vivian Balakrishnan from the People's Action Party.[3]

Key

  People's Action Party

List of ministers
Portrait Name Party Took office Left office Tenure Prime Minister Ref.
Sinnathamby Rajaratnam PAP9 August 196530 May 198014 years, 295 daysLee Kuan Yew
Suppiah Dhanabalan PAP1 June 198012 September 19888 years, 103 daysLee Kuan Yew
Wong Kan Seng PAP13 September 19881 January 19945 years, 110 daysLee Kuan Yew
Goh Chok Tong
Shunmugam Jayakumar PAP2 January 199412 August 200410 years, 223 daysGoh Chok Tong
George Yeo PAP12 August 200420 May 20116 years, 281 daysLee Hsien Loong
Kasiviswanathan Shanmugam PAP21 May 201130 September 20154 years, 132 daysLee Hsien Loong
Vivian Balakrishnan PAP1 October 2015present5 years, 131 daysLee Hsien Loong [3][4]

See also

References
  1. https://www.singaporebudget.gov.sg/docs/default-source/budget_2019/download/pdf/33-MFA-2019.pdf
  2. "Changes in Permanent Secretary Appointments - 1 November 2019". Public Service Division. 1 November 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  3. Ong, Justin (28 September 2015). "Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announces Singapore's new Cabinet". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  4. Mahmud, Aqil Haziq (25 July 2020). "PM Lee announces new Cabinet; 6 office holders promoted, 3 retirements". CNA. Archived from the original on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
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