Singapore President Tharman visits Sweden: first Singapore presidential state visit, marking 60 years of ties

What happened

Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that President Tharman Shanmugaratnam will make a state visit to Sweden from October 17 to 21, at the invitation of King Carl XVI Gustaf. It is the first state visit to Sweden by a Singapore president, and commemorates the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Sweden's government confirmed the visit, noting that Tharman's wife Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam and representatives of the Singaporean government and business sector are accompanying him.

Stockholm program

In Stockholm, President Tharman will receive a ceremonial welcome at the Royal Palace by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, who will host a state banquet. He will meet Speaker of the Riksdag Andreas Norlén and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, deliver a lecture at the Stockholm School of Economics, be hosted to lunch by members of the Stockholm City Council, and engage with Swedish entrepreneurs and business leaders as well as Fryshuset, a non-profit working on youth empowerment. He will also attend a reception for Overseas Singaporeans in Sweden.

Gothenburg program

In Gothenburg, President Tharman and the King will visit the World of Volvo for an engagement with businesses on the future of transport. Tharman will be hosted to lunch by Governor of Västra Götaland Sten Tolgfors, and both will visit Chalmers University of Technology.