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Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Singapore) facts for kids

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore logo.jpg
Agency overview
Formed 9 August 1965; 59 years ago (1965-08-09)
Jurisdiction Government of Singapore
Headquarters 1 Sherwood Road, (Tanglin) Singapore 248163
Motto Establishing Our Place in the World
Employees 1,616 (2018)
Annual budget S$466.70 million (2019)
Ministers responsible
  • Vivian Balakrishnan,
    Minister
  • Maliki Osman,
    Second Minister
  • Sim Ann,
    Senior Minister of State
Agency executives
  • Albert Chua,
    Permanent Secretary
  • Luke Goh,
    2nd Permanent Secretary
  • Ng Teck Hean,
    Deputy Secretary (Asia Pacific)
  • Ong Eng Chuan,
    Deputy Secretary (Management)
  • Foo Chi Hsia, Deputy Secretary (Southeast Asia and ASEAN)
Footnotes
List of diplomatic missions of Singapore

Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Malay: Kementerian Ehwal Luar Negeri; Chinese: 新加坡外交部; Tamil: வெளியுறவு அமைச்சு) is in charge of the country's foreign relations, as well as handling matters and providing consular assistance related to overseas Singaporean citizens. It was established on 9 August 1965. A ministry for the Government of Singapore, it is also responsible for conducting and managing diplomatic relations between Singapore and other countries and regions.

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 ministry 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 (SCP) 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 incumbent minister is MP for Holland–Bukit Timah GRC Vivian Balakrishnan from the People's Action Party.

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Took office Left office Party Cabinet
S Rajaratnam c. 1940s.jpg S. Rajaratnam
MP for Kampong Glam
(1915–2006)
9 August
1965
30 May
1980
PAP Lee K. II
Lee K. III
Lee K. IV
Lee K. V
S. Dhanabalan
MP for Kallang
(born 1937)
1 June
1980
12 September
1988
PAP
Lee K. VI
Lee K. VII
WongKanSeng-20060314.jpg Wong Kan Seng
MP for Kuo Chuan SMC
(until 1991)
MP for Thomson GRC
(from 1991)
(born 1946)
13 September
1988
1 January
1994
PAP Lee K. VIII
Goh I
Goh II
Jayakumar (1).jpg S. Jayakumar
MP for Bedok GRC
(until 1997)
MP for East Coast GRC
(from 1997)
(born 1939)
2 January
1994
12 August
2004
PAP
Goh III
Goh IV
George Yeo by Michael Wuertenberg.jpg George Yeo
MP for Aljunied GRC
(born 1954)
12 August
2004
20 May
2011
PAP Lee H. I
Lee H. II
K Shanmugam crop.jpg K. Shanmugam
MP for Nee Soon GRC
(born 1959)
21 May
2011
30 September
2015
PAP Lee H. III
Vivian Balakrishnan - 2010 (cropped).jpg Vivian Balakrishnan
MP for Holland–Bukit Timah GRC
(born 1961)
1 October
2015
Incumbent PAP Lee H. IV
Lee H. V
Wong I

See also

  • List of current foreign ministers
  • Foreign relations of Singapore
  • List of diplomatic missions of Singapore
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