Tokyo, 18 March 2026: Marking 60 years of ties, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong launched a Strategic Partnership to strengthen cooperation and uphold a rules-based international order. The partnership focuses on five pillars: Source: Prime Minister's Office Singapore
- Free Trade & Economy – expand trade, supply chain resilience, innovation.
- Digital & Technology – AI, quantum, cybersecurity, smart cities.
- Security & Defence – defence exchanges, joint exercises, counter-terrorism.
- Green Energy – hydrogen, renewables, sustainable finance and transport.
- Partnerships & Exchanges – policy dialogue, youth, culture, healthcare.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong noted that, as Singapore is ASEAN’s coordinator for relations with Japan, both sides discussed priorities for the year ahead and how Japan can play a greater role in promoting regional peace and stability.
As a key hub for finance and supply chains in Asia and ASEAN, Singapore is well positioned to build a stronger partnership with Japan, paving the way for successful Japan–ASEAN co‑creation.
Economic cooperation between Japan and Singapore is expected to become even more dynamic, particularly in areas such as digital trade, supply chain resilience, and innovations in AI and quantum technologies. Prior to the leaders’ meeting, the 3rd Japan-Singapore Co-Creation Platform (JSCCP) seminar was held in Singapore on March 13. The seminar brought together representatives from government, industry, and academia of both countries to discuss building an innovation ecosystem and creating concrete opportunities for co-creation. Mr. Takayuki Akahodani, CEO of HAKOVO, also participated, sharing insights from the perspective of Japan–ASEAN co-creation. In this field, HAKOVO has been driving innovation in Japan–Indonesia trade and was recently awarded at the Japan–Indonesia Fast Track event held in Jakarta.
Singapore, 19 March 2026, delegations from JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia visited HAKOVO, where they engaged in broad discussions and exchanges of views on trade supply chains and logistics trends in the Johor–Riau Islands (Batam). The Johor–Batam is regarded as an essential strategic trade zone for Singapore.
- Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS‑SEZ)
- Batam Free Trade Zone (FTZ)
