Sub-Saharan Africa

Overview

Singapore enjoys good relations with many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Our interactions are sustained through regular bilateral visits and meetings at international fora, as well as through the biennial Singapore-Sub-Saharan Africa High-Level Ministerial Exchange Visit organised by MFA.

Economic relations between Singapore and African countries are growing. To facilitate growing business interest, Enterprise Singapore officially launched its first Overseas Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa in January 2013, its first office in Sub-Saharan Africa. A second office was opened in Accra, Ghana in July 2013, and a third in Nairobi, Kenya in June 2018.

Singapore also regularly shares its developmental experience with interested African countries through training programmes under the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) and study visits.

Recent Highlights

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  • Special Envoys appointed by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Gambari and Muhammadu Indimi made a working visit to Singapore in February.
  • Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, and Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam visited Kenya to attend the inaugural Afro-Asia FinTech Festival in July.
  • Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta made a working visit to Singapore in September to speak at the Singapore Summit.
  • Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam made an official visit to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, and Accra, Ghana in November.
    • Mauritian Minister of Civil Service and Administrative Reforms Marie Cyril Eddy Boissezon made a study visit to Singapore in January on Singapore’s public administration and governance systems.
    • Ghanaian Deputy Minister of Energy for Petroleum Dr Mohammed Amin Adam made a study visit to Singapore in January on Singapore’s energy sector.
    • Ghanaian Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Ken Ofori-Atta, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Charles Adu Boahen, Deputy Minister of Energy for Petroleum Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, and Deputy Minister of Information Kojo Nkrumah made a study visit to Singapore in February on Singapore’s banking and financial sectors.
    • Beninese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Aurelien Agbenonci made a working visit to Singapore in February.
    • Mauritian Minister Mentor, Minister of Defence and Minister for Rodrigues Sir Anerood Jugnauth made a study visit to Singapore in April on Singapore’s crime prevention and anti-terrorism efforts.
    • Angolan Minister of Transport Dr Augusto da Silva Tomas made a working visit to Singapore in April.
    • Angolan Minister of External Relations Manuel Domingos Augusto made a study visit to Singapore in May on Singapore’s economic institutions.
    • Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam made an official visit to Rwanda and Kenya in June.
    • Ministers and representatives from 12 Sub-Saharan African countries (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda) visited Singapore in August to attend the Third Singapore-Sub-Saharan Africa High-Level Ministerial Exchange Visit (AHLMEV). The theme of the visit was “Singapore and Africa: Partners for Smart Cities”. The Ministers also attended the 5th Africa Singapore Business Forum (ASBF).
    • Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan made a working visit to Durban, South Africa in November to attend the 18th Council of Ministers Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
    • Senior Parliament Secretary (Foreign Affairs)(Trade and Industry) Dr Tan Wu Meng made a visit to Ghana and Ethiopia in December.

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