Press Statements
Presentation of Credentials Ceremony 31 October 2023
Country
Finland
Italy
Sweden
31 October 2023
The following foreign Heads of Mission presented their credentials to President Tharman Shanmugaratnam in separate ceremonies at the Istana today: The Ambassador of the Italian Republic ...
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The following foreign Heads of Mission presented their credentials to President Tharman Shanmugaratnam in separate ceremonies at the Istana today:
The Ambassador of the Italian Republic
His Excellency Dante Brandi
The Ambassador of the Republic of Finland
His Excellency Juha Markkanen
The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden
His Excellency Anders Sjöberg
Their bio summaries are attached.
. . . . .
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
31 OCTOBER 2023
HIS EXCELLENCY Dante BRANDI
AMBASSADOR TO SINGAPORE
ITALIAN REPUBLIC
Ambassador Brandi joined the Italian foreign service in 2000. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador to Singapore, Ambassador Brandi led the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation’s (MoFA) communication coordination unit from 2021 to 2023, focusing on public diplomacy, social media, disinformation and strategic communications.
Ambassador Brandi previously served overseas postings as Italy’s Consul-General in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (2018-2021); Head of economic office at the Italian Embassy in London, UK and Alternate Executive Director for Italy at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (2013-2018); and Chief of Staff at the Italian Embassy in Washington, D.C., USA (2007-2010). His first overseas posting was at the Italian Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria.
In Rome, Ambassador Brandi served at the Italian Export Credit Agency (SACE) from 2010 to 2013, and was Head of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Desk at MoFA.
Born in Civitavecchia, Rome, in 1971, Ambassador Brandi holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, and has served in the Italian Army as a Lieutenant. He was awarded the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy in 2013.
Ambassador Brandi is married and has four children.
Photo Credit: Ministry of Communications and Information, Singapore
HIS EXCELLENCY Juha Markkanen
AMBASSADOR TO SINGAPORE
REPUBLIC OF FINLAND
Ambassador Markkanen joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Finland in 1991. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador to Singapore, Ambassador Markkanen served nearly seven years at the Finnish MFA’s Trade Promotion Unit. He had also served as Director of the Information Unit in the Finnish MFA’s Department for Communication and Culture; Editor-in-Chief for the Finnish MFA’s trade policy magazine; and First Secretary at the EU- Secretariat in Finland.
Ambassador Markkanen’s previous overseas postings include Consul-General in Los Angeles, USA (2013-2016); Deputy Head of the Finnish Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden (2010-2013); Counsellor at the Finnish Embassy in Tokyo, Japan (2000-2004); and Second Secretary at the Finnish Embassy in Berlin, Germany (1992-1996).
Ambassador Markkanen graduated from University of Turku in Finland with a Master of Law. He is married and has two adult children.
Photo Credit: Ministry of Communications and Information, Singapore
HIS EXCELLENCY Anders Sjöberg
AMBASSADOR TO SINGAPORE
KINGDOM OF SWEDEN
Prior to his appointment as Ambassador of Sweden to Singapore, Ambassador Sjöberg oversaw the strategic affairs programme at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ (MFA) Department for Trade Promotion, Nation Branding & Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He had also served on a task force that outlined Sweden’s policies on aid and trade, as well as Coordinator of Sweden’s Export Strategy.
Ambassador Sjöberg previously served as Sweden’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Burundi (non-resident) and the East African Community, as well as Ambassador to Afghanistan. Other past appointments in the Swedish diplomatic service include Head of Section for South Asia at the Swedish MFA’s Department for Asia and the Pacific; Deputy Head of Mission at the Swedish Embassy in New Delhi, India; and Deputy Director at the Swedish MFA’s Department for Global Development.
Before joining the Swedish Foreign Service, Ambassador Sjöberg served as Deputy Director for the Department of Growth and Regional Department at the Swedish Ministry for Industry and Trade. Earlier in his career, he was an Associate Professional Officer at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome.
Ambassador Sjöberg graduated from the Faculty of Social Sciences at Stockholm University. He is married and has two children.
Photo Credit: Ministry of Communications and Information, Singapore