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☆ Tim Cook visits Singapore amid Apple's Southeast Asia expansion efforts
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Dylan Butts | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Tim Cook, chief executive officer of Apple Inc., center, arrives at Apple Developer Academy at Binus University in Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia, on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Apple's Tim Cook is in Singapore for the latest leg of his whirlwind tour around Southeast Asia as the CEO pivots toward the region for expansion and sales growth amid struggles in China. Cook's arrival in the city follows Apple's announcement of plans to invest over $250 million into its operations in Singapore. While the tech giant already employs 3,600 people in the country, Apple said the expansion will provide space for new roles, including in artificial intelligence. Apple did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment about Cook's itinerary.

Persons: Tim Cook, Apple's Tim Cook, Cook, Cook's, Lawrence Wong, Lee Hsien Loong, Lee, Wong, Apple, Joko Widodo Organizations: Apple Inc, Apple Developer Academy, Binus University, Bloomberg, Apple, CNBC Locations: Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia, Singapore, Southeast Asia, China, state's, Cupertino , California, Vietnam

☆ Singapore's new Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will take office on May 15
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Singapore's new prime minister Lawrence Wong will be sworn in on May 15, 2024. SINGAPORE — Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will step down on May 15 and hand over the power to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, the Prime Minister's Office said on Monday. Wong, who will be sworn in at 8 p.m. local time that day, will be Singapore's fourth prime minister since its independence in 1965. Lee has served as prime minister since 2004. Wong, who is 51, entered politics after being elected a member of parliament during the 2011 General Election.

Persons: Lawrence Wong, Lee Hsien Loong, Wong, Lee Organizations: SINGAPORE — Singapore's, Minister's, Action Party, Finance, Monetary Authority of Locations: SINGAPORE, Monetary Authority of Singapore

☆ Singapore's AI ambitions get a boost with $740 million investment plan
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Sheila Chiang | In Sheilachiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Singapore River and Merlion Park in the eveningSINGAPORE — Singapore's plan to invest more than $743 million into artificial intelligence over the next five years could strengthen its position as a global business and innovation hub, tech executives said. In his Budget speech on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said Singapore will invest more than 1 billion Singapore dollars over the next five years to further boost the country's AI capabilities. As part of the investment, Singapore will work to ensure it can secure access to the advanced chips "that are so crucial to AI development and deployment," Wong said. Singapore will also work with leading companies here and around the world to set up AI centers of excellence to spur innovation, he added. Singapore workers are already the world's fastest when it comes to adopting AI skills, according to LinkedIn's Future of Work report released in August.

Persons: Lawrence Wong, Nithin Chandra, Chandra, Wong, Jonathon Dixon, Mao Gen Foo Locations: Singapore, SINGAPORE, Southeast Asia, Kearney, Cloudflare

☆ Singapore pledges to support households and companies as costs rise; budget deficit widens in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

SINGAPORE — Singapore's budget deficit widened more than expected in 2023 but the country expects a small surplus in the 2024 financial year, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said in his budget speech on Friday. The budget deficit for 2023 was revised to $2.67 billion (3.6 billion Singapore dollars), representing about 0.5% of its gross domestic product, Wong told parliament. Wong said a small surplus of SG$800 million is expected for the 2024 financial year, which runs from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. In his budget speech, Wong announced that the city-state will increase support for households and companies in as the country continues to grapple with higher prices. The total bill for these added household measures will come up to an additional $1.41 billion, or 1.9 billion Singapore dollars.

Persons: Lawrence Wong, Wong, Singapore's Organizations: Finance Locations: SINGAPORE

☆ Singapore to triple AI talent to 15,000 experts, deputy PM says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AI (Artificial Intelligence) letters are placed on computer motherboard in this illustration taken, June 23, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSINGAPORE Dec 4 - Singapore plans to triple its pool of artificial intelligence experts, including machine-learning scientists and engineers, to 15,000, as part of its national AI strategy, deputy prime minister Lawrence Wong said on Monday. Singapore also pledged under its AI strategy to increase government incentives for the sector, including by backing accelerator programs for AI startups and encouraging companies to set up AI "centres of excellence." Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) announced on Monday a $52.3 million ($70 million SGD) initiative to develop Southeast Asia's first large language model, catering to the region's languages. Reporting by Fanny Potkin in Singapore; Editing by Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Lawrence Wong, Singapore's, Fanny Potkin, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, SINGAPORE, Microsoft, Nvidia, U.S Securities and Exchange Commission, Media Development Authority, Thomson Locations: Singapore, U.S, China, Taiwan

Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong delivers the Singapore Energy Lecture during the 15th Singapore International Energy Week, in Singapore October 25, 2022. REUTERS/Isabel Kua/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSINGAPORE, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday said he will hand leadership of the ruling People's Action Party to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as soon as the party's 70th anniversary in November 2024, a year before an election is due. He has served as party secretary-general and prime minister since 2004 and last year chose Wong, who is also finance minister, as his successor. Therefore, I intend to hand over to DPM Lawrence before the next general election," Lee said at an annual party conference. He served as Lee's principal private secretary from 2005 to 2008 and led the education and national development ministries before becoming finance minister in 2021 and deputy prime minister last year.

Persons: Finance Lawrence Wong, Isabel Kua, Lee Hsien Loong, Lawrence Wong, Wong, Lee, Lee Kuan Yew, DPM Lawrence, Walid Jumblatt Abdullah, Chong Ja Ian, Chen Lin, Michael Perry, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Finance, Singapore Energy, Singapore International Energy, REUTERS, Rights, Singapore Prime, Party, Monetary Authority of, Nanyang Technological University, Still, National University of Singapore, Thomson Locations: Singapore, Rights SINGAPORE, Lawrence, Monetary Authority of Singapore

SINGAPORE (AP) — Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Sunday he planned to bow out and hand over power to his deputy, Lawrence Wong, late next year, before the 2025 general election. He has served as head of the long-ruling People's Action Party, or PAP, and as prime minister since 2004. Therefore, I intend to hand over to DPM (Deputy Prime Minister) Lawrence before the next general election,” Lee said at a party conference. I will do my best to help him fight and win the next GE (general election),” Lee added. Lee is the eldest son of Lee Kuan Yew, who became Singapore's first prime minister and built the resource-poor city-state into one of the world’s richest nations during 31 years in office.

Persons: Lee Hsien Loong, Lawrence Wong, Lee, Wong, “, Lawrence, ” Lee, PAP's, Heng Swee Keat, Heng, Lee Kuan Yew Organizations: SINGAPORE, — Singapore, Party, GE, COVID, Finance, PAP Locations: Lawrence

☆ Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to lead ruling party before general election
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong attends the Singapore-India Hackathon ahead of the G20 Finance Ministers, Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) and Finance & Central Bank Deputies (FCBD) meetings in Gandhinagar on July 16, 2023. (Photo by Sam PANTHAKY / AFP) (Photo by SAM PANTHAKY/AFP via Getty Images)Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday that Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will take over from him as leader of the ruling People's Action Party before the next general election due by November 2025. With the PAP widely expected to continue dominating elections, Wong is likely to become Singapore's next prime minister. Lee, who has served as prime minister since 2004, is the eldest son of Singapore's founding father, Lee Kuan Yew. He announced last year that Finance Minister Wong, 50, would be his successor and promoted him to be his deputy.

Persons: Lawrence Wong, Sam PANTHAKY, Lee Hsien Loong, Wong, Lee, Singapore's, Lee Kuan Yew, DPM Lawrence Organizations: Finance, G20, Ministers, Central Bank Governors, Finance & Central Bank Deputies, SAM PANTHAKY, Getty Images, Singapore, Party Locations: Singapore, India, Gandhinagar, AFP, Lawrence

☆ Singapore hopes for substantial IPEF progress by APEC
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong attends "Google for Singapore", an event celebrating the company's 15th year in the country, at Google's office, in Singapore August 23, 2022. REUTERS/Edgar Su Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Singapore's deputy prime minister said on Friday he hopes for substantial progress in the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) discussions in time for next month's Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. "In areas like supply chains, green economy, digital economy; these are things that we are pursuing, and we hope certainly that there can be some substantial progress." The summit meetings of the 21-member APEC forum will take place in the week of Nov. 11-17 in San Francisco. "But I think we should maintain high ambition and hopefully down the road, in years to come, the conditions may change."

Persons: Finance Lawrence Wong, Edgar Su, Lawrence Wong, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Wong, David Brunnstrom, Michael Martina, Sandra Maler Organizations: Singapore's, Finance, Google, REUTERS, Rights, Prosperity, Economic Cooperation, APEC, Washington's Center, Strategic, International Studies, U.S, Thomson Locations: Singapore, U.S, Asia, China, Pacific, United States, San Francisco

☆ Leaders in Southeast Asia say they want to be friends with both the U.S. and China
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

"All the countries in Southeast Asia, including Singapore, are friends with both China and the US. We have close links with both countries and we want to maintain those links," said Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. But that consensus is over," Wong said Wednesday at the 10th Milken Institute Asia Summit in Singapore. "This idea where you have to be either with China or the United States? "We, as ASEAN, have a role to play in engaging both U.S. and China, and we appeal to them to reduce tensions."

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Lawrence Wong, Wong, Anwar Ibrahim, Anwar Organizations: SINGAPORE —, Milken, Milken Institute Asia Summit, Malaysia's, ASEAN Locations: Nusa Dua, Bali, SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE — The U.S, China, Southeast Asia, Singapore, United States, Malaysia

☆ IBM CEO says AI will impact white-collar jobs first, but could help workers instead of displacing them
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

watch nowWhite-collar jobs will be among the first to be impacted by artificial intelligence, IBM chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna told CNBC in an exclusive interview aired on Tuesday. Arvind Krishna IBM chairman and CEOIn May, IBM announced WatsonX, an AI building tool that allows clients to build, train and deploy machine learning models. So that is where the 7,800 [number] came from," Krishna told CNBC's Martin Soong. AI potentialKrishna joined IBM in 1990, took over as CEO in April 2020 and has been chairman since January 2021. Arvind Krishna IBM chairman and CEO

Persons: Arvind Krishna, CNBC's, That's, Krishna, ChatGPT, Watson, It's, CNBC's Martin Soong, Lawrence Wong Organizations: IBM, CNBC, Lenovo, Watson Health, Bloomberg

☆ China to resume 15-day visa-free entry for citizens of Singapore and Brunei
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | Lisa Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Travelers arrive at the departure hall in Singapore Changi airport in Singapore on March 31, 2023. SINGAPORE — China will reinstate its 15-day visa-free entry for citizens of Singapore and Brunei from July 26, according to the embassies of both countries. Singapore citizens will be able to enter China without a visa for 15 days if they are there for business, tourism, family visits and transit, the Chinese embassy to Singapore said. Singapore and China have long enjoyed strong economic ties, with leaders from both sides meeting this year. The resumption of the visa-free entry policy "will facilitate people and business flows between our countries and pave the way for deeper bilateral cooperation," Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a Facebook post.

Persons: Lee Hsien Loong, Xi Jinping, Lawrence Wong, Li Qiang Organizations: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Singapore Changi, Singapore, SINGAPORE — China, Brunei, China, Beijing

[1/2] Supporters of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) wait for their candidates at a nomination center ahead of the general elections in Singapore September 1, 2015. Analysts said the events may not bode well for the PAP, which has ruled Singapore uninterrupted since 1959. "These events appear to have created some public speculation about the PAP's approach to privilege, restraint, and authority," said National University of Singapore political scientist Chong Ja Ian. Prime minister-in-waiting Lawrence Wong said the government would be forthcoming about the corruption case - even if the information was damaging or embarrassing. But political scientist Walid Jumblatt Abdullah at Nanyang Technological University said Lee had enough political goodwill to ride this out.

Persons: Edgar Su, bode, Lee Hsien, Singapore's, Lee Kuan Yew, Chong Ja Ian, Lee, Lawrence Wong, Iswaran, Chong, Lee's, Walid Jumblatt Abdullah, Gillian Koh, Walid, Wong, Xinghui Kok, Robert Birsel Organizations: Action Party, REUTERS, National University of Singapore, Transport, Nanyang Technological University, Institute of Policy, Thomson Locations: Singapore, SINGAPORE

Hong Kong CNN —A corruption investigation in Singapore has expanded to include Ong Beng Seng, a hotel tycoon best known for bringing the Formula 1 Grand Prix to the wealthy city state. The agency had earlier launched an investigation into a case involving the transport minister, in a rare corruption probe involving a cabinet-level official. Ong’s company said he had posted bail of 100,000 Singapore dollars ($76,000) after being given a notice of arrest. Ong is also the sole shareholder of the Singapore Grand Prix, organizer of the marquee sporting event, his spokesperson confirmed to CNN. Rare caseThe news about Ong emerged just days after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong asked the transport minister to take a leave of absence.

Persons: Ong Beng Seng, Ong, “, Lee Hsien Loong, Iswaran, CPIB, Lee, Eugene Tan, Bernie Ecclestone, Hoch, Lawrence Wong, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hotel Properties, Practices, Transport, Singapore, Prix, CNN, Singapore Management University, Party Locations: Hong Kong, Singapore, Properties, Maldives, Malaysia, London, Bangkok, Abu

☆ Singapore names Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as chairman of the central bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Monetary Authority of Singapore, the city-state's financial regulator and central bank, has named Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as chairman of its board of directors effective July 8. Wong, who is the country's finance minister, will replace Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who held the role for 12 years since May 2011, the release said. Wong, who was deputy chairman of MAS since June 2021, will serve as chairman until May 31, 2026, according to the press release. He previously served as a member of the MAS Board from June 2011 to August 2016. Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong will be appointed deputy chairman of the MAS Board for the same period, from July 8 to May 31, 2026.

Persons: Lawrence Wong, Wong, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Shanmugaratnam, Industry Gan Kim Yong Organizations: Monetary Authority of, MAS, Singapore's, Trade, Industry, MAS Board, CNBC Locations: Monetary Authority of Singapore, Singapore

☆ Brace for disruption — but A.I. won't eliminate jobs completely, says Singapore's deputy prime minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said he expects technology — including artificial intelligence — to disrupt the labor market, but it won't eliminate jobs completely. In fact, technology can make humans more productive and create more jobs, he said at the Asia Tech x Singapore summit on Tuesday. "I do not believe we will end up with a jobless future, a dystopian jobless future where machines take over humans for everything and humans become upset because technology can replace some tasks," said Wong. The summit gathers government officials, executives from global companies and consumers over four days to discuss the role of technology in the future. And by doing so, it will create new tasks and new jobs."

Persons: Lawrence Wong, Wong Organizations: Asia Tech Locations: Singapore

☆ Singapore faces a 'delicate balancing act' amid weak economy and inflation, says deputy PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

watch nowSINGAPORE — Setting Singapore's budget was challenging this year, as it required a "very delicate balancing act" to ensure fiscal prudence while helping Singaporeans deal with rising costs, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong told CNBC in an exclusive interview. "It's particularly challenging this year, because it really was a very delicate balancing act to manage due to the different competing demands and pressures," Lawrence Wong, who is also deputy prime minister, said Wednesday, a day after announcing Singapore's budget to Parliament. But yet, we can't taper down too quickly, because the economy is still weak," Wong told CNBC's Martin Soong on "Squawk Box Asia." Our economy has recovered back to pre-Covid levels, but our fiscal position is still quite weak, and it is still very tight. Lawrence Wong Singapore foreign ministerSingapore expects a slight deficit of $2 billion Singapore dollars ($1.5 billion), or 0.3% of GDP, for fiscal year 2022.

☆ Setting this year's budget was a 'very delicate balancing act,' says Singapore minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSetting this year's budget was a 'very delicate balancing act,' says Singapore ministerSingapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong discusses the 2023 budget that was delivered in parliament on Tuesday. He says it was a challenge to find a "sweet spot" as high inflation persists.

☆ Singapore must prepare for economic and geopolitical headwinds, says Lawrence Wong
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Escalating conflict from the Russia-Ukraine war and the slowing global economy are some downside risks that Singapore must be prepared for, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong told CNBC in an exclusive interview Wednesday. "There are a few [risks]," Wong told CNBC's Martin Soong. "The strength of the global economy, particularly the U.S. economy, that's one. Lawrence Wong Singapore deputy prime ministerSingapore already has strong fundamentals and branding, and is "highly regarded for honesty, integrity with loyalty," Wong said. On escalating tensions between the U.S. and China, Wong said Singapore "watched with great concern."

☆ Watch CNBC's full interview with Singapore minister Lawrence Wong on the 2023 budget and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWatch CNBC's full interview with Singapore minister Lawrence Wong on the 2023 budget and moreSingapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong discusses the 2023 budget that was delivered in parliament on Tuesday. He says the country's economy has recovered back to pre-Covid levels, but its fiscal position is "still quite weak" and very tight.

☆ Singapore 2022 deficit set to be lower than expected; inflationary pressures persist
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Lawrence Wong, Singapore's deputy prime minister and finance minister, delivered the Singapore Budget 2023 on Feb. 14 in Parliament. SINGAPORE — Singapore says its budget deficit for 2022 will be lower than expected — at $1.5 billion dollars, or 0.3% of its gross domestic product. The country previously estimated the 2022 deficit would come in at S$3 billion. He acknowledged that 2022 was a "year of brutal inflation worldwide" and rising costs pressures continue to weigh on the Singapore economy, which grew 3.6% last year. "Singapore too had to contend with these inflationary pressures — [the Monetary Authority of Singapore] has tightened our monetary policy five times since October 2021," he added.

SINGAPORE, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Singapore announced on Tuesday narrower fiscal deficits in a budget aimed at helping households manage the rising cost of living while replenishing its pandemic-depleted coffers. The fiscal position is "appropriate for the projected economic conditions this year", finance minister Lawrence Wong told parliament as he presented details of the 2023 budget. The government will enhance a support package to help Singaporeans offset a recent sales tax hike from S$6.6 billion ($4.97 billion) to S$9.6 billion. The second step of a scheduled sales tax hike would go ahead as planned in 2024. The sales tax will increase to 9% next January, after increasing from 7% to the current 8% on Jan. 1 this year.

☆ Singapore's budget expected to focus on inflation and support for laid off workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong will deliver the Singapore Budget 2023 on Feb. 14 in Parliament. Rising inflation and layoffs are among the top concerns for Singaporeans and are expected to be addressed in Singapore's budget for 2023. The budget will be delivered by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. in Parliament. The Singapore budget sets forth a series of measures to support Singaporeans for each financial year, which starts on April 1 and ends on March 31 the following year. He also promised measures to help Singaporeans — particularly the more vulnerable and lower-income group — cope with rising inflation and prices.

☆ Singapore drops pre-departure requirements for travelers, further eases mask rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Goh Chiew Tong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Changes to travelAll travelers entering Singapore via air or sea must still to submit a health declaration before or on arrival, said the ministry. In addition to removing the need to show proof of a negative pre-departure test, short-term visitors will also not be required to buy Covid travel insurance. Previously, non-fully vaccinated visitors were required to test negative for Covid within 2 days prior to their departure for Singapore. Singapore opened vaccinated travel lanes in April 2022 to facilitate safe resumption of international travel. Further Covid measures were eased at the end of August, as authorities removed indoor mask requirements and allowed non-fully vaccinated travelers to skip quarantine on arrival.

☆ Singapore relaxes COVID travel curbs, mask rules further
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Chen Lin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

However, masks will still be mandatory in healthcare settings, where there is interaction with patients and in indoor patient-facing areas. "Within Singapore our COVID situation has remained stable over the recent months, despite increased travel over the year-end holidays and China's shift from zero COVID," Lawrence Wong, deputy prime minister and co-chair of the virus taskforce, told a media briefing. But we managed to reach this point together because we all did our part," Wong said. Since April last year, Singapore had lifted most of its COVID-19 restrictions with many international events returning to the city-state, attracting tourists and businesses. The Asian financial hub is expecting the tourism sector to recover to pre-pandemic levels by 2024.

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