Singapore’s first ambassador to Israel, Ian Mack, presented his credentials to Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Tuesday.
Although the two countries have had diplomatic relations since 1969, the Southeast Asian city state has never posted an ambassador to Israel.
After presenting his credentials, Mack will oversee Singapore’s embassy in Tel Aviv, which opened in 2022.
The current Israeli Ambassador to Singapore is Eliyahu Vered Hazan.
Bilateral trade between the two countries has expanded in recent years. In August, Israeli Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat visited Singapore, where he discussed bilateral relations and trade with Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat.
The main topics of discussion were technological innovation, support for entrepreneurship, research and development, medical research, solutions in the field of water, tourism and education.
As of 2022, trade between Israel and Singapore was on the rise, with a volume of $ 3.8 billion, an increase of about 67% percent compared to 2021. Israeli exports amounted to $1.16 billion, with machinery accounting for 51% of that figure, followed by optical, medical and other equipment (17%) and transportation products (16%).
Total Israeli imports were about $2.1 billion, mostly transportation products (60%) and machinery.
Between Israel and Singapore there is also a branch of trade in services, with Israel importing from Singapore about $150 million, which included sales and marketing (37%) and computing services (27%), while Israel exported services amounting to $580 million, which included, among other things, research and development (32%) and computing (19%).
New envoys from Ecuador and North Macedonia also presented their credentials to Herzog on Tuesday.