More than a diplomatic milestone marking six decades of Japan-Singapore ties, SJ60 reflects a relationship ready for deeper commercial engagement and broader regional collaboration. JETRO Singapore Managing Director Junji Kurokawa sees the anniversary as a springboard for stronger innovation ties and more projects rooted in Singapore, where Japanese companies can connect with talent, capital and partners while scaling across the wider region
Bridges: From JETRO’s perspective, what does SJ60 represent today, and what should this milestone advance in the coming years?
Kurokawa: SJ60 is more than a symbolic anniversary—it represents six decades of trust, stability, and shared ambition in Japan–Singapore relations. This year also marks the 70th anniversary of JETRO Singapore, reinforcing our long-standing commitment to deepening bilateral economic ties and supporting businesses across both markets. Today, Singapore stands as one of Asia’s most dynamic hubs for innovation, talent, and capital, making it a natural launching point for Japanese companies seeking global collaboration and regional growth. Looking ahead, SJ60 should catalyse a new phase of partnership: deeper open-innovation between Japanese corporations and Singapore’s vibrant ecosystem, more R&D and pilot projects anchored here, and joint initiatives that can scale across ASEAN and South Asia. Ultimately, SJ60 should help translate a trusted friendship into faster innovation cycles, stronger commercial outcomes, and broader regional impact.
Looking to 2026, what are JETRO’s top priorities to deepen business ties between the two markets, and which areas are you focusing on most?
Toward 2026, JETRO is focused on three key priorities to accelerate Japan–Singapore business collaboration. First, we are strengthening innovation-driven partnerships by positioning Singapore as Japan’s Open Innovation Hub. Through our business-matching platform J-Bridge, we help large corporations, SMEs, and startups transform ideas into pilots and pilots into long-term partnerships. Second, we support the overseas expansion of Japanese SMEs and startups, responding to more than 1,000 consultations annually. Demand remains strong in agri-food, healthcare, and lifestyle sectors. To support market entry, we provide targeted opportunities through trade fairs, curated business matching, meet-ups, and pitch events. Third, we provide strategic insights for companies re-evaluating Singapore’s role as a regional headquarters or gateway to South Asia—particularly India—using Singapore as a base for long-term growth. Across these pillars, our mission is to support companies of all sizes in building R&D, commercial, and regional management functions in Singapore.
Which sectors or themes are gaining the most momentum today, and what is driving that momentum?
Several sectors are experiencing strong momentum. Healthcare is accelerating, driven by Singapore’s focus on digital health, ageing-well innovation, and strong public–private collaboration. Green and cleantech are expanding as the country advances its net-zero commitments and seeks energy-efficient, carbon-reducing, and advanced materials solutions.
SJ60 is more than a symbolic anniversary—it represents six decades of trust, stability, and shared ambition in Japan–Singapore relations. This year also marks the 70th anniversary of JETRO Singapore, reinforcing our long-standing commitment to deepening bilateral economic ties and supporting businesses across both markets.
Junji Kurokawa, JETRO Singapore Managing Director
Deep tech—AI, quantum, space, and advanced materials—is gaining traction as Singapore actively attracts global talent, technology leaders, and R&D partners, creating fertile ground for co-development. Food and agri-related business also remain robust, supported by sustained demand for high-quality Japanese products and Singapore’s sophisticated logistics and culinary ecosystem.
These trends align closely with Japanese strengths in reliability, technology depth, and manufacturing excellence. When combined with Singapore’s speed, global connectivity, and pro-innovation environment, the result is a powerful platform for moving quickly from pilot to commercialisation and ultimately to regional scale.
How is JETRO Singapore supporting companies today, and what outcomes do you hope to see?
JETRO Singapore provides hands-on, end-to-end support—from market insights that guide strategic decisions to curated matching with corporates, investors, and partners. Through J-Bridge, we also deliver tailored mentoring and pitch opportunities for startups seeking collaboration or market entry.
Beyond supporting Japanese companies, we place strong emphasis on building genuine win–win partnerships with Singaporean stakeholders. Japan’s technological strengths and deep industry know-how can contribute meaningfully to Singapore’s innovation ecosystem, while Singapore’s speed, diversity, and global reach help Japanese companies expand across APAC and ultimately into global markets.
In the coming year, we aim to see more pilots evolve into concrete commercial partnerships, greater participation by Japanese SMEs and startups, and more companies using Singapore as a platform for regional innovation, co-development, and growth.
