As Singapore celebrates 60 years of independence and diplomatic ties, Ambassador Hiroshi Ishikawa of Japan reflects on the milestones, priorities, and promise of one of Asia’s most enduring partnerships. In this exclusive Bridges Q&A, Ambassador Ishikawa shares insights on Japan and Singapore’s growing collaboration—from economic frameworks like the Japan-Singapore Economic Partnership Agreement (JSEPA) to joint efforts in AI governance, decarbonization, and regional security. With next year marking SG60, the ambassador also outlines his mission to deepen people-to-people connections and co-create a forward-looking regional architecture rooted in innovation, inclusivity, and mutual trust.

Bridges: What key milestones best reflect how Japan and Singapore have grown and built together, particularly in terms of economic partnership?

Ambassador Hiroshi Ishikawa: First of all, I’d like to congratulate Singapore on its 60th anniversary. I’m glad to be here in Singapore as Ambassador of Japan on such a remarkable occasion.

I think a key milestone which reflects how Japan and Singapore have grown and built together is the Japan-Singapore Agreement for a New Age Economic Partnership, the so-called JSEPA, which came into force in 2002. This was the first bilateral FTA for Japan. I was personally involved in the process of making it. At that time, I was Deputy Director of the Policy Coordination Division of MOFA. I vividly remember a very heated discussion inside the government. One of the arguments against the FTA with Singapore was that bilateral FTAs could be seen as a deviation from multilateral free trade under the WTO, potentially paving the way for block economies—something that, historically, contributed to World War II.

From my point of view, though it was not an easy decision for Japan to step into bilateral FTAs, the challenge was worth trying. The result has been mutually beneficial. After that, Japan concluded EPAs with 14 countries, and with ASEAN, the EU, and CPTPP. Now, it’s almost impossible to imagine Japan without EPAs. So we regard the Japan-Singapore EPA as a truly outstanding achievement and a milestone.

What are some of the messages and priorities Singapore and Japan can communicate through Expo 2025 and deeper international collaboration?

Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai is already underway, and I’m glad to hear the number of visitors reached 10 million as of July 12. The Singapore Pavilion also recorded over 1 million visitors as of July 16. Notably, Princess Aiko chose to visit the Singapore Pavilion out of 158 foreign pavilions. That has helped generate great interest among Japanese people.

The overarching theme of Expo 2025 is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” with three key pillars: Saving Lives, Empowering Lives, and Connecting Lives. The Singapore Pavilion’s theme is “Where Dreams Take Shape,” featuring a dream sphere that showcases Singapore’s forward-looking aspirations through immersive experiences on innovation, resilience, sustainability, and inclusivity.

There are three shared messages we can communicate through the Expo:

First, sustainable development as a shared responsibility. Both countries can show how economic prosperity and environmental conservation go hand in hand.

Second, inclusive growth and social cohesion. Japan’s focus on empowering lives and Singapore’s emphasis on inclusivity highlight how diverse societies can thrive when every citizen’s dreams are supported.

Third, regional connectivity and collaboration. The “Connecting Lives” pillar provides a platform to advocate for stronger ASEAN integration and broader Indo-Pacific cooperation, drawing on our successful bilateral and cultural ties.

How can Japan and Singapore continue to advance regional collaboration in areas such as digital transformation, decarbonization, and supply chain connectivity?

Japan and Singapore are committed to addressing these challenges through two major fields: digital transformation and decarbonization.

In digital transformation, we’ve signed multiple memoranda of cooperation—not just at the government level but also involving industry and academia. Areas include AI, quantum technologies, cybersecurity, and data free flow with trust. Japan launched the Hiroshima AI Process in 2023 under the G7 framework, and Singapore is a core member of the Friends Group with over 55 countries and regions.

Singapore has been a strong and reliable partner in this space. With our shared challenges—like aging populations and limited resources—AI and digital transformation offer opportunities to revitalize our economies and societies.

For decarbonization, Japan launched the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) initiative. The AZEC leaders adopted a joint statement and 10-year action plan last October. Singapore, with its advanced zero-emission policies, is an important partner here. We can mutually learn from and improve our approaches to zero emissions.

What industries and collaborations show the most promise for Japanese investment in Singapore?

Around 5,000 Japanese companies operate in Singapore. Many have established Asia-Pacific headquarters here to serve ASEAN, Oceania, and India. Singapore’s strategic location, pro-business environment, multilingual workforce, and financial infrastructure make it a hub.

But today’s challenges are complex. Traditional business models may no longer be enough. That’s why we launched the Japan-Singapore Co-Creation Platform (JSCCP)—a long-term framework to foster open innovation among companies, universities, and research institutions from both countries.

We also launched the Japan-Singapore Fast Track Pitch Initiative. In 2024, five companies presented challenges, and about 50 applications came in. Thirteen startup finalists  pitched their ideas to 300 attendees, including myself, and winners were selected.

Collaboration between startups, large companies, and academia is becoming increasingly essential. Singapore’s role as a global knowledge and innovation hub is irreplaceable for the Japanese economy. I’ll continue to explore mutually beneficial business opportunities.

Are there specific initiatives or goals the embassy hopes to advance this year?

Next year marks SG60, and we’ve adopted the slogan “Co-Imagine, Co-Create, and Co-Evolve.” My biggest mission is to bring the full potential of our future cooperation into shape for this commemorative year.

There are two key focus areas. First, people-to-people exchange. Personal interaction builds mutual trust. Japan consistently ranks as the most trusted partner in Singapore and ASEAN. We must strengthen this foundation, especially for the younger generation. In 2024, over 700,000 Singaporeans visited Japan—an impressive figure, considering the population. This year, we expect that to grow by 20%. We aim to promote lesser-known local destinations beyond Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.

Second, economic cooperation. The pace of change today presents both challenges and opportunities. One of the most promising is AI. Japan and Singapore are already co-developing large language models that reflect ASEAN’s linguistic and cultural diversity. We’re also collaborating on secure and reliable digital infrastructure, such as Open RAN, quantum key distribution networks, data centers, and submarine cables.

Japan is actively inviting foreign investment as part of its plan to become a global asset management center. In 2023, Singapore was the largest Asian investor in Japan. We hope Singapore will remain one of our strongest partners in this effort.

Looking ahead, what should Singapore and Japan prioritize to ensure an inclusive and cooperative regional future?

First, economic cooperation. We must continue to strengthen our partnership to promote a free, fair, and rules-based order. Aligning our efforts on supply chain resilience, innovation, and trade liberalization will help build a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Second, security cooperation. Singapore’s leadership supports Japan playing a larger role in regional peace. The defense equipment and technology transfer agreement signed in June 2023 was a major milestone. Now we must turn it into concrete cooperation.

Third, broader regional cooperation with ASEAN. As ASEAN’s coordinating country for Japan and future chair in 2027, Singapore will play a key role. The coming years are a golden opportunity for both our countries to shape a resilient and forward-looking regional architecture.