Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau and JETRO Singapore Ink Partnership to Accelerate Singapore-Japan Business Events Growth

Representatives from SECB and JETRO Singapore at the Memorandum of Cooperation signing ceremony

Singapore/Osaka, Japan, 20 June 2025 – The Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau (SECB) and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Singapore today signed a three-year Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to catalyse business events growth and create new gateways for economic collaboration between Singapore and Japan. This partnership reinforces Singapore’s position as the World’s Best MICE City while strengthening trade relations between the two countries.

Globally, the Meetings, Incentive, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry is projected to continue growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2% from 2024 to 2032¹.  The Asia-Pacific MICE tourism sector is expected to lead this expansion, driven by robust regional economies, rising business travel, and improved infrastructure.

Capitalising on this trend, Singapore continues to build a strong pipeline of MICE events across advanced manufacturing, financial services, green economy, life sciences and technology. Singapore's key attributes of innovation, trust and safety, combined with JETRO's deep connections to Japanese industry leaders, creates powerful synergies and unlocks new opportunities for business growth across the Asia-Pacific region.

The signing ceremony of the MoC took place at ‘The Dream Sphere’, Singapore’s Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. The pavilion tells the story of how Singapore transforms its hopes and dreams into realities, presented through a diverse lineup of innovative experiences and immersive storytelling that celebrate the flavours, creativity, people and cultural essence of Singapore, providing an ideal backdrop for deepening bilateral business relations.

Under this MoC, both organisations will work to bridge Japan’s growing and diverse economy with Singapore’s strengths as a premier destination for business events, enabling MICE events and delegates that convene in Singapore to expand their international outreach and foster meaningful collaborations.

The agreement also paves the way for both parties to elevate MICE standards through knowledge sharing, particularly in pivotal areas such as sustainability, productivity and digital innovation. In addition, both organisations will leverage their respective marketing channels to profile high-growth and emerging industries common to both Japan and Singapore.

Poh Chi Chuan, Executive Director, Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau said, "As a Global-Asia node for business, Singapore is home to a vibrant business community and a gateway to Asia Pacific, with unrivalled access to new markets. This first-of-its-kind collaboration with JETRO marks a major milestone in leveraging partnerships to accelerate MICE growth. We look forward to strengthening the MICE ecosystems in both Singapore and Japan, and the opportunities this will bring."

This timely partnership, amid global economic uncertainties, will further strengthen business cooperation and resilience, and expand market opportunities in both countries.

Junji Kurokawa, Managing Director for JETRO said, “We aim to build an even stronger win-win relationship between our two countries. Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Singapore, and JETRO Singapore will celebrate its 70th anniversary. We look forward to this collaboration with SECB and hope that Japanese companies will leverage Singapore’s global events and platforms to explore new markets and expand their businesses. JETRO Singapore participates in the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH), one of Asia’s largest innovation-related events held in Singapore in October, and is committed to supporting the participation of Japanese companies and local governments as well as promoting exchanges with Singapore stakeholders through the participation in Singapore tradeshows.”

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¹ _{Source: IMR, MICE Tourism Market: Global industry Growth & Trend Analysis (accessed 3 Mar 2025)}

About Singapore Tourism Board

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is the lead development agency for tourism, one of Singapore’s key economic sectors. Together with industry partners and the community, we shape a dynamic Singapore tourism landscape. We bring the Passion Made Possible brand to life by differentiating Singapore as a vibrant destination that inspires people to share and deepen their passions.

About Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau

As the lead agency for the business events sector in Singapore, the Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau^TM, a group under the Singapore Tourism Board, is responsible for shaping and retaining Singapore’s exceptional reputation as one of the world’s best business events destinations. Our mission is to grow, nurture and reinforce Singapore’s reputation as a dynamic business events destination by drawing on its extensive network of people, technology and ideas to facilitate the delivery of memorable and high-quality meetings.

JETRO and JETRO Singapore

JETRO, or the Japan External Trade Organisation, is a government-related organisation that works to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world. Fully utilising our global network of over 70 overseas offices and approximately 50 domestic bases, we work dynamically and efficiently to create innovation, support export of products and services, and support overseas expansion of medium-sized and small enterprises. Since 1956, JETRO Singapore has been serving as a bridge between Singapore and Japan, promoting business between both countries, particularly focusing on Japanese companies entering Singapore, Singaporean companies entering Japan, and promoting open innovation between the two countries. As part of these activities, we operate Japan Pavilions at various exhibitions in Singapore, as well as plan and host various seminars, business forums, and other events in Singapore.