Global Business@Meridian Downtown: Singapore

His Excellency Ashok Kumar Mirpuri, Ambassador of Singapore to the United States joined with Meridian Corporate Council Members and senior officials from the diplomatic community for the eighth installment of the Global Business @ Meridian Downtown series. Hosted by Corporate Council Member, UPS, Inc., participants included the Embassy’s First Secretary of Economics, Ms. Amira Karim, Hon. William H. Draper, III, General Partner at Draper Richards L.P., as well as former U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, Timothy A. Chorba, member of Patton Boggs' Public Policy and Business Law practice group.

Ambassador Mirpuri, who took up his appointment in July 2012, has come to Washington with unique expertise in both the public and private sectors, having served as Singapore's Ambassador to Indonesia from 2006 to 2012, High Commissioner to Malaysia from 2002 to 2006 and High Commissioner to Australia from 2000 to 2002, as well as Corporate Advisor (Asia Pacific) for Shell International Ltd in the UK in 1997. In his opening remarks, Ambassador Mirpuri highlighted Singapore’s pristine position at the heart of Asia, with U.S. investments in the country totaling $106 billion to make Singapore the U.S.’ third largest FDI recipient in the Asia-Pacific region, above China ($60.5 billion), India ($59 billion), and Indonesia (approx. $17 billion). In particular, he drew attention to three major components that have contributed to this success, including: Singapore’s efficient operational conditions, ability to pioneer of clean energy solutions, and integration of free-trade agreements.

Following Ambassador Mirpuri’s remarks, members of Meridian’s Corporate Council and invited guests offered questions related to Singapore’s financial leadership, transportation & trade, customs and TPP negotiations, human development and leadership potential, and flow of data.