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Ambassador Agustin Garcia-Lopez Loaeza hosts a reception in honour of outgoing and incoming diplomats at Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore.

Singapore, 21 March 2025 – H.E. Agustin Garcia-Lopez Loaeza, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Mexico to Singapore, hosted a reception at Pan Pacific Orchard to bid farewell to outgoing ambassadors and welcome new envoys. The event marked the departure of H.E. Peter Guschelbauer, Ambassador of Austria, H.E. Mehmet Burçin Gönenli, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye, and H.E. Sengkeo Pouangpadith, Ambassador of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. At the same time, it extended a warm welcome to H.E. Tran Phuoc Anh, Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and H.E. Stephen Marchisio, Ambassador of France.

In recognition of the Holy Month of Ramadan, the organisers arranged a designated prayer room for attendees who wished to observe their religious obligations before the start of the event.

In his farewell remarks, H.E. Agustin Garcia-Lopez Loaeza highlighted the contributions of the departing ambassadors to Singapore’s diplomatic landscape. H.E. Peter Guschelbauer played a pivotal role in strengthening Austria-Singapore relations, particularly in trade. During his tenure, bilateral trade volume surged by 60.40%, with Singapore emerging as Austria’s most significant business hub in Asia. Austrian exports to Singapore increased by 38% from 2019 to 2023, largely driven by the free trade agreement and semiconductor industry demand. Austria achieved a trade surplus of €51 million in 2023, exporting goods worth €469.2 million.

H.E. Mehmet Burçin Gönenli’s tenure coincided with the 10th anniversary of the Türkiye-Singapore Strategic Partnership and the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties. He played a key role in expanding cooperation in fintech, digitalisation, and green transition. The Türkiye-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, implemented in 2017, facilitated deeper economic engagement. The two nations also enhanced collaboration in education, with Singaporean and Turkish students participating in scholarship exchanges. Türkiye and Singapore further aligned on global governance reforms and counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden.

H.E. Sengkeo Pouangpadith oversaw a period of strengthened Laos-Singapore relations, marked by high-level engagements. In 2023, Lao Premier Sonexay Siphandone visited Singapore, followed by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s participation in the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane. These visits paved the way for expanded cooperation, including a new leadership and governance training programme for senior Lao officials, focusing on sustainable energy and food security. Increased air links and progress on a bilateral carbon credit agreement have further cemented economic and environmental collaboration between the two nations.

The reception also introduced two newly appointed ambassadors to the diplomatic community in Singapore. H.E. Tran Phuoc Anh, Ambassador of Vietnam, holds master’s degrees in International Political Economy from Warwick University (UK) and Business Administration from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (Vietnam). His diplomatic career began in 1998, with previous international postings including a term as Counsellor at the Embassy of Vietnam in Myanmar from 2010 to 2014.

H.E. Stephen Marchisio, Ambassador of France, is a distinguished graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure des Techniques Avancées in Brittany. He has held key roles in France’s Ministry of Defence and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Before he was appointed Ambassador to Singapore, he served as Deputy Director of the Asia and Oceania Directorate and as diplomatic adviser in the French Prime Minister’s Office. He has been awarded the Ordre National du Mérite and the Foreign Affairs medal.

In his concluding remarks, H.E. Garcia-Lopez Loaeza underscored the continuity of diplomatic service, stating, “Farewells and welcomes are part of our profession, a reminder that we are on the right path, always at the edge of that pendulum that swings us from one end of the world to the other.”

As Singapore celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, the Diplomatic Corps continues to foster international cooperation, ensuring that each envoy’s tenure leaves a lasting impact on Singapore’s global engagements.

Source: IN Diplomacy Reporters