TUESDAY WITH APEC: SINGAPORE + CANADA + CLIMATE + TRADE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Contact: Press@ltg.ca.gov, (916) 445-8994
SAN FRANCISCO – Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis’s engagement for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Week conference continued Tuesday in San Francisco.
MEETING WITH U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SINGAPORE:
This morning, Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis met with U.S. Ambassador to Singapore Jonathan Kaplan to discuss the economic partnership between California and Singapore. Singapore is a key economic partner for the Golden State. Two-way trade in 2022 amounted to $10.344 billion, making Singapore California’s 12th-largest trading partner. California is Singapore’s 2nd-largest trade partner among all U.S. states, accounting for 13.3 percent of national trade with Singapore. Singapore was also California’s 11th-largest export partner in 2022. California exports to Singapore in 2022 amounted to $5.163 billion, making our state the 2nd-largest U.S. exporter to Singapore after Texas, accounting for 11.1 percent of national exports to Singapore.
THE FUTURE STARTS HERE:
Later that morning, Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis provided opening remarks at Global SF’s The Future Starts Here event with State Treasurer Fiona Ma and California Asian & Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus Chair & Assemblymember Evan Low. The event featured discussions focused on California fueling the future with climate technology and green innovation.
CALIFORNIA GLOBAL CLIMATE LEADERSHIP:
In support of the 2023 APEC theme, Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All, Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis provided remarks at the National Center for APEC’s inaugural Sustainable Future Forum, which also featured CalEPA Secretary Yana Garcia, GO-Biz Director Dee Dee Myers, and Assemblymember Phil Ting. California is a global leader in combatting the climate crisis with a proven track record of promoting clean energy, expanding clean transportation, achieving carbon neutrality, and advancing nature-based climate solutions. The panel featured discussions focused on sustainability issues, as well as new and innovative solutions to address the region’s environmental challenges and disruptions.
“California’s commitment to fighting climate change and promoting a greener, more sustainable, socially just future is not new. In California, we have the ability to set our own emissions and environmental standards. As the largest consumer market in the United States, the policies we implement here in California can and do have a national and global impact.”
MEETING WITH CANADIAN FOREIGN MINISTER:
Following the Sustainable Future Forum, Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis met with Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly to discuss ways to strengthen the California-Canada partnership on trade, emerging technologies, and climate change. The meeting also discussed Canada’s and California’s priorities in the Indo-Pacific region and how we can strengthen North America’s partnerships.
California and Canada have long-standing economic ties. Canada is California’s 3rd-largest trade partner, amounting to $43.893 billion in two-way trade in 2022, and 4th largest source of foreign investment, supporting more than $6.7 billion in wages in California. Canada was California’s 7th-largest import partner in 2022, accounting for 4.7 percent of all state imports. California imports from Canada in 2022 amounted to $23.780 billion, making our state the 4th-largest importer from Canada and accounting for 5.4 percent of all national imports from Canada.
ENTERPRISE SINGAPORE COMES TO SAN FRANCISCO:
During the evening, Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis participated in the ceremonial opening of Enterprise Singapore’s new San Francisco office, which was presided over by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Attendees included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Ambassador to the United States, other high-level officials, the U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, and private sector CEOs.
“We are proud that more Singaporeans live in our state than in any other. And we highly value their contributions to our economy and diverse, multicultural society.”
Enterprise Singapore is a Singapore Government agency tasked with supporting the growth of Singapore businesses. One of their key mandates is to help companies from Singapore grow their international presence. Their new office in San Francisco will facilitate more bilateral trade and investment between Singapore and the United States. This is the third office in the United States after New York and Los Angeles.
MEDIA COVERAGE:
Presidents, Prime Ministers, and CEOs: What we’re watching at APEC this week
California Leaders Showcase Innovation
What should be observed in the APEC summit that will take place in California