Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) will be renamed the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry (METI) starting October 1, reflecting the growing importance of energy to the city-state’s economy and long-term sustainability. The ministry will be led by two ministers, emphasizing the dual focus on energy and trade amid shifting geopolitical and economic landscapes.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the change on July 22 during a press conference at which he also unveiled a Cabinet reshuffle effective July 27. He highlighted energy as a critical national challenge comparable to water scarcity, especially as Singapore advances toward its net-zero emissions goal. Wong stressed the distinction between energy generally and clean energy, noting that the latter poses a significant focus for government policy and industry transformation.
The rebranding of the ministry aligns with the government’s increased emphasis on energy issues, including an ongoing feasibility study into nuclear power and plans for a 2027 review by the United Nations’ atomic energy agency to assess Singapore’s readiness for such deployment. Prime Minister Wong underscored the expanding scope of the ministry’s responsibilities, stating that energy’s role is now central enough to warrant primary ministerial leadership rather than oversight by a secondary minister.
Tan See Leng, currently Minister for Manpower and Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science and Technology, will relinquish his manpower portfolio to concentrate on energy and industrial development as Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry). Tan has been involved in energy-related initiatives since the portfolio’s creation in May 2025 following Singapore’s general election earlier that year. He will work alongside Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, who will retain the trade and broader economic strategy portfolio as Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade).
Additionally, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu will continue her role as Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations within the ministry. Former civil servant and Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency Member of Parliament Foo Mee Har will take on the role of Minister of State at METI and the Ministry of Manpower starting September 1. Senior Minister of State Low Yen Ling and Minister of State Gan Siow Huang will also remain in their existing METI roles.
In a social media statement, Tan expressed his commitment to integrating Singapore's energy strategy with its economic competitiveness, highlighting the need for a secure and sustainable energy system to support industrial growth. He emphasized ensuring a favorable business environment while advancing the transition to clean energy technologies.
The MTI statement accompanying the announcement underlined energy’s status as an existential resource for Singapore. It cited recent efforts such as expanding solar power deployment across rooftops and reservoirs, as well as exploring low-carbon technologies, especially nuclear energy. The ministry identified three key challenges ahead: securing stable and competitively priced energy to support economic growth, balancing this with Singapore’s 2050 net-zero emissions target, and addressing vulnerabilities arising from the city-state’s limited access to alternative energy sources.
Recent global supply disruptions, including those driven by the Middle East conflict, have reinforced the urgency of energy security. The ministry pledged to collaborate across sectors and with the public to build a reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy system that will underpin Singapore’s next stage of development.