S. Iswaran ( ta, எஸ் ஈஸ்வரன்; born 1962) is a Singaporean politician who has been serving as

Minister for Transport A ministry of transport or transportation is a ministry responsible for transportation within a country. It usually is administered by the ''minister for transport''. The term is also sometimes applied to the departments or other government ag ...

since 2021 and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations since 2018. A member of the governing

People's Action Party The People's Action Party (abbreviation: PAP) is a major conservative centre-right political party in Singapore and is one of the three contemporary political parties represented in Parliament, alongside the opposition Workers' Party (WP) and ...

(PAP), he has been the

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members o ...

(MP) representing the West Coast division of

West Coast GRC The West Coast Group Representation Constituency is a five-member Group Representation Constituency (GRC) located in the western area of Singapore. The five divisions consists: Ayer Rajah-Gek Poh, West Coast, Boon Lay, Nanyang and Telok Blangah ...

since 2001. He had previously served as

Minister in the Prime Minister's Office A Minister in the Prime Minister's Office ( he, שר במשרד ראש הממשלה, ''Sar BeMisrad Rosh HaMemshala'') is a minister and member of the Cabinet of Israel appointed by the Prime Minister of Israel to handle various issues on behalf o ...

between 2011 and 2015, Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) between 2015 and 2018, and Minister for Communications and Information between 2018 and 2021. Prior to entering politics, Iswaran worked in various organisations in both the public and private sectors, including

Temasek Holdings Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited, or simply Temasek, is a Singaporean state holding company owned by the Government of Singapore. Incorporated on 25 June 1974, Temasek owns and manages a total of US$496.59 billion (S$671 billion) in assets u ...

and the Ministry of Trade and Industry. He made his political debut in the 1997 general election as part of a four-member PAP team contesting in West Coast GRC and won 70.14% of the vote. He also held directorships in various organisations throughout his political career.

Education

Iswaran attended Saint Andrew's School and

National Junior College National Junior College (NJC) is a government junior college located in Bukit Timah, Singapore. Established in 1969, it was the first government junior college in Singapore. NJC offers a two-year course for pre-university students and a six-year ...

before graduating from the

University of Adelaide The University of Adelaide (informally Adelaide University) is a public research university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. The university's main campus is located on N ...

with first class honours, where he read

economics Economics () is the social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Economics focuses on the behaviour and interactions of economic agents and how economies work. Microeconomics analyzes ...

. He also holds a Master of Public Administration from

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...

Career

Before entering politics, Iswaran was Senior Vice President and Managing Director of

(2003–2006), Director for International Trade at the

Ministry of Trade and Industry A Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry or variations is a ministry that is concerned with a nation's trade, industry and commerce. Notable examples are: List *Algeria: Ministry of Industry and ...

, Chief Executive Officer of the

Singapore Indian Development Association The Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) is a self-help group (SHG) for the Singaporean Indian community. Set up to focus on educational and socio-economic matters, its mission is to “build a well-educated, resilient and confident co ...

, and Director of Strategic Development at Singapore Technologies (1996–1998). Throughout his political career, Iswaran concurrently held directorships in several organisations, including Quintiles Transnational, Sunningdale Tech,

Shin Corporation Intouch Holdings PCL ( th, บริษัท อินทัช โฮลดิ้งส์ จำกัด (มหาชน); formerly Shin Corporation) is a Thai holding company which focuses on telecommunication industry. It is the parent ...

, SciGen, PSA International,

Sembcorp Industries Sembcorp Industries (Sembcorp) is an energy and Urban planning, urban development company. Sembcorp's Sembcorp Marine, marine division provided a variety of services, including the engineering and construction of offshore platforms for oil ex ...

, and Hyflux.

Political career

Iswaran made his political debut in the 1997 general election when he contested as part of a four-member

(PAP) team in

and won with 70.14% of the vote, becoming a Member of Parliament representing the

Pasir Panjang Pasir Panjang is an area located at the southern part of Queenstown in Singapore. Kent Ridge Park is a topographical feature which runs adjacent to Pasir Panjang. History Pasir Panjang Road, which once hugged the coastline, was laid down a ...

ward. He switched to representing the West Coast ward of West Coast GRC from the 2001 general election onwards. From 1 September 2004 to 19 April 2006, Iswaran was Deputy

Speaker of Parliament The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England. Usage The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hungerf ...

. On 1 July 2006, he was appointed

Minister of State Minister of State is a title borne by politicians in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a Minister of State is a Junior Minister of government, who is assigned to assist a specific Cabinet Minister. In ...

at the

. After the 2006 general election, on 1 April 2008, Iswaran was promoted to Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Trade and Industry. On 1 April 2009, he was given an additional appointment as Senior Minister of State at the

Ministry of Education An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...

. Following the 2011 general election, Iswaran was promoted to full Minister in the Cabinet and appointed

, Second Minister for Home Affairs, and Second Minister for Trade and Industry. After the 2015 general election, on 1 October 2015, he relinquished his three positions and took up the portfolio of Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) alongside

Lim Hng Kiang Lim Hng Kiang ( zh, s=林勋强, p=Lín Xūnqiáng; born 9 April 1954) is a Singaporean former politician who served as Minister for Trade and Industry between 2004 and 2018, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office between 2003 and 2004, Mini ...

, who was Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade). On 1 May 2018, he became Minister for Communications and Information, however he did continue in the Ministry of Trade and Industry (Singapore) as Minister In-Charge of Trade Relations. After the 2020 general election, Iswaran continued as Minister in the

Ministry of Communications and Information (Singapore) The Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI; ms, Kementerian Perhubungan dan Penerangan; zh, 通讯及新闻部; ta, தொடர்பு, தகவல் அமைச்சு) is a ministry of the Government of Singapore respo ...

. On 15 May 2021, after a

Cabinet reshuffle A cabinet reshuffle or shuffle occurs when a head of government rotates or changes the composition of ministers in their cabinet, or when the Head of State changes the head of government and a number of ministers. They are more common in parli ...

, Iswaran became

while continuing his appointment as Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations.

Personal life

Iswaran is married to Kay Mary Taylor. They have a daughter and two sons.A New Champion for the Eurasian Community
The New Eurasian - April–June 2012 Issue

References

External links

S. Iswaran
On Prime Minister's Office
S. Iswaran
on Parliament of Singapore {{DEFAULTSORT:Iswaran, S. Members of the Cabinet of Singapore Members of the Parliament of Singapore People's Action Party politicians Singaporean Tamil politicians Harvard Kennedy School alumni Singaporean people of Indian descent National Junior College alumni Saint Andrew's School, Singapore alumni Singaporean Hindus Singaporean people of Tamil descent 1962 births Living people Communications ministers of Singapore Singaporean politicians of Indian descent University of Adelaide alumni Ministers for Trade and Industry of Singapore