A total of 22 project signings — advancing cooperation across finance, healthcare, innovation and talent exchange — were inked between Singapore and Guangdong enterprises and entities at the 16th Singapore-Guangdong Collaboration Council (SGCC) meeting on Tuesday (Aug 25).
Co-chaired by Singapore's Minister for Health and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies Ong Ye Kung and Guangdong Governor Meng Fanli, the meeting comes as bilateral trade between Singapore and Guangdong reached US$15.09 billion (S$19.2 billion) in the first half of 2026.
Guangdong also remained Singapore's top provincial trading partner in China for the 37th consecutive year in 2025.
The meeting brought together over 150 government and business representatives from both sides to explore and deepen bilateral cooperation and growth, said Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) in a news release.
It added that both sides reaffirmed the good progress achieved under the SGCC and discussed how the partnership could be further developed amid a challenging global environment.
Reflecting on the partnership, Ong said in his opening remarks that Singapore and Guangdong have built a strong and enduring partnership over time, that has demonstrated resilience and depth over the decades.
"The challenges of today's global environment make it more important than ever to have like-minded partners," he said.
He also highlighted that both Singapore and Guangdong, as gateways to their respective regions, are well-placed to help each other access new markets and opportunities.
A step further
Turning to shared priorities across healthcare, innovation and the digital economy, Ong said Singapore and Guangdong can "go a step further".
This includes cooperating on standards and regulations in the healthcare and biomedical sector, as well as exploring joint clinical trials for new drugs and joint research projects, he added.
On the healthcare and biomedical front, EnterpriseSG said that collaboration between Singapore and Guangdong has continued to make good progress.
"Companies and research institutions from both sides are partnering to accelerate the development and commercialisation of innovative medical treatments."
It cited Singapore biotech company LionTCR, which will work with Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings — one of China's largest pharmaceutical and healthcare companies — to jointly develop and accelerate the clinical translation of next-generation T-cell receptor therapy, or TCR-T.
Singapore cell-therapy company BioSyngen is also partnering Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University to establish an international medical platform. The partnership aims to advance immune cell therapy for solid tumours through joint clinical research, a shared R&D and translation platform, and talent development in the Greater Bay Area, EnterpriseSG said.
Meanwhile, both sides are also translating the shared ambition of transforming priority sectors such as advanced manufacturing, financial services and logistics into concrete partnerships.
One example is the Land Transport Authority's partnership with Shenzhen-based technology start-up ZoeRobot to deploy artificial intelligence-powered wall-panel mounting robots for the Cross Island Line project since 2025.
According to EnterpriseSG, the initiative has reduced manpower requirements for compaction work during concrete casting by about 30 per cent.
Anchor projects progressing well
Flagship projects such as the China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City (CSGKC) and the Singapore-Shenzhen Smart City Initiative have also seen good progress, adding further depth and breadth to bilateral cooperation, Ong noted.
The CSGKC remains an important launchpad for Singapore companies venturing into Guangdong, and has evolved into a hub for talent exchange, said EnterpriseSG.
Rounding off his opening remarks, Ong said: "Singapore and Guangdong, as bellwethers and pioneers in our respective regions and countries, will continue to have a special role to play.
"I am confident our relationship will continue to strengthen, because both sides have consistently redefined integration and connectivity for each new phase of history."
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