MTI

What MTI does

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) is the Singapore Government ministry responsible for formulating and executing national economic policy. It works through nine statutory boards — A*STAR, EDB Singapore, Enterprise Singapore, JTC, Singapore Tourism Board, CCCS, Energy Market Authority, Hotels Licensing Board, and Sentosa Development Corporation — covering trade policy, industry development, enterprise support, research, tourism, competition regulation, and energy transition. MTI oversees Industry Transformation Maps across 23 sectors, the August 2025-launched Economic Strategy Review (ESR), and programs such as LaunchPad@One-North (supporting 2,400+ startups since 2015), the Pro-Enterprise Panel, and various enterprise financing schemes delivered via the GoBusiness portal.

MTI's notable technology footprint centers on AI-driven initiatives developed in partnership with commercial entities. In January 2026, it co-established Quaveo, an AI joint venture with Ocean Network Express (ONE) in Ho Chi Minh City to apply generative AI and large language models to vessel optimization and global freight across ONE's 260-vessel, 120-country network. In July 2025, MTI, NYK Line, and Grid jointly deployed an AI fleet allocation system for car carriers that evaluates millions of schedules in approximately 10 minutes. MTI is also an early adopter of Oracle's AI Factory, reporting reduced process complexity and improved operational efficiency from its deployment.

As a government state entity, MTI does not generate commercial revenue or sell products; its operations are funded through Singapore's national budget appropriations. Its "customers" are Singapore businesses, statutory boards, international trade partners (US, China, India, EU, ASEAN), and citizens benefiting from economic policy outcomes. Leadership includes Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong as Minister for Trade and Industry, supported by Second Minister Tan See Leng, Senior Minister of State Low Yen Ling, and Ministers of State Alvin Tan and Gan Siow Huang. The ministry is exposed to geopolitical trade tensions, including a potential 12.5% US tariff linked to a forced-labour investigation and a 25% tariff on certain AI chips.

Name

MTI

Legal name

Ministry of Trade and Industry

Website

https://mti.gov.sg

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry drives national economic policy across trade, industry, enterprise development, energy, and tourism, executing strategy through nine statutory boards and AI partnerships with global shipping and tech firms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Economic Policy Administration

NAICS

International Affairs (92812), Regulation and Administration of Communications, Electric, Gas, and Other Utilities (92613)

SIC

Foreign Governments (8888), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Infrastructure, Transport & Telecommunications IGOs (BPADAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL)

Keywords

• Trade policy administration
• Economic development strategy
• Industrial policy formulation
• Energy transition regulation
• Enterprise support programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

MTI (Ministry of Trade and Industry) is a Singapore Government ministry that formulates and implements national economic policy. It administers trade and international economic relations, drives industry development across 23 sectors via Industry Transformation Maps, oversees energy and carbon transition policies, and channels enterprise support through statutory boards such as EDB, Enterprise Singapore, JTC, and the Singapore Tourism Board.

Product overview

MTI (Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore Government) operates the official government portal mti.gov.sg providing public access to economic policy information, trade data, industry development resources, energy and carbon initiatives, newsroom updates, and enterprise support programs. The website serves as an information resource and gateway to government services rather than a commercial product. Key initiatives managed or facilitated include LaunchPad@One-North (startup ecosystem hub), Kampong AI (AI park initiative), Pro-Enterprise Panel (PEP) programs, Green Economy Regulatory Initiative (GERI), First Mover Framework (FMF), New Idea Scheme (NIS), and PEP-SBF Awards. MTI oversees multiple statutory boards including EDB Singapore, Enterprise Singapore, JTC Corporation, Singapore Tourism Board, and others that implement economic development programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Economic Strategy Review (ESR) Forward-looking economic blueprint comprising five committees co-chaired by Political Office Holders to strengthen Singapore's global competitiveness amid geopolitical realignments and rapid technological changes; recommendations due mid-2026.
• Pro-Enterprise Panel (PEP) Government panel that gathers business community feedback on regulations and proposes reforms to maintain a pro-enterprise regulatory environment; over 2,000 suggestions received since 2000.
• Industry Transformation Maps Industry transformation blueprints covering 23 key sectors to drive productivity, innovation, and competitiveness across Singapore's economy.
• LaunchPad@One-North Startup ecosystem hub developed with JTC that has supported over 2,400 startups since 2015 in Singapore's innovation district.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Ocean Network Express (ONE)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Singapore-based shipping line ONE and MTI established a joint venture called Quaveo in Ho Chi Minh City to promote digital transformation in container shipping using AI. The JV leverages ONE's global operations spanning over 260 vessels and 120 countries, combined with MTI's AI expertise, to create new AI applications and develop AI talent. The companies plan to expand services beyond maritime into distribution and manufacturing using generative AI and large language models.
• Ocean Network Express (ONE)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026ONE and MTI launched QUAVEO as an AI-driven joint venture to advance digital transformation and vessel optimization in global freight operations.
• OraclecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2025Oracle launched AI Factory with MTI as early adopter, providing comprehensive support services to help deploy AI faster and modernize technology stack. MTI reports significant benefits including reduced process complexity and improved operational efficiency.
• NYK LinemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025NYK Line, MTI, and Grid jointly developed an AI-based system to automate and optimize car carrier allocation planning, with full-scale operations launched at NYK in July 2025. The system generates optimal shipping plans within approximately 10 minutes by evaluating millions of potential schedules, integrating considerations for next-generation fuel ships and carbon pricing.
• GridmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2025Grid collaborated with NYK Line and MTI to develop an AI-based fleet allocation optimization system for car carriers, evaluating millions of potential schedules across hundreds of voyages.
• JTC CorporationcoreOthersJTC develops and manages industrial infrastructure including LaunchPad@One-North, Punggol Digital District, and Woodlands Gateway. MTI works with JTC to provide quality industrial spaces for growth sectors and firms.
• Enterprise SingaporecoreOthersEnterprise Singapore supports enterprise development through schemes like StartupSG Equity, Market Readiness Assistance, and Enterprise Financing Scheme. MTI collaborates with EnterpriseSG on business support programs.
• Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)coreOthersA*STAR conducts research and develops technological capabilities. MTI works with A*STAR on R&D initiatives including RIE Flagship in Semiconductors Programme and National Semiconductor Translation and Innovation Centre.
• Economic Development Board (EDB)coreOthersEDB drives economic development through investment attraction and industry development. MTI collaborates with EDB on positioning Singapore as a global hub for trust-based services and key growth sectors.

Scale indicators18 records

Direct peers

• Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI): Japan's METI is the most directly comparable peer: a national ministry overseeing industrial policy, trade negotiations, energy policy, and technology/AI strategy. Both MTI and METI drive national economic competitiveness agendas and coordinate closely with their countries' export-oriented firms.
• Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of South Korea (MOTIE): South Korea's MOTIE is a direct functional peer with an almost identical mandate: trade policy, industrial development, and energy policy combined under a single ministry. Both serve as the policy anchor for export-driven economies with strong manufacturing bases.
• Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB): EDB is a statutory board under MTI that operates investment promotion and industry development functions. As MTI's principal execution arm for attracting MNCs and developing growth sectors, EDB is the most directly comparable operating unit to MTI's strategic mandate.
• Enterprise Singapore: Enterprise Singapore is another statutory board under MTI that supports enterprise development and SME growth. It executes MTI's enterprise and trade promotion policies through schemes like StartupSG Equity and Market Readiness Assistance, making it a direct operational peer.

Broad incumbents

• Department for Business and Trade (UK): The UK's DBT combines trade promotion and business growth functions similar to MTI's mandate. It is a broader incumbent covering wider business and regulatory functions but operates the same mix of investment promotion, trade negotiation, and enterprise support roles.
• United States Department of Commerce: The US Department of Commerce is a broader incumbent performing comparable functions: trade promotion, economic development, industry analysis, and export support. It is the closest US analog to MTI's combined trade-and-industry remit, though with a domestic rather than small-open-economy focus.
• Ministry of Commerce of China (MOFCOM): China's MOFCOM is the broadest incumbent peer, handling trade policy, foreign investment, and economic cooperation. As the counterpart negotiating partner to MTI on regional and bilateral trade agreements (including CPTPP/RCEP), MOFCOM directly interacts with MTI's mandate.
• Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources: Australia's DISR combines industry policy, science and research, and resources sector oversight—overlapping with MTI's industry and trade mandates and with A*STAR's R&D coordination role. Both departments drive national innovation and industry transformation agendas.
• Germany Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK): Germany's BMWK combines industrial policy, trade, and energy/climate transition under one ministry—an organizational structure closely mirroring MTI's combined trade-industry-energy mandate. Both ministries are central to their countries' green economy transitions.

Regional players

• Hong Kong Trade and Industry Department: Hong Kong's Trade and Industry Department handles comparable trade certification, trade agreements, and small-economy industry support functions. It operates in the same regional ecosystem as MTI but serves a different SAR economy with distinct regulatory frameworks.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MTI_Sg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MTI