SINGAPORE: Mr Gan Kim Yong will be promoted to Deputy Prime Minister as part of a Cabinet reshuffle announced on Monday (May 13) by incoming Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
Mr Gan, 65, will remain as Trade and Industry Minister and will be the Acting Prime Minister in the absence of the Prime Minister
He will also take over as the chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore and assume responsibility for the Strategy Group within the Prime Minister's Office.
Mr Gan will be appointed to his new roles on Wednesday when Mr Wong officially takes over the leadership reins from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Current Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, 63, will continue in his role.
Mr Wong, 51, also announced other promotions and appointments on Monday, but there were no major changes to the ministers helming each ministry in this reshuffle.
For example, Mr Wong will remain at the helm of the Finance Ministry
Speaking at a press conference at the Istana on Monday, Mr Wong said that continuity and stability are "key considerations" as the government approaches the end of its current term.
"All the ministers already have a full plate of work to see through, and some have also just rolled out new programmes in their ministries. To avoid any disruptions, I have decided to keep them in their present roles until the end of the term."
This is why he himself will remain as Finance Minister even after he becomes Prime Minister on May 15, he said
On Mr Gan's promotion, the Prime Minister-designate said he and Mr Gan "went through the COVID baptism of fire together", and the latter was a "pillar of strength throughout".
Mr Gan's experience in international economics will help Singapore navigate the more contested global environment, he added
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