Gan Kim Yong | |
|---|---|
颜金勇 | |
.jpg) Gan in 2025 | |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore | |
| Assumed office 15 May 2024 Serving with Heng Swee Keat (2019–2025) | |
| Prime Minister | Lawrence Wong |
| Preceded by | Lawrence Wong Heng Swee Keat |
| Minister for Trade and Industry | |
| Assumed office 15 May 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong Lawrence Wong |
| Second Minister | Tan See Leng |
| Preceded by | Chan Chun Sing |
| Chairman of theMonetary Authority of Singapore | |
| Assumed office 15 May 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Lawrence Wong |
| Deputy Chairman | Chee Hong Tat (from 23 August) |
| Preceded by | Lawrence Wong |
| 6thChairman of the People's Action Party | |
| In office 23 November 2018 – 26 November 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Khaw Boon Wan |
| Succeeded by | Heng Swee Keat |
| Minister for Health | |
| In office 21 May 2011 – 14 May 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Second Minister | Masagos Zulkifli (from 2020) |
| Preceded by | Khaw Boon Wan |
| Succeeded by | Ong Ye Kung |
| Party Whip of the People's Action Party | |
| In office 21 May 2011 – 27 September 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Lim Swee Say |
| Succeeded by | Chan Chun Sing |
| Minister for Manpower | |
| In office 1 April 2009 – 20 May 2011 Acting: 1 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Preceded by | Ng Eng Hen |
| Succeeded by | Tharman Shanmugaratnam |
| Member of theSingapore Parliament forPunggol GRC | |
| Assumed office 4 May 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Majority | 11,956 (10.34%) |
| Member of theSingapore Parliament forChua Chu Kang GRC | |
| In office 7 May 2011 – 15 April 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | PAP held |
| Majority |
|
| Member of theSingapore Parliament forChua Chu Kang SMC | |
| In office 6 May 2006 – 7 May 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Low Seow Chay |
| Succeeded by | Constituency established |
| Majority | 4,864 (20.74%) |
| Member of theSingapore Parliament forHolland–Bukit Panjang GRC | |
| In office 25 October 2001 – 6 May 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Majority | N/A (walkover) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1959-02-09)9 February 1959 (age 67) |
| Party | People's Action Party |
| Spouse | Esther Loh |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge (AB,MA) |
Gan Kim Yong[a] (born 9 February 1959)[1] is a Singaporean politician who has been serving asDeputy Prime Minister of Singapore since 2024 andMinister for Trade and Industry since 2021. A member of the governingPeople's Action Party (PAP), he has been theMember of Parliament (MP) representing the Punggol North division ofPunggol Group Representation Constituency (GRC) since 2025. He had previously represented the Zhenghua division ofHolland–Bukit Panjang GRC between 2001 and 2006,Chua Chu Kang Single Member Constituency (SMC) between 2006 and 2011, and the Chua Chu Kang division ofChua Chu Kang GRC between 2011 and 2025.
Prior to entering politics, Gan worked in theMinistry of Trade and Industry (MTI) andMinistry of Home Affairs (MHA). He joinedNatSteel in 1989 and became thechief executive officer (CEO) andpresident of NatSteel in 2005. Gan made his political debut in the2001 general election as part of a five-member PAP team contesting inHolland–Bukit Panjang GRC and won by an uncontested walkover.
Gan previously served asMinister for Manpower between 2008 and 2011,Minister for Health between 2011 and 2021, Chairman of thePeople's Action Party between 2018 and 2022 and Deputy Chairman of theMonetary Authority of Singapore from 3 July 2023 to 14 May 2024. He currently serves asDeputy Prime Minister since 15 May 2024, Minister for Trade and Industry since 15 May 2021, Chairman of theMonetary Authority of Singapore since 15 May 2024, Chairman of the EDB's International Advisory Council since 1 June, taking over from Prime Minister Wong who previously served as Chairman following former SM and current President Tharman's resignation to run for the Presidency and Director of theGIC since 1 October 2024.
Gan was educated atCatholic High School andNational Junior College before he received an Overseas Merit Scholarship from the Singapore Government to study at theUniversity of Cambridge, where he completed aBachelor of Arts degree inEngineering in 1981.[2]
He subsequently received aMaster of Arts in Engineering from the University of Cambridge in 1985.[3]
Gan began his career in theCivil Service, working at theMinistry of Trade and Industry (MTI) andMinistry of Home Affairs (MHA). He left the Civil Service for the private sector in 1989 and joinedNatSteel. In 1996, he became Executive Vice President of NatSteel and CEO of NatSteel Resorts International and NatSteel Properties. In 2005, he became President and CEO of NatSteel.
In February 2018, Gan was appointed by theWorld Health Organization (WHO) to serve on the Commission on Non-Communicable Diseases, which aims to identify innovative ways to curb diseases that are not transmitted from person to person, such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease, and extend life expectancy.[4]
On 13 May 2024, it was announced that Gan had been appointed as the chairman of theMonetary Authority of Singapore.[5] On 12 June, it was announced that Gan had become the new chairman of theEconomic Development Board's International Advisory Council from 1 June, taking over fromLawrence Wong.[6][7] On 24 September, it was announced that Gan would join theGIC as a director from 1 October.[8]
In April 2025, Gan was questioned, in an open letter by formerIncome Insurance CEOTan Suee Chieh, about MAS's lapse of regulatory oversight, and how Gan, as former chairman of theSingapore Labour Foundation, held a unique role in the decisions that impacted the direction of Income.[9]
_Politicians_at_Hume_MRT_Station_Opening_2025-02-28_-_3.jpg)
Gan made his political debut in the2001 general election as part of a five-member PAP team contesting inHolland–Bukit Panjang GRC and won by an uncontested walkover. Gan was subsequently elected as the Member of Parliament representing the Zhenghua ward of Holland–Bukit Panjang GRC. In 2005, he was appointed asMinister of State for Education andMinister of State for Manpower.
During the2006 general election, Gan replaced Low Seow Chay as the PAP candidate contesting inChua Chu Kang SMC and won 60.37% of the vote. On 1 April 2008, he was appointed as ActingMinister for Manpower and later promoted to full Minister on 1 April 2009.
During the2011 general election, Gan led the five-member PAP team contesting in the newly-formedChua Chu Kang GRC and won 61.20% of the vote. He continued serving as the Member of Parliament representing the Chua Chu Kang ward of Chua Chu Kang GRC. On 21 May 2011, he relinquished his portfolio as Minister for Manpower and took up a new portfolio asMinister for Health. On 11 September 2011, Gan took over as chairman of the Singapore Labour Foundation.[10][11]
During the2015 general election, Gan led the four-member PAP team contesting in Chua Chu Kang GRC and won 76.89% of the vote. On 9 June 2018, Gan handed over his position as chairman of the Singapore Labour Foundation toLawrence Wong. On 23 November 2018, Gan succeededKhaw Boon Wan as Chairman of thePeople's Action Party.[12][13]
During the2020 general election, Gan led a four-member PAP team contesting in Chua Chu Kang GRC and won about 59% of the vote. During theCOVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, Gan andLawrence Wong were appointed co-chairs of a multi-ministerial committee set up by the government on 22 January 2020 to manage the situation.[14] Following aCabinet reshuffle,[15] on 15 May 2021, Gan becameMinister for Trade and Industry.[16]
On 15 May 2024, after a cabinet reshuffle, Gan remained as Minister for Trade and Industry and assumed the role ofDeputy Prime Minister.[17]
During the2025 general election, it was announced that Gan would remain at Chua Chu Kang GRC. However, on Nomination Day, he was nominated to contest forPunggol GRC against theWorkers' Party (WP) team led byHarpreet Singh Nehal as the lead anchor for Punggol.[18] During the election rally, Gan's claim that he was "good friends" withPrime Minister Lawrence Wong and that he would talk to Wong after to get more money to build necessary infrastructure was called into question by the oppositionWorkers' Party, which stated that the civil service would allocate funds and projects fairly.[19][20] Eventually, Gan and his team eventually won the election with 55.17% of the votes.[21][22]
On 21 May, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced hisnew cabinet line-up with Gan remaining as the Minister for Trade and Industry and also as the Deputy Prime Minister.[23] Gan would be the only deputy prime minister while the Cabinet typically had two deputy prime ministers.[24][25] Gan will also be the Acting Prime Minister in Wong’s absence.[24]
Gan is married to Esther Loh.[26] They have two daughters.[27] AChristian, he adheres toPresbyterianism, and is an elder at the Chen Li Presbyterian Church.[28]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister for Manpower 2009–2011 Acting: 2008–2009 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Health 2011–2021 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Trade and Industry 2021–present | Incumbent |
| Parliament of Singapore | ||
| New constituency | Member of Parliament for Holland–Bukit Panjang GRC 2001–2006 Served alongside:Lim Swee Say,David Lim Tik En,Vivian Balakrishnan,Teo Ho Pin | Constituency abolished |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Chua Chu Kang SMC 2006–2011 | Constituency abolished |
| New constituency | Member of Parliament for Chua Chu Kang GRC 2011–2025 Served alongside: (2011-2015):Low Yen Ling,Zaqy Mohamad,Alvin Yeo,Alex Yam (2015-2020): Low Yen Ling, Zaqy Mohamad,Yee Chia Hsing (2020-2025):Don Wee, Zaqy Mohamad, Low Yen Ling | Succeeded by |
| New constituency | Member of Parliament for Punggol GRC 2025–present Served alongside:Janil Puthucheary,Yeo Wan Ling,Sun Xueling | Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chairman of thePeople's Action Party 2018–2022 | Succeeded by |
 Current members of theCabinet of Singapore | |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister | |
| Deputy Prime Minister(s) | |
| Senior Minister(s) | |
| Cabinet Minister(s) | |
Effective from 23 May 2025 | |
