Alvin Tan (politician)
{{short description|Singaporean politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = The Honourable
| honorific-suffix =
| image = AlvinTanportrait.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption =
| name = Alvin Tan
| native_name = {{nobold|陈圣辉}}
| native_name_lang = zh
| office = Minister of State for Trade and Industry
| alongside = Low Yen Ling (until 2024)
| term_start = 1 September 2020
| term_end =
| primeminister = Lee Hsien Loong
Lawrence Wong
| minister = Chan Chun Sing
(2020–2021)
Gan Kim Yong
(2021–present)
| office1 = Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth
| alongside1 = Low Yen Ling (until 2024)
| term_start1 = 1 September 2020
| term_end1 =
| primeminister1 = Lee Hsien Loong
Lawrence Wong
| minister1 = Edwin Tong
| constituency_MP2 = Tanjong Pagar GRC
(Moulmein–Cairnhill)
| term_start2 = 10 July 2020
| term_end2 =
| predecessor2 = Melvin Yong (PAP)
| successor2 =
| majority2 = 32,470 (26.26%)
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|6|30|df=y}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.gov.sg/mps/list-of-current-mps/mp/details/alvin-tan-sheng-hui|title=MP | Parliament of Singapore}}
| birth_place = Singapore
| party = People's Action Party
| alma_mater = University of Sydney (BEc)
Harvard University (MPP)
| occupation = Politician
| spouse =
| children = 2
| relatives =
| allegiance =
| branch = Singapore Army
| rank = Captain
| serviceyears = 2001–2008
}}
{{Family name hatnote|Tan|lang=Chinese}}
Alvin Tan Sheng Hui ({{lang-zh|s=陈圣辉|p=Chén Shènghuì}}; born 30 June 1980){{Cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/alvinshtan/photos/five-years-ago-on-nomination-day-on-my-40th-the-kids-were-just-babies-and-they-m/1056281699650922/?_rdr|title=Five years ago on Nomination Day... |date=23 April 2025|access-date=24 April 2025 |website=Facebook }} is a Singaporean politician who has been serving as Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth concurrently since 2020. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Moulmein–Cairnhill division of Tanjong Pagar GRC since 2020.
Prior to entering politics, Tan had worked at various organisations, including the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), Oxfam, United Nations, Goldman Sachs, Facebook and LinkedIn.
He made his political debut in the 2020 general election as part of a five-member PAP team contesting in Tanjong Pagar GRC and won 63.13% of the vote.
Education
Tan attended the Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) and Anglo-Chinese Junior College. Despite scoring Cs and Ds for his A-level examinations,{{cite news |last1=Baharudin |first1=Hariz |title=Exam results, CCAs and Budget memes: What politicians are talking about |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/exam-results-ccas-and-budget-memes-what-politicians-are-talking-about |access-date=18 April 2025 |work=The Straits Times |date=25 February 2022 |language=en}} he graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Economics with first class honours degree under a study award conferred by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).{{cite news |date= 25 June 2020|title= GE 2020: LinkedIn head & Republic Poly lecturer among new PAP candidates|url= https://mothership.sg/2020/06/ge-2020-former-linkedin-head-republic-poly-lecturer-among-new-pap-candidates/|access-date= 15 July 2020}}
He subsequently went on to complete a Master of Public Policy degree at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.{{cite news |date= 25 June 2020|title= GE 2020: LinkedIn head & Republic Poly lecturer among new PAP candidates|url= https://mothership.sg/2020/06/ge-2020-former-linkedin-head-republic-poly-lecturer-among-new-pap-candidates/|access-date= 15 July 2020}}
He also received the 2008 Tan Kah Kee Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship and the International and Global Affairs Fellowship from the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University.{{Cite web |title=Mr Alvin Tan |url=https://www.parliament.gov.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/minister-of-state-alvin-tan-cv9b4c766c640b4aa2ac6472fb7c2cb1ef.pdf |website=www.parliament.gov.sg}}
Career
Tan had worked in the private, public and non-profit sectors at various organisations, including the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), Oxfam and the United Nations (UN). He worked in the investment banking sector at Goldman Sachs in Singapore and Hong Kong between 2010 and 2015. He was also Head of Public Policy, Trust and Safety at Facebook and Head of Public Policy and Economics for the Asia-Pacific region at LinkedIn.{{cite news |date= 29 June 2020|title= Singapore GE2020: Two new faces in PAP's Tanjong Pagar GRC team led by Chan Chun Sing|url= https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/singapore-ge2020-two-new-faces-in-paps-tanjong-pagar-grc-team|access-date= 15 July 2020}}
=Political career=
Tan made his political debut in the 2020 general election as part of a five-member PAP team contesting in Tanjong Pagar GRC and won 63.13% of the vote against the opposition Progress Singapore Party.{{cite news |date= 11 July 2020|title= GE2020 official results: PAP wins Tanjong Pagar GRC with 63.13% of votes, PSP has 36.87%|url= https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/ge2020-results-pap-wins-tanjong-pagar-grc-with-6313-per-cent-of-votes-psp-has-3687-per-cent|access-date= 15 July 2020}}
Prior to that, he had been a community volunteer at Kreta Ayer–Kim Seng since 2005 and at Moulmein–Cairnhill since 2019, and had worked with Lily Neo, the Member of Parliament (MP) representing Kreta Ayer–Kim Seng between 1997 and 2020.
After the 2020 general election, Tan was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Moulmein–Cairnhill ward of Tanjong Pagar GRC.
On 1 September 2020, Tan was appointed as Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and Minister of State for Trade and Industry (MTI). He is also Deputy Chairman of the National Youth Council.{{Cite web |title=Partnering Singaporeans to Shape a Better Singapore |url=http://www.mccy.gov.sg/about-us/news-and-resources/speeches/2024/Mar/Partnering-Singaporeans-to-Shape-a-Better-Singapore |access-date=9 April 2024 |website=www.mccy.gov.sg |language=en}}
At MTI, he was involved in the recovery of the tourism sector during and after the COVID-19 pandemic,{{Cite web |title=Nearly S$500 million set aside to support Singapore’s tourism recovery {{!}} Video |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/watch/nearly-s500-million-set-aside-support-singapores-tourism-recovery-video-2612491 |access-date=9 April 2024 |website=CNA |language=en}} and worked as Co-Chair of the Future Economy Council's Sub-Committee on Advanced Manufacturing and Trade.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=18 October 2022 |title=S’pore updates industry transformation plans to boost production, add 13,400 jobs by 2025 |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/business/s-pore-updates-industry-transformation-plans-to-boost-production-add-13400-jobs-by-2025 |access-date=9 April 2024 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}} He also led efforts to sign the Pacific-Alliance Singapore Free Trade Agreement and the Mercosur-Singapore Free Trade Agreement.{{Cite web |title=Singapore signs free trade agreement with Pacific Alliance countries |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/singapore-signs-free-trade-agreement-pacific-alliance-latin-america-mexico-chile-colombia-peru-2462401 |access-date=9 April 2024 |website=CNA |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Singapore and MERCOSUR Sign the MERCOSUR-Singapore Free Trade Agreement |url=http://www.mfa.gov.sg/Newsroom/Press-Statements-Transcripts-and-Photos/2023/12/Singapore-and-Mercosur-Sign-the-Mercosur-Singapore-Free-Trade-Agreement |access-date=9 April 2024 |website=www.mfa.gov.sg |language=en}} He also works on strengthening trade and investment links to Sub-Saharan Africa.{{Cite web |last=Etefe |first=Juliet |date=20 July 2023 |title=Over 500 business, gov’t leaders to gather in Singapore for 7th Africa Singapore Business Forum |url=https://thebftonline.com/2023/07/20/over-500-business-govt-leaders-to-gather-in-singapore-for-7th-africa-singapore-business-forum/ |access-date=9 April 2024 |website=The Business & Financial Times |language=en-GB}}
At MCCY, he worked on the Racial & Religious Harmony Circles,{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=17 November 2023 |title=Like That: Alvin Tan is closing the loop on S’pore’s Harmony Circles |url=https://petir.sg/2023/11/17/alvin-tan-is-closing-the-loop-on-spores-harmony-circles/ |access-date=9 April 2024 |website=Petir SG |language=en-US}} and MentoringSG{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=17 November 2023 |title=Mentoring SG to expand opportunities for youth; new accredited course for mentors |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/mentoring-sg-to-expand-opportunities-for-youth-new-accredited-course-for-mentors |access-date=9 April 2024 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}} and set up the SG Mental Well-Being Network.{{Cite web |title=National network for mental health to pilot well-being circles in the community |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/mental-well-being-network-circles-mccy-community-2815086 |access-date=9 April 2024 |website=CNA |language=en}}
On 22 November 2021, Tan was appointed to the board of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS),{{Cite web |title=Appointments to MAS Board of Directors |url=https://www.mas.gov.sg/news/media-releases/2021/appointments-to-mas-board-of-directors-2 |access-date=9 April 2024 |website=www.mas.gov.sg |language=en}} where he has been at the forefront of parliamentary proceedings involving MAS bills and issues. In October 2023, he delivered a ministerial statement on the $2.8 billion money-laundering case in Parliament.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFty6ytDLOo |title=Alvin Tan's full ministerial statement on MAS’ role in fighting money laundering |language=en |access-date=9 April 2024 |via=www.youtube.com}}
In August 2024, Tan, in his position as Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, made a statement on the controversial deal to sell a controlling 51% stake in homegrown insurer Income Insurance to German insurer Allianz, calling it "best alignment of interests".{{cite news |last1=Yee |first1=Julia |title=MAS will make sure terms & conditions of existing policies will not change if NTUC Income-Allianz deal goes through: Chee Hong Tat |url=https://mothership.sg/2024/08/ntuc-income-sale-allianz/ |access-date=27 April 2025 |work=mothership.sg |date=6 August 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Chew |first1=Elffie |title=Singapore ministers address concerns about $2.2 billion Allianz-Income Insurance deal |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/monetary-authority-of-singapore-defends-22-billion-allianz-income-insurance-deal-095016272.html |access-date=27 April 2025 |work=Yahoo News |agency=Bloomberg |date=7 August 2024 |language=en-SG}}
Personal life
References
{{Reflist}}{{s-start}}
{{s-par | sg}}
{{s-bef | before = Melvin Yong}}
{{s-ttl | title = Member of Parliament for
Tanjong Pagar GRC (Moulmein–Cairnhill)
| years = 2020 – present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{14th Parliament of Singapore}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tan, Alvin}}
Category:Anglo-Chinese School alumni
Category:Anglo-Chinese Junior College alumni
Category:University of Sydney alumni
Category:Harvard Kennedy School alumni