Director Clarence Chua leads the Professional Services cluster and Japan and Korea Desk at the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). He graduated from the University of Tokyo with a Bachelor (Gakushi) of Economics and worked in EDB’s international policies and electronics divisions. From 2008 to 2013, Clarence was based in Japan. He was first appointed as First Secretary (Industry) at the Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Japan and then Consul at the Consulate-General of the Republic of Singapore in Osaka. Subsequently, Clarence became the Counsellor (Industry) at the Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Tokyo, leading EDB’s operations in Japan as Regional Director.

Upon his return to Singapore in 2013, Clarence was appointed as Director for EDB’s Corporate Planning division which oversees EDB’s performance as Singapore’s lead economic development agency. With effect from October 2015, he took on the role of leading the Professional Services cluster. He is concurrently Director Japan and Korea desk, overseeing Singapore’s economic relationship with Japan and Korea.