The mission of MFA is to safeguard and promote the interests of Singapore and Singaporeans through effective diplomacy. A total budget of $343 million has been allocated to MFA in FY2006 to achieve this mission.

MFA maintains diplomatic representation in 165 countries. It maintains 24 Embassies/High Commissions, 14 Consulates-General/Consulates in 10 countries, as well as Permanent Representative Offices to the United Nations in New York and Geneva. In addition, MFA expands its diplomatic outreach through the appointment of 23 non-resident Ambassadors/High Commissioners and 24 Honorary Consuls-Generals.

As a responsible member of the international community, Singapore provides technical assistance through the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP). The SCP is the Ministry's flagship foreign technical assistance programme that trains more than 5,000 participants annually from over 132 developing countries in Singapore.