A NATIONAL Integration Council (NIC) has been set up to promote and foster social integration among Singaporeans, and with new citizens and Permanent Residents.

The council, chaired by Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan, comprises leaders from the community, private sector and government, who will serve for a two-year term until April 2011.

The NIC will encourage collaborative social integration efforts among the people, the public and the private sectors, and drive new integration initiatives in schools, workplaces, the community, and through the media.

Plans for the formation of the NIC were first made public during the Committee for Supply debate in February.

Dr Balakrishnan, who announced the council at a community walkabout on Sunday, said: 'The NIC will promote mutual trust and understanding, and foster a common sense of belonging to Singapore.

'It will facilitate the development of physical spaces and social platforms to encourage meaningful interaction between different segments of our society. The NIC will also monitor the progress of social integration, share best practices, and help resolve problems that may arise from time to time'.

Dr Balakrishnan said that social integration is a two-way process, adding: "Both new citizens and local born citizens should make the effort to reach out to one another, and collectively build a common future for our children.

'One of the most effective ways to achieve this is to participate in grassroots activities in the local neighbourhood. This will enable neighbours to get to know one another, and work together to improve the neighbourhood. The Integration and Naturalisation Champions appointed by the People's Association play a key role in this.'

The diversity of the Council membership will help engender new ideas and broader perspectives on the issue of social integration.