SINGAPORE - Experts in cyber security and senior law enforcement gathered in Singapore for the first time on Wednesday to share ideas on how to combat cybercrime.

The three-day Interpol-Europol Cybercrime Conference aims to enhance cooperation between law enforcement, the private sector, and international organisations by discussing and planning ahead for current and future threats.

The conference, at Police Cantonment Complex, began a day after Singapore handed over a building on Napier Road to Interpol which will become the Interpol Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI).

Mr Troels Oerting, head of Europol's European Cybercrime Centre, said that all countries at at risk of cyberattacks, thanks to the wide reach of the Internet.

"Nobody needs to travel or visit the country where they want to steal ideas, information or money," said Mr Oerting. "Any country - Singapore, South Africa, Denmark- can be a victim without ever seeing a criminal."

Singapore's high Internet penetration rate makes it particularly vulnerable, especially if safeguards are not put in place.

IGCI executive director Noboru Nakatani said cybercrime is a global issue that poses huge challenges to conventional methods of law enforcement.

"Singapore has really advanced IT infrastructure," said Mr Nakatani. "Without appropriate information security measures, that advanced structure may be abused by criminals."

Security experts speaking at the conference include security software provider Trend Micro's chief technology officer Raimund Genes and anti-virus software company Kaspersky Lab's chief executive officer Eugene Kaspersky.