Coronavirus pandemic

Singaporeans will be able to improve their lives at every career stage

Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing cited the example of Carousell founders (below, from left) Quek Siu Rui, Lucas Ngoo and Marcus Tan, who all spent a year in Silicon Valley as part of the National University of Singapore Overseas Colleges pr
Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing cited the example of Carousell founders (below, from left) Quek Siu Rui, Lucas Ngoo and Marcus Tan, who all spent a year in Silicon Valley as part of the National University of Singapore Overseas Colleges programme. The online marketplace today has grown beyond Singapore to eight markets across South-east Asia. ST FILE PHOTO

Singaporeans will have opportunities to improve their lives at every stage of their careers, no matter how old they are, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said yesterday, pledging that the Government would always help Singaporean workers.

"We will never be done upskilling our people. This is especially so for workers who have left school many years ago and did not benefit from the more recent improvements in our education and training system," he said.

"So long as you are able and willing, we will support you. Every Singaporean, regardless of background, can have the chance to take on the new jobs being created."

In the fourth of six national broadcasts on Singapore's post-coronavirus future, Mr Chan added: "In the 1980s, we uplifted a generation through computerisation and automation. In the 2020s, we will transform another generation through digitalisation and data."

Noting that the Covid-19 pandemic has pushed many to embrace digitalisation, he said the Government will ensure that Singaporeans of all ages can go digital and thrive.

This effort includes having a thousand-strong digital ambassador corps to help companies apply digitalisation and help senior citizens use technology.

He also cited examples of businesses and government agencies already going digital. He said the Singapore Tourism Board is helping hospitality companies and event organisers overcome the collapse in travel demand by using digital tools. He pointed to event organiser Web In Travel, which is holding a virtual travel summit later this month.

Mr Chan also said businesses need to build partnerships in the real world to access new markets. He noted that property giant CapitaLand takes along Singapore companies in its overseas development projects, helping them to penetrate new markets, he said.

"The retail and hospitality sector may be going through a challenging time, but CapitaLand will press on and do more to support our local SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises)."

Remote video URL

To nurture a new generation of regional and global businesses, the Government will facilitate more industry partnerships and better organise overseas Singapore business chapters and missions to guide newcomers venturing overseas.

But Mr Chan also stressed that local business leaders need to have a global outlook.

"Our business leaders and workers will be key to these efforts. We must have the aptitude and attitude to serve global markets," he said. "We cannot be content with doing well just within Singapore."

To that end, he said that more will be done to help businesses access new markets.

The Scale-Up SG programme was introduced to groom promising local companies into global champions, said Mr Chan. "So long as our companies have the ambition, we will find the resources to support them."

Overseas exposure will be intensified through initiatives like the Global Ready Talent programme, so that Singaporeans can gain fresh perspectives and networks.

The programme, launched last year, provides support for young people keen to work abroad and for companies to train their staff through stints overseas.

He cited the example of Carousell founders Quek Siu Rui, Marcus Tan and Lucas Ngoo, who all spent a year in Silicon Valley as part of the National University of Singapore Overseas Colleges programme. The online marketplace today has grown beyond Singapore to eight markets across South-east Asia.

Mr Chan also noted that earlier this year, the Ministry of Education announced a "70-70 target" for more local students from institutes of higher learning (IHLs) to have some form of overseas exposure.

The aim is for 70 per cent of graduates from universities, polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education to get some international experience, whether through an internship, exchange programme, or service learning or study trip.

This is up from half of all IHL students currently. Another 70 per cent of this proportion of IHL students will have exposure to Asean, China or India.

"We will press on with this once the Covid-19 situation allows," said Mr Chan.

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 15, 2020, with the headline Singaporeans will be able to improve their lives at every career stage. Subscribe