Helping Singaporeans develop new skills in an innovation-driven economy is what the SkillsFuture movement aims to do.

The biggest challenge in this journey is reaching out to businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises.

Senior Minister of State Lee Yi Shyan has been appointed to spearhead this outreach to businesses, said Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam yesterday.

Mr Lee will work closely with firms and industry associations and ensure tie-ups with quality training and education providers, Mr Tharman said at the EDB (Economic Development Board) Society's 25th anniversary gala dinner last night.

"SMS Lee Yi Shyan is someone with a real passion for this outreach, given his background of active engagement with over a thousand companies over the years," he said.

Mr Lee has engaged with businesses through his 11 years working with multinationals at the EDB and six years at Spring Singapore and IE Singapore, and as a political office-holder.

Marissa Lee