STATEMENT BY H.E. BURHAN GAFOOR, AMBASSADOR AND PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT OF THE 2017 SESSION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL, NEW YORK, 19 JULY 2017
19 July 2017
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Mr President,
Singapore is pleased to align itself with the statements made by Ecuador, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China; and the Maldives, on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
2 It has been two years since the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda). Global problems require global solutions and we cannot afford to retreat from a rules-based multilateral system. Many small countries, including small islands like Singapore, face vulnerabilities that need to be urgently addressed. We must all do our part to implement the 2030 Agenda, as well as the related outcomes and agreements that are vital to its success, including the Paris Agreement on climate change.
3 Reviewing our progress is key. Each country must implement the 2030 Agenda and track our progress based on our respective national circumstances. At the global level, the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) provides a good platform for us to take stock of our progress, share successes, challenges and lessons learned, and find better ways to achieve sustainable development. Singapore therefore commends the 44 countries presenting their Voluntary National Reviews this year, including our fellow ASEAN Member States, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand; and our fellow Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Belize and the Maldives. We have much to learn from them, and from the 22 countries that presented last year, as we prepare for Singapore’s Voluntary National Review next year.
Mr President,
4 Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires us to mainstream the SDGs into government policies and imbue a sense of national ownership of the 2030 Agenda. Implementing the 2030 Agenda requires us to mobilise all sectors of society in this endeavour.
5 But governments must take the lead. To drive the implementation of the SDGs nationally, Singapore has convened an Inter-Ministry Committee on the SDGs, co-chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, to review progress and take stock of Singapore’s implementation of the SDGs. As the SDGs are integrated and indivisible, the Inter-Ministry Committee plays a critical role in coordinating and integrating policy formulation and implementation.
6 One of our key priorities is research and innovation. Singapore’s research, innovation and enterprise policies are aimed at developing a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy and society to secure our future. The emphasis we place on research not only contributes to progress on SDG 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure, but also reaps benefits across other SDGs. In Singapore’s experience, science, technology and innovation can help to address national challenges across the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.
7 Singapore is a small city-state with no hinterland that imports over 90 per cent of our food supply. The government therefore works proactively to increase our resilience to food shortages and supply disruptions. Agrotechnology, urban farming solutions and progressive farming technologies have allowed us to optimise local production as a buffer against any supply disruptions. Beyond production, we are actively looking at the use of technology and research and development throughout the agricultural value chain, such as novel food packaging systems to reduce food loss and waste. New technologies have reduced our vulnerabilities and we now rank third in the 2016 Global Food Security Index. In this way, we are turning our structural constraints into opportunities as we strive towards SDG 2 on zero hunger.
8 The efficient and effective deployment of technology is also central to our efforts to achieve SDG 3 on good health and wellbeing for all at all ages. For example, Singapore has been piloting the Smart Elderly Monitoring and Alert System, which relies on a combination of sensors in homes to enhance care and help the elderly enjoy greater independence. We are pleased that Singapore was ranked first, along with Iceland and Sweden, in a report published in the Lancet in 2016 which measured countries’ rate of progress in achieving SDG 3.
9 Singapore firmly believes that continued investments in research, innovation and enterprise will support our “Future Economy” and “Smart Nation” efforts to ensure that our citizens continue to have ample opportunities to pursue their aspirations and contribute to Singapore’s future. This is why the Singapore Government launched the Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2020 Plan in January 2016, which will focus on four key technology domains: (i) Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering; (ii) Health and Biomedical Sciences; (iii) Urban Solutions and Sustainability; and (iv) Services and Digital Economy.
Mr President,
10 The most cutting-edge technology is useless without an educated and resilient population. With people as our only natural resource, building a truly inclusive society that recognises the dignity of each individual and investing in them has been and will continue to be a priority for Singapore.
11 Singapore recognises that poverty can manifest itself in many ways. To ensure that no Singaporean is left behind, we extend multiple lines of assistance to different groups in our society that are tailored to their specific needs. For example, a variety of government financial assistance and bursary schemes for students from lower- and middle-income families ensures that all Singaporeans, regardless of their financial background, can benefit from a good education. The MediShield Life scheme, introduced in 2015, is a national healthcare insurance scheme which provides universal health coverage for life, regardless of age or pre-existing conditions. This ensures that all Singaporeans have access to subsidised, high-quality healthcare services at our public healthcare institutions.
12 While Singapore was ranked 11th in the UN Gender Inequality Index in 2016, we are doing more to help every Singaporean woman fulfil her full potential and aspirations. In April this year, a motion on the Aspirations of Singapore Women was tabled in our Parliament to debate how best to support Singapore women as they fulfil their family and career aspirations.
Mr President,
13 Even as we intensify our efforts at the national level, Singapore believes that partnerships are important to build the future we want. In the past two years, we have made great strides in implementing the Singapore Development Programme, under which Singapore is committed to supporting our fellow developing countries in implementing the 2030 Agenda.
14 First, just this month, Singapore launched a dedicated training programme on Sustainable Oceans and Marine Resources. This was one of our 17 voluntary commitments at the Ocean Conference addressing SDG 14 last month. Second, together with UN-Habitat, we organised the inaugural “International Leaders in Urban Governance Programme” (ILUGP), which was designed for city leaders and senior officials from African cities, in June this year. Third, in partnership with the UNDP Global Centre for Public Service Excellence (GCPSE) located in Singapore, we launched the “Transformational Leadership for the 2030 Agenda” programme, which focuses on public service excellence for achieving the 2030 Agenda, last year.
Mr President,
15 As we approach the end of Year 2 of implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the enormity of the task ahead of us could not be clearer. I assure you that Singapore will do our part to implement the 2030 Agenda and to support fellow developing countries to do so as well.
16 I thank you.
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