STATEMENT BY MR GUO WEIMIN, DELEGATE TO THE 72ND SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ON AGENDA ITEM 16, ON INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES FOR DEVELOPMENT, SECOND COMMITTEE, 13 OCTOBER 2017

Thank you, Mr Chairman.

1                Singapore aligns itself with the statements made by Ecuador on behalf of the Group of 77 and China; the Maldives on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS); and Thailand on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).  I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his report under this agenda item.

Mr Chairman,

2                The Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence, among other new and emerging technologies, evoke excitement and awaken entrepreneurship.  However, they also provoke anxiety in workers about job security and losing out.  As digitalisation continues to rapidly transform the very nature of work, it poses both challenges and opportunities for achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 on decent work and economic growth.  

Mr Chairman,

3                Singapore believes that reaping the benefits of digitalisation requires companies and industries as well as workers to adopt new technologies and processes and pick up new skills.  This is why, to realise the full benefits of digitalisation, governments need to take an active role to establish an enabling environment to prepare businesses and workers to be future ready.  Let me elaborate. 

4                First, governments must play an active role in setting frameworks and rules that will allow new ideas and players to emerge, while giving incumbent players a fair chance to adapt and compete.  The sharing economy offers a good example.  Governments can take the radical option and ban sharing cars commercially, but this would deprive our peoples of the benefits of services such as Uber, Lyft and Via.  Instead, governments need to consider coming up with appropriate regulation to ensure that new entrants can compete fairly vis-à-vis their traditional equivalents and maintain high standards of safety and service quality.  Singapore has sought to protect consumers’ interests and safety, while allowing the point-to-point transport industry to grow and innovate.  At the same time, we have also provided assistance to incumbents to adjust to these new and disruptive technologies to level the playing field.  For example, in Singapore, all individuals wishing to provide chauffeured services must apply for and obtain an appropriate licence.  This requires them to take a course, pass the requisite tests, and undergo medical and background screenings.  In addition, all vehicles used for chauffeured services must be registered with our Land Transport Authority.

5                Second, governments must play an active role in training and preparing our workers so that they have the skills and confidence to thrive in a fast-changing world.  The SkillsFuture programme in Singapore supports lifelong learning and skills upgrading for those that have entered the workforce.  It is a government programme that enjoys the full support of employers and unions, which is critical because the government cannot do this alone.  SkillsFuture complements other government efforts to help workers who are at risk of being displaced to adapt to the changing job market.  For example, Singapore has schemes to train displaced workers, match them to new jobs and subsidise their wages through the transition.  These have, for example, helped workers in Singapore who have been displaced from electronics plants to move to the medical devices industry.  But most importantly, Singapore invests heavily in education, particularly in the early years of childhood, to prepare our children with the necessary knowledge and skills to thrive in a rapidly changing workplace.

6               Third, governments must play an active role in supporting industries and businesses to transform.  Digitalisation can enable businesses big and small to reach into vast pools of new customers.  The right environment, institutions and programmes can help companies to enter new markets and develop and adopt new technologies.  In Singapore, the government introduced a new SMEs Go Digital Programme this year which aims to provide more focused and structured support for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to build digital capabilities and adapt to disruptive change.  In addition to productivity tools such as digital ordering and payment as well as fleet management, new digital capabilities such as cybersecurity, data protection and data analytics are also included under this programme.

Mr Chairman,

7                Singapore strives to become a Smart Nation to support better living, stronger communities and create more opportunities for all.  However, we do not measure “smartness” by how advanced or complex the technology being adopted is, but how well our society uses technology to solve its problems and address existential challenges for the benefit of the people.  Our people are ultimately at the heart of harnessing digitalisation for decent work and economic growth for all; and indeed, for sustainable development.  In our drive to create a Smart Nation, Singapore takes an active role to ensure that digitalisation does not alienate but helps to improve the quality of life of our people, increase the efficacy of enterprise and create and distribute opportunities in society so that no one is left behind.

8                I thank you.

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