STATEMENT BY MISS TEO SIM JOO, DELEGATE TO THE 74TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON AGENDA ITEM 16, ON INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES, SECOND COMMITTEE, [18 OCTOBER 2019]

Thank you, Madam Chairman.

1 Singapore aligns itself with the statements made by the State of Palestine on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, and Belize on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States. 

Madam Chairman

2 We are in a new era of digital connectivity. Governments have leveraged the power of technology to improve living standards and increase access to goods and services. Digital technology will dramatically shape the way we work, live and play. It will be a key enabler in our efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Yet, this optimism is tempered with a sense of uncertainty. We anticipate more digital disruptions with the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and big data are but just the first of more to come.

3 Since the launch of the Smart Nation Initiative in 2014, Singapore has made significant strides in its own digitalization journey. We are working to achieve a nexus of digital government, digital economy and digital society. Despite progress, we recognize that unprecedented interconnectivity evokes anxiety and risks. To fully harness the benefits of digitalization and minimise its risks, governments must steer their economies and people in a whole-of-society approach.  Let me share three key areas that Singapore is working on. 

4 First, we are enabling close partnerships with the private sector to drive growth in the digital economy. Public-private partnership models marry sustainable development policies with technical expertise from industry leaders. Singapore recently established the Digital Industry Singapore (DISG) office, which serves as a dedicated first stop for enterprises seeking assistance on digital issues. It spearheads a PPP model to co-create solutions and deliver projects to bring broader benefits to Singapore’s digital ecosystem. For instance, its partnership with the ride-sharing firm Grab led to the establishment of a new headquarters and research centre in Singapore. This initiative will further result in collaborations to empower local digital content creators with access to Grab’s regional reach. The office will also drive training programmes to ready citizens for frontier jobs in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and data science. 

5 Second, governments must enable industry and community stakeholders to engage within an environment of trust. Governments have an imperative to proactively foster confidence and trust in the digital realm.  Such an environment encourages information flow and innovation without compromising personal data protection and cybersecurity. Another concern is approaching key ethical and governance issues surrounding the application of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. For example, Singapore has developed the Model AI Governance Framework, which was launched at the World Economic Forum in January this year. This framework provides private sector entities with balanced parameters on deploying AI solutions responsibly and safely within digital ecosystems. This builds up consumers’ and organisations’ trust in the use of AI. At the international level, Singapore has proposed a Digital Economy Agreement (DEA) with like-minded countries to address current policy gaps or emergent issues pertaining to the digital economy. Such cooperation to promote greater interoperability enables the success of our digital economies.

6 Third, governments must enable citizens to co-create a digital future. At the heart of our Smart Nation narrative is the vision of a people “empowered to live meaningful and fulfilled lives”. Besides investing in digital access and literacy, Singapore also encourages all sectors of society to participate in opportunities to influence how technology affects their lives. For instance, the Smart Nation Co-creating with our People Everywhere (SCOPE) initiative involves citizens in the development process of digital products, allowing them to interact with prototypes and provide feedback regardless of their level of technical expertise. Our citizens are also mobilised as community champions for digital technology. Through various ground-up initiatives, we enable our senior citizens to help their peers embrace digital services and gain confidence in using technology. Such co-creation and inclusive innovation create a sense of ownership and contribute towards greater and sustainable adoption of digital services, effectively bridging the digital divide. 

Madam Chairman,

7 Singapore believes that an inclusive and proactive approach to digitalisation is critical to navigating the uncertainties and complexities of digital technologies. Singapore has sought to embrace all aspects of a digital nation that leverages technology for sustainable development. As we work towards the 2030 Agenda, a whole-of-society framework will be central to our promise to leave no one behind. 

8 Thank you.

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