Minister for Communications and Information, Josephine Teo, spoke on Singapore’s investments in digital infrastructure and shared ideas for dealing with AI and the need to strengthen foreign partnerships.
According to her, Southeast Asia’s digital economy is projected to grow five times bigger by 2030, when it will be worth S$1 trillion. This growth will be driven by more people using the internet and a growing middle class.
“Singapore has started the Digital Connectivity Blueprint to prepare for future growth. This plan includes increasing the speed of the broadband network to 10 gigabits per second and doubling the number of underwater cable landings,” Minister Josephine revealed.
She believes that the better digital infrastructure will make it easier to connect, make it possible to use new technologies like AI and quantum computing, and connect Singapore to the rest of the world. Sustainability is also a worry, and work is being done to make data centres greener and use less energy.
The way to handle AI governance is to consider both the possible rewards and risks of AI technology. Singapore knows that AI can have a big impact on productivity and innovation, but it also knows that it needs to deal with problems like misuse, overuse, and possible job loss. The country has already put in place protections for the digital age, such as laws to protect personal information and rules to stop online lies and harmful material.
Minister Josephine added that to make progress in AI governance, the private industry and the research ecosystem need to work together. Singapore appreciates the skills and work of these groups in making AI better for the public good.
Singapore knows how important it is to work with other countries to get the most out of the digital age. The nation wants to help build a global digital economy that helps all countries grow and get rich. Singapore is actively working with partners from all over the world, no matter how big or small they are, to support a digital economy that is more connected, trusted, and open to everyone.
Singapore and China both know that digital developments can improve connections and help their businesses and people. Their strong resolve to work together has made it possible for them to work together in areas that look to the future. Singapore has worked on important government projects in China, and the two countries relationship is still changing as new chances come up.
The Minister furthered that both countries want to use digital transformation to get better chances, and they can learn from each other’s experiences. Digital cooperation is made easier by bilateral sites and projects in areas like ICT, smart cities, digital trade, and innovation. Singapore and China both want to work together more on digital connections, utilities, and new ideas.
She emphasised that Singapore is committed to building strong partnerships with other countries so that its people and businesses can profit. Things like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement, it has made it easier for people to work together on digital issues. In areas like cross-border data flows, digital trade facilitation, and AI control, people want to work together more.
According to Minister Josephine, the digital age has a lot of opportunities, but it also needs a way of running things that is comprehensive and works with other people. Singapore is committed to using technology in a responsible way, promoting growth for everyone, and making it easier for people around the world to work together. She ended by saying, “Together, we can use the power of the digital age to change things for the better for everyone.”
