SEATTLE, Washington — The Singapore Together Alliances for Action is an initiative recently launched by the Singaporean Government in an attempt to restart its economy after COVID-19 resulted in the shutdown of much of the global economy. The government’s Emerging Stronger Taskforce formed seven alliances between the government and industry players in what it calls “key growth areas” as a means to create new jobs for Singaporeans. Each alliance will be able to prototype new ideas and execute new projects with the goal of advancing Singapore’s economy through innovation and new jobs.
The 7 Alliances for Action
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Robotics. Singapore’s government stated that it wants to increase productivity and drive economic growth through robotics solutions. Robots will transform some jobs while creating new ones and create spin-offs for small and medium-sized enterprises. Using robots will decrease the amount of social contact in the workplace while maintaining high health standards by performing tasks like cleaning and managing public transport.
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E-commerce. Singapore’s government stated that it wants to create a “smart commerce” system that blends both e-commerce and physical retail. E-commerce is becoming more popular in Singapore as the COVID-19 pandemic has closed many physical retailers. E-commerce also allows for local businesses to access the global consumer market and sell to consumers worldwide, which would greatly increase profits and boost Singapore’s economy. The government noted that keeping physical retailers remains important as many are in convenient locations, such as beside train stations and other public places. A blend of both e-commerce and physical retail would allow Singaporeans to access the global market while continuing to buy goods from their local stores.
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Environmental Sustainability. The Emerging Stronger Taskforce stated that one of Singapore’s goals post-COVID-19 is to focus on improving its environmental, social and governance standards. The Singaporean government pledged to lower the country’s carbon emissions, run a “Zero Waste” model that focuses on reusing and recycling and protect its coastal environment. Jobs in sustainability services, climate sciences and coastal protection could all be created as part of the initiative.
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Digitalization of Supply Chain. The adoption of global digital supply chains has been slow in Singapore because of lack of data sharing and the use of too many different platforms. As the COVID-19 pandemic reshapes the way commerce is conducted, suppliers will likely focus on regionalized supply chains. A move to a digital supply chain would not only reduce physical contact but will also benefit local suppliers, cargo owners, regulators and the logistics sector.
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Digitalization of the Built Environment. Singapore’s government has noted an increase in collaboration across all sectors of the built environment value chain. Digitalization would greatly improve the productivity of developing the built environment in concept and design, construction and facility management. Digitalization is also crucial in expediting the transformation of certain industries in Singapore. As Singapore moves to a greener economy, sectors such as oil or automakers will have to adapt to new laws and digital technologies could help facilitate this transition.
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Education Technology. Remote learning has become the norm for millions of students worldwide as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Professional education and training in universities and corporations have also moved online. As the use of EduTech continues to rise worldwide, Singapore aims to spread its brand of education and human capital globally. The government cited the pandemic as being an “opportunity” for Singapore to share and spread its technology to the rest of the world.
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Safe Tourism and Travel. The COVID-19 pandemic has halted global tourism and changed the protocol people must undergo when traveling. Singapore’s government noted that it is necessary for Singapore to adopt safe and innovative tourism practices to maintain Singapore’s status as a hub for enterprise and business in Asia.
Possibilities: Singapore Together Alliances for Action
One of Singapore Together Alliances for Action’s main objectives is to allow Singaporean citizens to work together with the government to advance and better society. The seven Alliances for Action allow industry professionals to implement their ideas and innovations with the support of the government. Allowing for innovation could not only allow Singapore to adapt to a changing global society and environment, but also boost its economy given the COVID-19 pandemic’s negative effects on the global economy.
The world will wait to see the success of the Singapore Together Alliances for Action movement. If it is successful, governments around the world may look to follow in Singapore’s footsteps and work with citizens to modernize and improve their societies.
– Harry Yeung
Photo: Flickr