Latest news with #TharmanShanmugaratnam
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
S'pore's 15th Parliament to open on Sept 5; President's Address to set out Govt's priorities
SINGAPORE – The 15th Parliament will sit for its first session at 5pm on Sept 5, and all newly elected MPs will be sworn in then. The sitting will start with the election of the Speaker of Parliament and swearing-in of MPs, said Leader of the House Indranee Rajah in a statement on June 13. Mr Seah Kian Peng, an MP for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, is the current Speaker. At the session, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam will deliver an opening address to outline the Government's priorities, policies and programmes. This will be followed by a debate on his address from Sept 22 to 26. The President's Address is important as it will set out strategies and key policies to steer Singapore through the current challenging geopolitical climate and economic uncertainties, said Ms Indranee in a Facebook post on June 13. This address is delivered by the President on behalf of the Government whenever Parliament reopens. At the opening of the 14th Parliament after the 2020 General Election, then president Halimah Yacob said Singapore stood at a time of great change, and that the country had to rethink its problems and evolve its social models and policies to suit the new circumstances. This included taking a fresh look at crucial pillars of society, such as its concept of meritocracy, multiracialism, and the way it conducted its politics, she said then. In her Facebook post, Ms Indranee noted that while MPs are already on the ground doing constituency work, parliamentary work begins only after its official opening. The 14th Parliament last sat in early April before dissolving on April 15 ahead of the general election on May 3. In total, 99 MPs will be sworn in, up from 95 in the 14th Parliament. Of the 99, 97 were elected at the polls while another two – Mr Andre Low and Ms Eileen Chong from the WP – were elected as Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs). The pair were elected as the best-performing losers at the polls as part of the NCMP scheme that provides for opposition representation in Parliament. Overall, the ruling PAP will have 87 seats, with the rest filled by the WP. There will be a total of 29 first-time MPs sworn in – 24 from the PAP and five from the WP. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
Business Times
19 hours ago
- Business
- Business Times
Turning Singapore into a productivity powerhouse with AI agents
AS GLOBAL trade becomes more fragmented and uncertainties grow in 2025, Singapore is increasingly vulnerable to structural shifts in the global economy. These external pressures, coupled with a tight labour market, present a challenge to Singapore's growth prospects. As the nation celebrates 60 years of remarkable growth and transformation, the focus is on navigating the path ahead. Labour tightness means forgone economic output. A McKinsey manpower market report estimated that gross domestic product in 2023 could have been 0.5 to 1.5 per cent higher in the advanced economies if employers had been able to fill their excess job vacancies. In Singapore, the labour shortage is pronounced, with 164 job vacancies for every 100 jobseekers as at December 2024. The need to drive productivity gains is therefore patently clear. Combining productivity growth with meaningful work However, in addition to productivity, we must also emphasise the long-term creation of good jobs in order to drive growth. In a recent speech, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam urged the audience to think about productivity more broadly, including tapping artificial intelligence (AI), so as to 'maximise our potential to create good jobs for everyone who wishes to be in the workforce'. Those displaced by creative disruption should have opportunities to transition 'not just into flipping burgers, but into new jobs in other sectors', he said. Singaporeans must be engaged in meaningful work that enables them to have fulfilling careers. This includes work they are passionate about and that offers opportunities to stretch themselves and achieve personal growth. For example, an educator's role should be designed to focus on the heart of effective teaching such as developing and adapting lesson plans, 1:1 student interactions and providing individualised support versus administrative tasks such as record-keeping and coordination. Today, desk workers globally report spending a whopping 41 per cent of their time on tasks that are 'low value, repetitive or lack meaningful contribution to their core job functions', according to research by Slack. There is a clear opportunity for AI and automation tools to help refocus energy toward high-value activities. In Singapore, AI adoption could unlock up to S$198.3 billion in economic benefits by 2030. However, it is in solving the twin issues of productivity and meaningful work where digital labour can truly shine. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The digital labour revolution enables AI agents – autonomous software tools that perform specific tasks on behalf of users – to augment the human workforce. It will be key to reshaping the labour landscape in Singapore, driving long-term growth, and creating meaningful work for all Singaporeans. Realising real productivity, beyond co-pilots and virtual assistants AI agents are more than co-pilots. They present a transformative opportunity for Singaporean businesses, offering a digital workforce that can collaborate with humans to streamline operations, boost productivity, reduce costs, drive scalability and foster innovation. Businesses would be able to augment human capabilities with reliable, autonomous AI agents that operate 24/7, significantly enhancing productivity, efficiency, innovation, and competitiveness. In fact, human resource leaders in the Asia-Pacific anticipate a 37 per cent rise in employee productivity and a 25 per cent reduction in labour costs with agentic AI, according to our recent Digital Labour research. With an AI agent as their right-hand man, workers can now look forward to new opportunities for strategic work. In this landscape, re-skilling is key. This includes building not just hard skills in technology and AI, but also doubling down on soft skills such as critical thinking, adaptability and empathy. For businesses operating in a tough macroeconomic environment, AI agents can help drive topline growth and deliver superior customer experience. For example, Singapore Airlines will use AI agents to help streamline its customer service operations and free up human representatives to focus on providing personalised attention to customers. AI agents open up a plethora of opportunities for Singapore small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) as well. A DBS survey found that 60 per cent of SMEs are looking to expand beyond Singapore in 2025. For these resource-light businesses, AI agents can be the catalyst that can help them make the leap to new markets. For instance, a retailer expanding to new markets can leverage agents to efficiently scale customer service and manage the jump in customer inquiries. Agents can take over time-intensive tasks such as responding to customers, modifying orders, issuing returns and managing inventory without human intervention. Bridging the imagination gap and embracing agentic transformation Truly capturing the transformative power of AI agents demands a deliberate leap beyond incremental improvements. Singaporean business leaders must actively cultivate a visionary mindset, moving beyond simply applying AI to existing workflows. The initial focus on automation risks overlooking the profound reshaping of work and business models that agentic AI enables. Recognising AI agents not just as tools but as a disruptive force is crucial. While agents offer unprecedented scalability, they also present a risk: The rapid displacement of traditional business models by agile newcomers. To counter this, Singaporean enterprises must proactively rewire core processes and functions to forge effective human-agent teams. This strategic reimagining of work, centred on upskilling Singapore's workforce, will be key. By placing human needs – both as employees collaborating with AI and as consumers interacting with AI-driven offerings – at the heart of this evolution, we can unlock truly dynamic and sustainable new business models. Time for decisive action Agentic AI offers Singapore businesses the opportunity to finally break free from the manpower limitations that have plagued them for decades. The next 60 years will be about building resilient businesses, unlocking new productivity frontiers and fostering innovation. AI agents offer a unique pathway to achieve this, creating not just efficiency but meaningful work. Now is the time for decisive action. Business leaders must move beyond incremental adoption and embrace a visionary approach to integrating AI agents into their core operations. Policymakers should continue to proactively foster an environment that encourages innovation while prioritising reskilling and workforce transformation. By collaboratively seizing this agentic opportunity, Singapore can forge a future of sustained economic growth, enhanced competitiveness, and a thriving workforce empowered by the limitless potential of digital labour. The writer is senior vice-president and general manager, Salesforce Asean
Independent Singapore
4 days ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Singapore deepens ties with Poland as trade booms under EU pact
SINGAPORE: Singapore and Poland confirmed their established alliance during a majestic State Banquet hosted by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam as a mark of respect for Polish President Andrzej Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda. According to the latest Singapore Business Review report, the event not only commemorated the continuing political bonds between the two countries but also set the stage for a new phase of alliance. President Tharman echoed the significant origins of the consensual relationship, dating back to the late 1960s, and highlighted the input of Polish architect Krystyn Olszewski. As lead planner of Singapore's primary land use strategy in 1971, Olszewski facilitated the shaping of the city-state's contemporary inner-city landscape, including the famous repositioning of Changi Airport. Trade, technology, and sustainability at the forefront Economic partnership was conspicuously highlighted in the deliberations, with trade between the two nations increasing by virtually 50% since the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement took effect in 2019. President Tharman extolled Poland's rise as 'one of Europe's most dynamic logistics hubs' and underscored Singapore's tactical engagement in the region, accentuated by PSA International's key venture in Poland's DCT Gdańsk container terminal. The alliance is also driving new prospects in cutting-edge manufacturing, offshore wind energy, and logistics, as Polish businesses view Singapore as a doorway to the Asia-Pacific market. Simultaneously, food security is receiving a boost, with Singapore authorising imports of Polish beef, poultry, and eggs, thereby expanding local shelves with a range of ordinary and luxurious Polish products. Academic and cultural partnerships for future generations More than economics and modernisation, cultural and educational connections have picked up speed. Leading Singaporean academies, such as Nanyang Technological University, the National University of Singapore, and the Singapore Management University, have signed agreements with six Polish organisations to enhance academic alliances and support student exchange initiatives. These programs aim to foster a shared understanding and promote the development of future generations of leaders, visionaries, and pacesetters from both nations. As Singapore and Poland look to the future, their collective devotion to collaborate on wide-ranging areas, from business to culture, signifies an auspicious route forward, formed through a shared reverence, historic bonds, and a collective dream for global advancement.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto to make first state visit to Singapore on June 16
SINGAPORE – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will make his first state visit to Singapore on June 16. Mr Prabowo, who took office in October 2024, will receive a ceremonial welcome at Parliament House, said Singapore's Foreign Affairs Ministry (MFA) on June 15. He will call on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who will host a state banquet in his honour. Mr Prabowo will also meet Prime Minister Lawrence Wong for the annual Singapore-Indonesia Leaders' Retreat. The two leaders have met several times since they each took over as heads of government. For PM Wong, that was in May 2024. PM Wong visited Jakarta in end-October to attend Mr Prabowo's inauguration and joined other invited leaders to personally offer his congratulations. He also made an introductory visit to Jakarta at the start of November. The pair also met recently on the sidelines of the 46th Asean Summit in May in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. MFA said that as the highest-level platform between the two countries, the annual meeting – in its eighth iteration this year – is 'testament to the excellent bilateral relations and strong interpersonal ties between our leaders'. This will be the first Leaders' Retreat for both men in their current capacities. They had attended the Leaders' Retreat hosted by Indonesia in April 2024, when PM Wong was still deputy prime minister, and Mr Prabowo was president-elect. MFA said PM Wong and Mr Prabowo will review the 'strong and substantive cooperation' between Singapore and Indonesia and chart the way forward. 'Singapore and Indonesia share a longstanding friendship and collaborate closely in key areas such as defence, the green economy, and connectivity,' said the ministry. Recent milestones include three key agreements to strengthen cooperation in clean energy and sustainable development. The memorandums of understanding were inked on June 13 during a visit to Jakarta by Dr Tan See Leng, Singapore's Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science and Technology, and Dr Bahlil Lahadalia, Indonesia's Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources. Three landmark pacts between the two countries also officially came into force on March 21, 2024. The three agreements – which deal with airspace management, defence cooperation and extradition – come under an expanded framework between the two countries. MFA said Mr Prabowo will be accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono and Minister of Defence Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin. He will also be accompanied by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman, Minister of Investment and Downstream Industry Rosan Roeslani, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya. Goh Yan Han is political correspondent at The Straits Times. She writes Unpacked, a weekly newsletter on Singapore politics and policy. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Indonesian President Prabowo to make first state visit to Singapore on June 16
SINGAPORE, June 15 — Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will make his first state visit to Singapore on Monday (June 16), according to Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). Prabowo, who was inaugurated in October last year, will receive a ceremonial welcome at Parliament House and call on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. 'President Tharman will host a state banquet in honour of President Prabowo,' the MFA said in a statement on Sunday. Prabowo will also meet Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong for the Singapore–Indonesia Leaders' Retreat, the first between the two leaders in their current capacities. 'As the highest-level platform between the two countries, the annual Leaders' Retreat is a testament to the excellent bilateral relations and strong interpersonal ties between our leaders,' the MFA said. The ministry stated that during the meeting, the leaders will review the strong and substantive cooperation between Singapore and Indonesia, and chart the way forward. Prabowo will be accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto; Coordinating Minister for People's Empowerment, Muhaimin Iskandar; Foreign Affairs Minister, Sugiono; Home Affairs Minister, Tito Karnavian; and Law Minister, Supratman Andi Agtas. Also joining the delegation are Energy and Mineral Resources Minister, Bahlil Lahadalia; Housing and Settlement Minister, Maruarar Sirait; Agriculture Minister, Andi Amran Sulaiman; Investment and Downstream Industry Minister, Rosan Roeslani; and Cabinet Secretary, Teddy Indra Wijaya. — Bernama
