East Coast Plan unveiled

[jw5]

HSK congratulates the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS).

Heng Swee Keat is with Office of the Mufti Singapore and
2 others
.​

1 d ·
Active and inclusive multiculturalism is core to Singapore’s national identity. Preserving social harmony among our different racial and religious groups has been fundamental to our stability, enabling us to pursue economic development and uplift our people. Over the years, this cohesion has been fostered through policy, institutions as well as deepening understanding and engagement between the different communities.
At the second Conference on Fatwa in Contemporary Societies yesterday, I highlighted the important role that religious leaders play in guiding their communities to balance their responsibilities as followers of a faith, and citizens of a country.
In Singapore, our religious leaders have walked the talk in demonstrating how different communities can build trust and respect one another as fellow Singaporeans. For example, through their teachings and progressive fatwa thinking, our Muslim religious leaders have guided their community to respond to complex issues like COVID-19 and the Israel-Hamas war with confidence and sensitivity in sync with Singapore’s unique multicultural ethos.
Congratulations to the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) for bringing together senior and eminent religious scholars and interfaith leaders from a wide range of countries and organisations for this timely and important Conference. I wish all participants a productive conference and fruitful sharing of experiences and lessons with one another!

 

[k1976]

HSK was saddened by the passing of UOB’s Chairman Emeritus Mr Wee Cho Yaw.

Heng Swee Keat​

21 h ·
Saddened by the passing of UOB’s Chairman Emeritus Mr Wee Cho Yaw. Mr Wee was one of Singapore’s most successful businessmen, having grown the local bank into a regional finance powerhouse with footprint in 19 countries and territories today.
Mr Wee was passionate about uplifting other businesses, particularly the local SMEs, and served as President of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI). As the founding president of the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clans Associations, he rallied the Chinese community to support and uplift one another, including through the CDAC, which was established during his tenure. Mr Wee led by example as a committed philanthropist who contributed to numerous charitable causes.
In my interactions with Mr Wee over the years, I have always admired and learnt from his drive and business acumen, as well as his commitment to serving the community. I offer my deepest condolences to Mr Wee’s family and his loved ones.
(With Mr Wee at the SG50 Outstanding Chinese Business Pioneers Awards Ceremony and Dinner in 2015. / MCI Photo)

The Hand Shake is jin special

 

[jw5]

HSK was happy to see strong public awareness on the environment, sustainability and Singapore’s green ambitions during a dialogue with “boy from Bedok” Dr Winston Chow of Singapore Management University and Esther An of City Developments Limited.

Heng Swee Keat is with Just Keep Thinking and CDL Sustainability.​

3 h ·
Tackling climate change requires everyone to play our part – by reducing our waste and recycling more, taking better care of the environment around us, and making more sustainable lifestyle choices.
Happy to see strong public awareness on the environment, sustainability and Singapore’s green ambitions during a dialogue with “boy from Bedok” Dr Winston Chow of Singapore Management University and Esther An of City Developments Limited this past weekend.
Together with more than 300 students, community and corporate partners and East Coast residents, we had a wide-ranging discussion on individual and collective efforts towards becoming a “City in Nature”, opportunities for youth in the green economy, and the upcoming Long Island project to better protect our coastline from rising sea levels. I also encouraged everyone to find ways to translate their green ideas into action, in their families and organisations as well as in the community.
I hope everyone found the discussion meaningful and stimulating. Let’s keep up the momentum towards a greener future for Singapore!

 

[jw5]

HSK congratulates 678 students.

Heng Swee Keat​

4 h ·
Congratulations to the 678 students who received their Edusave Awards at last weekend’s Bedok Education Awards ceremony! From academic achievements to exemplary character and leadership, our students have many strengths and gifts indeed.
Glad to see many parents, siblings and grandparents who were there to support our students. We held the ceremony at the SUTD Singapore University of Technology & Design campus for the first time. Science Centre Singapore and GreenSpace+ had hands-on science workshops, while the SUTD student clubs showcased innovative projects, from electric vehicles to Braille printing to Tesla coils that can produce music! Our students and their families had fun trying out these activities, and I hope that these spark greater curiosity and interest in STEM! Many thanks to the SUTD, Singapore Science Centre and Greenspace+ teams, and our volunteers for putting together a memorable experience for our students and their families!
#VibrantEastCoast
#CaringEastCoast

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

Firms must build resilient supply chains and tap opportunities from China’s restructuring: DPM Heng​

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat (right) speaking to moderator Mr Heng Koon How during a fireside chat on future growth engines for Asean. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

Prisca Ang
Correspondent
UPDATED

1 FEB 2024, 11:13 PM SGT

FacebookTelegram

SINGAPORE – Singapore firms need to build stronger supply chains as trade becomes more diversified and opportunities arise from economic shifts in China, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on Feb 1.
DPM Heng noted that the pandemic has made companies more aware of potential disruptions and driven them to make contingency plans, a process that is occurring amid tensions between China and the United States.
“Instead of relying purely on one location, which is big enough that you can manufacture the entire supply chain, people are now concerned about over-dependence, and about action that will be taken on the trade front that is not strictly trade-related,” said DPM Heng, who was speaking at the UOB Global Markets Economic Forum.

He cited a local company that started out by building its manufacturing operations in Malaysia due to lower land and labour costs there.
During the pandemic, the firm was unable to meet a surge in online orders as its goods could not be delivered here due to Malaysia’s movement control order.
It then set up a small factory in Singapore that was almost fully automated. It also carried out research, development and design.

This helped it to ensure it could continue to serve customers here in case of future disruptions, which then gave it confidence to grow its investments in Malaysia.

DPM Heng, who is also Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, said: “Whatever we trade, we have to think about how we can identify potential shocks and meet demand (if these shocks happen).”
He added that firms now face a more challenging operating environment, but there will also be opportunities, especially as China’s economy goes through a big transition.
The US-China tech and trade wars, along with other conflicts, have disrupted supply chains and led to higher costs in areas such as freight rates. Meanwhile, China’s economy is going through a number of important corrections as it tackles its over-leveraged property sector and challenges such as local government debt and youth unemployment.

“They will need a new sort of growth path,” said DPM Heng, noting that electronics trade between the US and China fell in the first nine months of 2023.
“The beneficiary has been Asean, and a few Asean countries – Vietnam, Thailand, especially in the electronics exports, and Indonesia – have actually (increased their trade with) China. So I would say that it is a very fast-moving situation.”
UOB economists have forecast that Asean’s gross domestic product will grow by 4.9 per cent in 2024, up from the 4 per cent expected for the whole of 2023.
UOB chief executive Wee Ee Cheong told the forum that the bank continues to be optimistic about opportunities in the region, in areas such as sustainability.
“Geopolitical tensions will continue to drive a supply chain shift towards Asean. The China-plus-one strategy and growing competitive advantages continue to bring in strong foreign direct investment inflow,” added Mr Wee, who noted that the rising affluence of the region’s youth will also help to drive consumption.
The China-plus-one strategy involves diversifying supply chains from Asia’s biggest economy.

Mr Heng (right) noted that the pandemic has made companies more aware of potential disruptions and driven them to make contingency plans, a process that is occurring amid tensions between China and the United States. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

DPM Heng noted that businesses can also benefit by adjusting to trends in China’s economy.
The country’s authorities have clearly articulated their priorities to promote innovation and encourage the growth of new industries, for example.
“With a trade war, and China being the second-largest economy in the world, China cannot grow by exporting to the rest of the world and the rest of the world having a big trade deficit with China... It’s not sustainable,” said DPM Heng.
This brings new opportunities for businesses which understand and can align themselves with the country’s priorities, he added.
Recalling a conversation he once had with a businessman, DPM Heng said: “There’s no sunset industry, there’s only sunset thinking. In every sector, we need to keep transforming our business. We cannot do the same old and expect to still grow well.”

 

[jw5]

HSK wishes everyone a happy and prosperous new year!

Heng Swee Keat​

1 d ·
Last day of the Rabbit year, are you ready for the year of the Dragon?
Dropped by Blk 58 Market yesterday evening to greet our stallholders and residents. Met many families having their early reunion dinners! Others were making last minute purchases for their celebrations, and I picked up some yummy goodies for my family too!

Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous new year!
今天是除夕夜。祝大家合家团圆， 快乐安康!

 

[True Believer]

The real East Coast Plan

 

[jw5]

HSK wishes everyone a healthy, prosperous and successful Year of the Dragon!

Heng Swee Keat​

2 d ·
祝大家新年快乐，万事如意。在龙年里，龙马精神，心想事成！

Wishing everyone a healthy, prosperous and successful Year of the Dragon!

 

[jw5]

HSK wishes everyone Happy Valentine’s Day!

Heng Swee Keat​

1 d ·
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Did you know that egg rolls are also known as “love letters” because love birds of the past used to send secret love notes in them? Our romantic gestures are different today, but may we always remember to let our partners and loved ones know how much we cherish and appreciate them!
(Photo by me. My wife and I enjoying our CNY love letters together

)

 

[jw5]

HSK asks what you would do.

Heng Swee Keat​

2 d ·
“What would you do during an emergency?”
To increase our readiness for crises and disruptions, more than 500 educational, community, commercial and government buildings will be participating in the inaugural Exercise SG Ready from now till 29 February.
Our Bedok Green Primary School students took part in the exercise through student-led skits on how we can respond to disruptions to our power, water or food supplies, across the 6 pillars of Total Defence.
As we commemorate 40 years of Total Defence, I hope Singaporeans can better appreciate the need to be prepared for emergencies through this exercise. Let us never take the peace and security that we enjoy in Singapore for granted!
We Are Total Defence

 

[jw5]

HSK took an up-close look.

Heng Swee Keat is with ST Engineering.​

2 d ·
Took an up-close look at a prototype of TeLEOS-2 — a satellite jointly developed by ST Engineering and DSTA Defence Science and Technology Agency that captures high-resolution day and night images under all-weather conditions.
TeLEOS-2 is one of many innovative products showcased at the ongoing Global Space and Technology Convention (GSTC) 2024. Space is an exciting and promising frontier for human progress. Singapore, like many other countries, is investing in this domain to improve the lives of our people – by using space-based technologies to build a more sustainable, safe, and secure future.
To harness space responsibly and purposefully, I encouraged GSTC delegates to pursue impactful research niches, build diverse talent, nurture the next generation of space enthusiasts, and develop stronger international collaborations to address shared global challenges like climate change and food security.
I was encouraged by the innovative solutions and synergies on display at GSTC. Happy to also see many collaborators and companies from overseas, including the UK and France, at the Convention. Let us continue to work together, across borders and sectors, to leverage space and build a better world!
Singapore Space & Technology Ltd

 

[jw5]

HSK wants to build our shared future together.

Heng Swee Keat​

4 d ·
Today is Ren Ri (人日) – the seventh day of the CNY, when human beings were believed to have been created. We celebrate in Singapore by gathering with our friends and loved ones to toss yusheng.
This is the spirit of #SGBudget2024 that DPM Lawrence Wong presented in Parliament today. Like the many ingredients in the yusheng, the Budget contains a range of initiatives and programmes to enable our workers, households and businesses to thrive. Besides addressing immediate concerns, it sets out concrete plans to build a brighter future for Singapore and Singaporeans, by pursuing better growth and jobs; empowering our workers; creating more paths towards mobility; and providing assurance for families and seniors.
But initiatives and programmes only come alive when we come together to take action and seize opportunities, just as we come together to toss yusheng and share in the prosperity. I hope that this year’s Budget will galvanise all Singaporeans to support and contribute to #ForwardSG and build our shared future together!
(Ministry of Finance (Singapore) infographics)

 

[jw5]

HSK was happy to meet the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Core Group.

Heng Swee Keat​

3 d ·
Happy to meet the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Core Group again yesterday. They are senior business leaders engaged in diverse sectors including financial services, renewable energy, healthcare, engineering and electronics.
Over the last 30 years, the CII has championed closer Singapore-India economic ties and promoted greater engagement between our business communities. We had a good discussion on how Indian businesses see the current global economic landscape and their outlook on long-term trends like technology and demographics.
With the growing green and digital economies in South Asia and Southeast Asia, we also exchanged views on how Singapore and India can partner to explore new and emerging growth opportunities in our respective regions. I encouraged the CII to keep up its good work so that businesses in our two countries can continue contributing to, and benefiting from, Asia’s strong growth potential in the years ahead.
(MCI Photo by Kenneth Tan)

 

[jw5]

HSK congratulates NParks.

Heng Swee Keat is with Cheryl Chan 陈慧玲 and
2 others
.​

2 d ·
Good news for outdoor and nature enthusiasts in Singapore - the Eastern Corridor is now complete! You can now walk, jog or cycle along a continuous greenway from Pasir Ris Park all the way to East Coast Park, through Tampines Eco Green and Bedok Reservoir Park!

Park connectors like the Eastern Corridor help us access the green spaces around us more easily, through which we can develop a deeper appreciation for nature and the environment. They also create a more caring, vibrant and healthy community by bringing families, friends and neighbours together for bonding and recreation.
Congratulations to NParks on completing the Eastern Corridor and bringing the community closer to greenery in our “City in Nature”. I encourage everyone to make the best use of this new corridor to discover more vibrant green spaces in our island as well as to keep fit and stay active – you can clock around 23,000 steps covering the 18km route!
#GreenEastCoast

 

[jw5]

HSK thanks Bedok Community Sports Network and volunteers.

Heng Swee Keat​

1 d ·
Over 1,000 Bedok residents started their Sunday morning with a Chinese New Year Prosperity Mass Walk — a great way to work off those extra CNY calories!
The Community Sports Network organises many activities such as this walk, to keep our seniors active and socially connected, and to build strong community bonds.
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore student volunteers were also on the ground to raise awareness on preventive heart health and the importance of keeping up with regular health checks — all in support of our Healthier SG initiative!
Thanks to our Bedok Community Sports Network and volunteers for organising this healthy and informative session!
#HealthierSG
#VibrantEastCoast
#CaringEastCoast

 

[jw5]

HSK wants to reduce land transport emissions for a greener and more sustainable Singapore.

Heng Swee Keat​

11 h ·
We are powering up the East Coast neighbourhood with new Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points in our HDB car parks.

Residents with EVs can now enjoy the convenience of charging their vehicles closer to home. You can find your nearest EV charging point in the maps below. (the numbers refer to the parking lots).
We will progressively install more EV charging points across East Coast, as part of the national effort to make every HDB town EV-ready by next year. The switch to EVs, alongside walking, cycling and taking public transport, will help us to reduce land transport emissions for a greener and more sustainable Singapore.
East Coast Town Council
East Coast Buzz
We Love Bedok
#GreenEastCoast

 

[jw5]

HSK was delighted to open the 9th edition of Singapore Airshow.

Heng Swee Keat is with Amy Khor and Chee Hong Tat 徐芳达.​

2 d ·
Delighted to open the 9th edition of Singapore Airshow yesterday! There was palpable buzz and energy as we returned to a full-scale event this year, marking the strong global rebound of the aviation and aerospace industries.
Singapore continues to be a choice location for aerospace companies. Our efforts to support workers and retain core capabilities during the pandemic, together with our strong innovation ecosystem, make us well-placed to support companies’ growth ambitions.
With the new JTC aeroSpace Four at Seletar Aerospace Park, as well as the Aerospace Open Innovation Challenge launched by JTC and Enterprise Singapore, more aviation and aerospace companies can tap on our ecosystem, and build partnerships with promising startups and SMEs in the industry, to bring the industry forward.
Coupled with our commitment to sustainability, as mapped out in the Singapore Sustainable Air Hub Blueprint that Minister Chee Hong Tat 徐芳达 launched, Singapore can continue to enable the aviation and aerospace industries to unlock growth, create good jobs, and connect peoples and geographies in the coming years.
#SGAirshow2024
Official Singapore Airshow

 

[jw5]

HSK congratulates 2023 GCE ‘A’ Level students.

Heng Swee Keat​

1 d ·
Congratulations to our 2023 GCE ‘A’ Level students who collected their results today!
There are many options and possibilities as you plan your next steps. Whether you are pursuing further studies, entering the workforce, or enlisting for National Service, I hope that you will continue to make meaningful connections, gain useful experience, and grow in knowledge and wisdom. Learning is a lifelong pursuit, so enjoy the journey and never stop growing. All the best!
(Release of 2023 ‘A’ Level results at Anderson Serangoon Junior College. / MCI Photo by Terence Tan)

 

[jw5]

HSK wishes everyone good health and vigour in the Year of the Dragon!

Heng Swee Keat​

11 h ·
祝大家元宵节快乐！

Today is Chap Goh Mei, the 15th and last day of Chinese New Year.
Joined our Bedok residents in various celebrations and gatherings over the last two weeks. We also had ‘lohei’ and delectable home-made goodies such as ‘nian gao’ too!
I hope everyone had the chance to spend quality time with your family and loved ones over the festive period. Wishing everyone good health and vigour in the Year of the Dragon!

 

[jw5]

HSK wants to blossom and thrive together as a community.

Heng Swee Keat is with Edwin Tong.​

1 d ·

Blossom!
This year’s Chingay theme reflects upon Singapore’s diverse, multicultural society, which flourishes like a bouquet with a beautiful variety of flowers. Performers of all ages and ethnicities wowed the audience with their lively and heartfelt performances.
Well done to the People's Association, and all performers, participants and volunteers for your hard work in putting together such a beautiful parade! May we continue to blossom and thrive together as a community.
Chingay Parade SG
#ChingaySG2024