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No change in economic direction, says PM Lee
By S Ramesh, Ho Yeen Nie | Posted: 01 August 2011 2209 hrs <LINK rel=image_src href="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/imagegallery/store/phpZ1oSon.jpg">
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Singapore's financial district.[/TD]
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SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has assured investors that Singapore will not be changing its economic direction.
Speaking at the Economic Development Board's 50th anniversary dinner, Mr Lee said investors have been asking if Singapore will change direction after the recent General Election.
Mr Lee said the country's fundamental constraints remain and it needs to stay connected to the world to survive.
Addressing top CEOs and the business community, Prime Minister Lee said Singapore has overcome the odds and transformed its economy in the past 50 years, taking it from Third World to First.
Today the GDP per capita is almost S$60,000, or 13 times that of 1961 in real terms.
For the next 50 years, Mr Lee said the government would continue to take a long-term, rational perspective, remain an international hub, and be open to global investments and talent.
It will also maintain sound economic policies that promote growth and improve the lives of citizens.
Mr Lee said: "I think investors are reassured to hear this message, because we take seriously what we say and what we commit to. But they will also wait to see what we actually do.
"And if over time, they find that we have not become as welcome as before, or if our business environment has become less favourable, then of course there will be consequences for Singapore."
He said that is why the population has to support consistent and rational policies that create jobs and wealth.
The environment for global businesses must also keep improving.
Mr Lee explained that no one could have foreseen that Singapore would have done so well in the past half century. He added it was hard to predict what would happen in the next 50 years.
He said the ideal scenario would be a world at peace, globalisation continuing apace and countries creating prosperity, benefiting many people.
Hence the need to contemplate less benign possibilities with globalisation slowing or worse, reversing course, unforeseen shocks like an energy crisis and strategic rivalries and political upheavals.
In such an environment, the prime minister stressed that it would be harder for Singapore to maintain its security and earn a living. So it is important that the people be united and respond as one.
For this, Mr Lee said the Economic Development Board and Singapore must be ready for all scenarios.
He added: "EDB needs to maintain its edge, build new links and deepen existing ones, find ways to boost our strengths and address our challenges - such as limits on our manpower, limits on our land and space, such as rising costs as we continue to grow.
"(It needs to) continue to seize opportunities and bring in projects - reinforce Singapore's leading position amidst the many choices for companies in today's world."
He said this would enable EDB to deliver to investors what it promises, and to deliver to Singapore the investments needed for it to grow.
- CNA/al
By S Ramesh, Ho Yeen Nie | Posted: 01 August 2011 2209 hrs <LINK rel=image_src href="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/imagegallery/store/phpZ1oSon.jpg">
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Singapore's financial district.[/TD]
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SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has assured investors that Singapore will not be changing its economic direction.
Speaking at the Economic Development Board's 50th anniversary dinner, Mr Lee said investors have been asking if Singapore will change direction after the recent General Election.
Mr Lee said the country's fundamental constraints remain and it needs to stay connected to the world to survive.
Addressing top CEOs and the business community, Prime Minister Lee said Singapore has overcome the odds and transformed its economy in the past 50 years, taking it from Third World to First.
Today the GDP per capita is almost S$60,000, or 13 times that of 1961 in real terms.
For the next 50 years, Mr Lee said the government would continue to take a long-term, rational perspective, remain an international hub, and be open to global investments and talent.
It will also maintain sound economic policies that promote growth and improve the lives of citizens.
Mr Lee said: "I think investors are reassured to hear this message, because we take seriously what we say and what we commit to. But they will also wait to see what we actually do.
"And if over time, they find that we have not become as welcome as before, or if our business environment has become less favourable, then of course there will be consequences for Singapore."
He said that is why the population has to support consistent and rational policies that create jobs and wealth.
The environment for global businesses must also keep improving.
Mr Lee explained that no one could have foreseen that Singapore would have done so well in the past half century. He added it was hard to predict what would happen in the next 50 years.
He said the ideal scenario would be a world at peace, globalisation continuing apace and countries creating prosperity, benefiting many people.
Hence the need to contemplate less benign possibilities with globalisation slowing or worse, reversing course, unforeseen shocks like an energy crisis and strategic rivalries and political upheavals.
In such an environment, the prime minister stressed that it would be harder for Singapore to maintain its security and earn a living. So it is important that the people be united and respond as one.
For this, Mr Lee said the Economic Development Board and Singapore must be ready for all scenarios.
He added: "EDB needs to maintain its edge, build new links and deepen existing ones, find ways to boost our strengths and address our challenges - such as limits on our manpower, limits on our land and space, such as rising costs as we continue to grow.
"(It needs to) continue to seize opportunities and bring in projects - reinforce Singapore's leading position amidst the many choices for companies in today's world."
He said this would enable EDB to deliver to investors what it promises, and to deliver to Singapore the investments needed for it to grow.
- CNA/al
It is better to do something more meaning with our time...... like walk the dog or drink coffee with friends.
