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East Coast Plan unveiled

jw5

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HSK took a photo. :cool:

Heng Swee Keat

Yesterday at 05:52 ·
I took a photo of tonight’s Harvest Moon. This is the second of this year’s four supermoons — the next two will appear on 17 Oct and 15 Nov.
Look how radiant and bright it is
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. May it herald bountiful days for everyone!

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jw5

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HSK joined student leaders at the closing ceremony of Institute of Technical Education, Singapore's Student Leaders Forum yesterday. :cool:

Heng Swee Keat

is at ITE College Central.​

11h · Singapore ·
I joined student leaders at the closing ceremony of Institute of Technical Education, Singapore's Student Leaders Forum yesterday. This milestone programme under the Singapore Young Leaders Programme (SYLP) provides students with a platform to meet like-minded peers, hone their leadership skills and discuss ways to contribute to the future of Singapore.
This year’s theme, “Reimagining Singapore”, aptly reflects our ongoing efforts to build a more vibrant, caring, inclusive, and sustainable nation. As is often the case in my interactions with young people, I came away energised by their positive optimism and insightful sharing of their concerns on what the future holds. From promoting active ageing, fostering social-emotional learning, to driving community-based urban planning, they have put their minds together and demonstrated immense creativity in conceiving unique solutions to real-world issues.
I encouraged our young student leaders to stay curious and keep learning on the long journey ahead. I am confident that they will embrace the spirit of pursuing skills mastery, develop competencies such as empathy that cannot be replaced by technology, and make a positive impact to society and the world.
Congratulations on completing the programme!

 

jw5

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HSK had a peek. :geek::x3::tongue:

Heng Swee Keat

·
We all love food that’s not only delicious but also good for us. And as we work to tackle climate change around the world, many consumers also prefer their food to be sustainably produced.
I had a peek into this earlier in the week when visiting dsm-firmenich, a global nutrition, health and beauty company.
I got to see how the company’s FutureBites – Food Design Studio is working on innovative, plant-based foods tailored for the Asian palate, and helping to meet the growing demand for healthier, sustainable options.
And it’s not just food — fragrances also play a special role in our lives, whether it’s helping us relax, recall a memory, or feel more connected to one another. I had the chance to meet Master Perfumer Martin Koh, who has spent 35 years perfecting the art of fragrance creation!
These are exciting developments for both Singapore and the world. With cutting-edge research and innovation happening right here, our young people can look forward to new and exciting careers in fields that make the best use of their curiosity and creative talents.
Collaborating with companies like dsm-firmenich strengthens Singapore’s research ecosystem, helping us deepen our innovation and translation capabilities. I encouraged Dimitri de Vreeze and his team to further explore partnerships, including with our universities and Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) institutes. As a Global-Asia node, Singapore welcomes partners from around the world to join us in pursuing cutting-edge science and technology that helps build a better future for all.













 

jw5

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HSK thanks the Parkinson Society Singapore (PSS) for supporting the Parkinson’s community in Singapore for the past 28 years. :thumbsup:

Heng Swee Keat

·
Parkinson’s disease is a nervous system disorder that affects patients with symptoms such as tremors, and impaired speech and balancing. It affects 3 in every 1,000 Singaporeans aged 50 and above, and this is expected to increase as our population ages.
While there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s, studies have shown that therapies, medication, physical and social activities can help slow the progression of symptoms, enabling patients to lead an active life for longer.
I thank the Parkinson Society Singapore (PSS) for supporting the Parkinson’s community in Singapore for the past 28 years. A registered charity, it has been offering programmes and classes that promote physical activity and social interaction, to enhance the quality of life for Persons with Parkinson's, and build a support network for caregivers. Through PSS, many have come out from social isolation to social integration — and some have formed their own support groups!
Glad that many of the patients at PSS have not only found strength in their fight against the disease, but are also volunteering their time to support and encourage fellow Parkinson Warriors to lead meaningful, confident lives. One of the Warriors, Rose Lee, beautifully transformed the acronyms for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) into Perseverance and Determination. This shift in mindset helped her conquer her initial fears, to embrace positivity and build strength to help others as well.
To learn how you can contribute, visit the PSS website: https://parkinson.org.sg/













 

jw5

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HSK thanks all who were involved in the clean-up. :wink:

Heng Swee Keat

is with Jessica Tan Soon Neo and
2 others
.​

·
The oil spill in mid-June affected many beaches in Singapore, including East Coast Park. Many volunteers, residents, agencies and cleaning contractors answered the call to help clean up the affected areas over the next two months, removing around 3,750 tonnes of oil-soaked sand!
During our regular East Coast coastal clean-up on Saturday, we came together to pay tribute and show our appreciation to all who were involved in the clean-up. A big thank you!
Residents and volunteers also collected 68 kg worth of trash, including plastics, cans and even a helmet. Happy to have the Ambassador of the European Union to Singapore Iwona Piórko join us too — a testament to our good collaboration with the EU on sustainability issues and solutions.
While some of these are washed in by the current, we can all play our part towards a Green East Coast. Do join us in our community environmental initiatives to keep our home clean and green!
#GreenEastCoast
#CaringEastCoast













 

jw5

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HSK thanks Bedok residents and volunteers. :smile:

Heng Swee Keat

·
Exciting sighting at our Bedok Orchid RC community garden — a pair of majestic hornbills!
This is a beautiful reminder of our City in Nature, where wildlife thrives in our urban spaces.
A big thank you to our Bedok residents and volunteers for making our community gardens so vibrant, and for contributing to a thriving network of green spaces in Singapore!
(Video by our Bedok volunteer)

 

jw5

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HSK is happy to celebrate. :o-o::confused::biggrin:

Heng Swee Keat

·
Happy to celebrate the achievements of our women entrepreneurs at the Singapore Women Entrepreneurs Network (SG-WEN)’s 3rd anniversary dinner on Tuesday. We presented the inaugural edition of the SG-WEN Award to outstanding Singapore women entrepreneurs who have contributed to our business community and society.
Since its formation in 2021 by the Singapore Business Federation, SG-WEN’s membership base has grown steadily to around 650 members today. SG-WEN serves as a platform to bring together women entrepreneurs and leaders in Singapore, and to connect them with other women associations and business networks in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly within ASEAN.
I enjoyed my fireside chat with the audience, moderated by Rachel Lim from Love, Bonito, where we discussed global megatrends such as AI that are affecting the external environment that local entrepreneurs operate in. We also had a good discussion on challenges that women still face at the workplace, such as gender bias and perceptions of working mothers, and how men can be supportive spouses and colleagues.
Despite these obstacles, women entrepreneurs have done us proud by persisting and excelling in their fields, including many founders who built and run successful companies. Let us all support and cheer on our women entrepreneurs!
Congratulations to our inaugural SG-WEN Award winners!







 

jw5

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HSK caught up with residents. :cool:

Heng Swee Keat

·
Good catching up with residents on my weekly house visits.
One of them, Mr Lim, had renovated his flat after a fire incident last August.
Luckily the fire was contained — thanks to his helpful neighbours. One of them was Mdm Pitchai, who received the Bedok Good Neighbours Award and was also commended by the SCDF with the Community First Responder Award.
As neighbours, we often count on one another in unforeseen circumstances. I encourage everyone to pick up life-saving skills and download the myResponder app to help respond to nearby emergencies, and strengthen our resilience as a community.










 

jw5

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HSK says well done to PSA. :thumbsup:

Heng Swee Keat

·
Work never stops at Tuas Port, which will be the world’s largest fully automated port when it is completed in the 2040s. A fleet of driverless Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) operates 24/7, transporting containers efficiently and creating a seamless operation that resembles a game of Tetris — though in reality, it is far more complex!
An innovative command centre oversees the AGVs, using real-time data and PSA Singapore’s proprietary algorithms to enhance operations and maintenance. This advanced system boosts efficiency, productivity and safety, and helps the port meet evolving global supply chain demands. To promote greater sustainability, Tuas Port also incorporates green technology and renewable energy solutions such as charging infrastructure for the AGVs to reduce carbon emissions.
Glad that PSA’s partnership with Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore - MPA and others in our research ecosystem is further advancing innovations in digitalisation and sustainability, contributing to broader sectoral transformation including the Maritime Singapore Green Initiative.
Well done to PSA for setting new benchmarks in port automation and decarbonisation! Leveraging science and technology can advance port operations and position Tuas Port well to strengthen supply chains, reinforcing Singapore’s vital role as a node in facilitating maritime trade and global connectivity.













 

jw5

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HSK was happy to launch the Chinese edition of Kwek Leng Beng’s book “Strictly Business: The Kwek Leng Beng Story”. :wink:

Heng Swee Keat

·
Happy to launch the Chinese edition of Kwek Leng Beng’s book “Strictly Business: The Kwek Leng Beng Story”, so that more readers can learn about the fascinating journey of one of Singapore’s most well-known and successful business leaders.
In the book, Leng Beng shares his valuable experiences and insights gained over six decades in the business world, and how he turned numerous challenges into opportunities to succeed in the finance, real estate and hospitality sectors.
”Strictly Business" also portrays Leng Beng's calm and composed personality, his decisiveness and strong belief in the values he embodies — of sheer determination and grit. In my speech, I also recognised Leng Beng’s efforts to give back, including to support education institutions like the Singapore Institute of Technology. These are important life lessons for our youths as it encourages them to take on high ideals and work hard to realise their dreams.
Congratulations to Leng Beng on the successful launch!
很高兴能出席郭令明的传记 —《在商言商》的新书发布会。
令明在书本里分享了他这几十年来经历的许多起伏。几十年来, 他把丰隆、城市发展和千禧国敦,分别打造成本区域首屈一指的财务、房地产和酒店业集团。更重要的是,集团还能在危机中,找到新契机,把它转为商机。令明也热心公益,积极推动教育事业,包括捐赠善款给新加坡理工大学启动多项学术计划。
我希望这本书能启发新一代的企业家,让年轻一代能从书中,借鉴令明和前辈们不屈不挠的精神,在各自领域发挥所长,大展拳脚。
恭贺令明,成功发布《在商言商》!







 

jw5

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HSK congratulates all award recipients. :wink:

Heng Swee Keat

is with Tharman Shanmugaratnam.​

·
“Being a scientist is great, but life is more rewarding if we can elevate others.”
These wise words from Professor Liu Bin, winner of this year’s President’s Science Award, encapsulate the spirit of the President’s Science and Technology Awards. Her groundbreaking work, along with that of the other winners, have advanced research in the fields of biomedical research, and machine learning to enrich lives for a better future.
Talent development is a key pillar of our science, technology and innovation strategies. As we strive towards research excellence, Singapore has been deepening our talent pool through programmes and scholarships under the National Research Foundation Singapore and Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). By attracting top global talent, and forging partnerships with leading institutions, Singapore can better serve as a Global-Asia node of technology, innovation and enterprise, as we strive to solve global challenges with like-minded partners. In their acceptance speeches for the President’s Science and Technology Medal, Professor Richard Parker gave us a good reminder on the importance of close industry-academia collaboration, as did Professor Ho Teck Hua who reminded us to be inclusive and welcoming of global talent.
Nurturing talent also starts by fostering curiosity in our youth. I was glad to present the awards for the Young Scientist Awards to recognise our promising young scientists. I hope this inspires more students to pursue science and technology programmes at our universities, or even a PhD on a scholarship.
Efforts in advancing science should be global — by bringing good and dedicated minds together, we can work on humanity’s common challenges. My heartiest congratulations to all award recipients!














 

jw5

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HSK looks forward to a productive trip. :cool:

Heng Swee Keat

is in London, United Kingdom.​

·
Just arrived in London for a working visit.
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This week, I'll be engaging with senior political and business leaders, as well as visiting research institutions and meeting investors. There is good potential for us to build new bridges between the research and innovation ecosystems in Singapore and the UK.
Looking forward to a productive trip.
(Photo by me)

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jw5

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HSK had a wonderful gathering. :smile:

Heng Swee Keat

is in London, United Kingdom.​

·
Had a wonderful gathering with the Singaporean community in London to kick off my work trip.
Our students and professionals are pursuing paths in varied fields, such as research, innovation, finance, arts, and the creative industries. I’m happy to see that they are building new bridges abroad, while sharing Singapore’s unique culture and supporting one another.
With their networks and experiences, our overseas Singaporeans can also help mentor our young Singaporeans, and support our local companies in their overseas expansion. As a small but open economy, Singapore has always been outward-looking, and our overseas Singaporeans reflect that spirit of venturing out to pursue opportunities. I wish them continued success in all their pursuits!
Thanks to the Singapore Global Network for organising this.

 

jw5

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HSK met Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government of the United Kingdom Angela Rayner. :cool:

Heng Swee Keat

is in London, United Kingdom.​

·
Met Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government of the United Kingdom Angela Rayner yesterday, and congratulated her on her new appointment.
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We reaffirmed the strategic partnership between Singapore and the UK, and discussed the ongoing economy transformation efforts in Singapore and the UK, particularly in areas like technology adoption and workforce development. We also discussed the important role of unions and tripartite partnership in supporting skills upgrading to enhance productivity, raise wages and better the lives of our peoples.
Our countries enjoy strong people-to-people ties, and I was happy to chat on how we can collaborate further in areas such as science and technology, to harness opportunities for the future.

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jw5

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HSK witnessed the renewal of an MOU. :wink:

Heng Swee Keat

is in London, United Kingdom.​

·
Witnessed the renewal of an MOU between Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) and UK Research and Innovation (InnovateUK), which is the UK’s innovation agency.
InnovateUK is a close partner to Singapore for innovation activities. Since the initial MOU was signed in December 2021, EnterpriseSG and InnovateUK have jointly awarded grants to more than 40 R&D projects. These projects strengthen innovation collaboration between companies from both countries on common interests such as mobility & transport, agritech, advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity.
This renewed MOU will further strengthen the UK-Singapore partnerships by including new areas such as AI, precision medicine and quantum, expanding collaboration with UK research institutes for tech transfer and R&D, as well as growing its Co-Innovation Programme to support joint innovation projects. This will allow our companies to jointly bring their solutions to market more quickly, and with greater reach.
I also visited the Digital Catapult, a key connector for startups, SMEs, larger companies and the UK government. Glad to exchange views on how we can strengthen our innovation ecosystem, and drive stronger collaboration with industry stakeholders on national programmes that drive innovation and facilitate the early adoption of advanced digital technologies by UK businesses.













 

jw5

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HSK had a productive meeting. :smile:

Heng Swee Keat

is in London, United Kingdom.​

·
Healthcare and data science is a common priority for many countries around the world. Done well, this can bring immense benefits to societies, such as helping populations age better, preparing us for future pandemics, and managing chronic diseases to lower healthcare costs.
I was glad to witness the MOU signing between Health Data Research UK, National Research Foundation Singapore, and their respective partner institutions in London today. This will strengthen the bridges between Singapore and the UK to drive healthcare improvements and discoveries, by leveraging trustworthy data for health data science. This partnership will also lay the foundation for future cross-border research with other partner countries.
We also had a productive meeting with Wellcome Trust, a charitable foundation committed to improving health through research, innovation and public engagement.

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jw5

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HSK visited Imperial College London White City Campus and The Alan Turing Institute, both leading centres of innovation and research. :cool:

Heng Swee Keat

·
Visited Imperial College London White City Campus and The Alan Turing Institute, both leading centres of innovation and research.
Imperial is one of Singapore’s top research collaborators in the UK. We were honoured that they chose to open their first overseas research and innovation centre — Imperial Global Singapore — earlier this year at the National Research Foundation Singapore Campus.
Imperial is working on many important areas which are of mutual interest in Singapore. For example, the Henry Royce Institute is developing new advanced materials, and the UK Dementia Research Institute on the Imperial Campus is studying new methods of dementia prevention and treatment. These are important priorities under our Research, Innovation, and Enterprise 2025 plan.
We also had an insightful meeting with the team from Alan Turing Institute. This institute was named after Alan Turing, whom the movie the “Imitation Game” was based on, and who is widely considered to be the father of theoretical computer science. We discussed how data science and artificial intelligence are being applied in new ways to important areas like healthcare, urban planning, and financial services. I look forward to further collaborations with the Institute to drive further innovation and growth in these areas.













 

jw5

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HSK wishes all children Happy Children’s Day! :tongue:

Heng Swee Keat

11h ·
Happy Children’s Day!
This Children’s Day, let us all encourage our young ones to embrace their curiosity — to explore, play, learn, create and try something new.
I’m always happy to see many children in East Coast doing just that and having fun. Whether they are playing sports or musical instruments, exploring nature at the beach or spending precious time with family and friends.
Just like young Bedok resident, Jace, who is often at Bedok CC (We Love Bedok) to play the piano, or enjoy a game of basketball with his friends.
Enjoy this beautiful piece!

 
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