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VISION FOR SINGAPORE
We will need new energy, a clear sense of direction, a New
Singapore, to compete in this new environment.
My vision is to turn Singapore into a global city, a 'globapolis',
with people from all over the world and well connected to
all parts of the globe - by air, sea, telecommunications and
the Internet, in market access and investments, and in areas
such as education, sports and the arts.
In New Singapore, there will be abundant opportunities for
Singaporeans and global talent to work and do well. Our limited
physical and market size will not constrain us, for we would
have expanded our economic space beyond our shores.
New Singapore will be one of the world's finest, most liveable
cities. Arts, theatres, museums, music and sports will flourish.
Singapore will be a lively and exciting place, with plenty
to do and experience. Our city will not only have depth, but
also the richness of diversity.
But above all, Singapore will be a home for Singaporeans.
It will be the best home for us to raise our children, a warm
and safe home with a good heart and sound values, and where
strong bonds unite us as one family.
HOW DO WE GET THERE?
To create this New Singapore, we will implement a new economic
strategy and forge a new social compact. The new economic
strategy will enable us to develop new bases of growth. The
new social compact - an understanding among all Singaporeans,
and between the Government and people - will ensure that we
stay a cohesive nation even as economic competition intensifies
and the income gap widens.
In this process of getting to the New Singapore, we will
have to discard mindsets and old ways of doing things that
have become irrelevant. We will have to learn new competencies.
But this is easier said than done.
For example, I know many teachers in their 50s who have chosen
to retire early. If they had stayed on, they would have had
to learn many new things. They would have had to change 30
years of teaching materials, methods and routines for new
ones. They would have had to struggle with their computers,
and sometimes, get help from the students they are supposed
to teach. They found such change stressful. So they chose
to get off the treadmill.
As individuals, they could retire. But an entire country
cannot quit. We have no choice but to run at the high speed
of the global economic treadmill. Otherwise, we will be thrown
off, and all Singaporeans will suffer.
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