Singapore’s
focus must be on longer-term measures, as global economy slows: PM
Lee
SINGAPORE: With the global economic outlook uncertain, Singapore
will have to ride the ups and downs in the short-term, but its
focus must remain on the longer-term, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien
Loong on Monday (Feb 8).
And this means focusing on skills upgrading, as well as giving
productivity and training a bigger push.
“These are the things we have been doing, and I think if the
economy slows down, it’s an opportunity for us to take them even
more seriously and to work at them," said Mr Lee.
"It always happens when business is up, and you talk about
training, nobody has time to train. When business is down, or a bit
slower, we have a bit of capacity to do more of that."
Mr Lee said this following a visit to Changi Airport on Monday
where he met more than 200 workers.
When asked about what workers can expect from this year’s Budget
– which will be delivered on Mar 24, Mr Lee said the focus must not
just be on the "goodies'.
“I think the attitude should be – what can we do in this Budget
which will help give our efforts a further push, on productivity,
on upgrading, on transforming our companies to be competitive in
this world, and to be able to operate even beyond Singapore, in the
region?"
He added: "Because although things are down, as I said in my New
Year message, there are still opportunities – at home, as well as
in the region, around us, and we should be looking for them all the
time."
During Monday's visit, Mr Lee – who was accompanied by key union
leaders – gave out red packets to the workers, as well as mandarin
oranges and cookies. He has been conducting these Chinese New Year
visits with the Labour Movement since 2008.
- CNA/rw