Singapore: Committee on Singapore's Competitiveness

Date: May 27, 2006 Pham Thi Thuy Ha

Economy overview from 1959 to 1998:

From 1959 to 1956, Singapore adopted import-substitution policy while it was a member of the Federation of Malaysia. But right after becoming an independent country in 1965, the country moved from labor-intensive exports to high value adding industries while shifting manufacturing facilities to lower-cost neighboring countries. In 1990s, it changed the policy to become an international business hub international financial center to turn the country in a knowledge economy and enjoyed fruitful economic growth (about 8%/year) until 1997-Asia-economic crisis. Since the country’s economy was largely regional focus, it was drastically hurt by this crisis and economic growth was less than 1% by the end of 1999.

The Committee on Singapore’s competitiveness (CSC):

In May 1996, CSC was formed with most members from private sectors to:1) evaluate the country’s competitiveness in the next 10 years in the context of rapid globalization and emerging competition; 2) to detect problems and propose strategies and policies to maintain the competitiveness of Singapore in the future. However, due to 1997-crisis, CSC added one objective which is to examine short-tern issues and recommend solutions to help Singapore overcome the economic downturn. CSC’s 1998-report presented short-term and medium-term solutions to help Singapore stay competitive. Those solutions are:
- Short-term recommendations: 1) reduce business costs and help businesses survive; 2) remain strong financial system; 3) Maintain investors’ confidence; 4) Push economic restructuring; 5) make Singapore’ economy stay resilient; 6) seek business opportunities in the region through partnerships; 7) implement cost-cutting and tax-cutting measures
- Long-term recommendations: 8 key strategies:
1. Promoting manufacturing and service as twin engines: develop manufacturing in the regional hub; attract multinational companies; develop services sector in a premier hub in Asia through fast-growth services.
2. Strengthening the external wing: Diversify market dependency beyond the region; invade into the abundant resources overseas.
3. Building world-class companies: Nurture stable world-class companies by broadening the corporate profile and economic base of Singapore for sustained and resilient growth.
4. Strengthening the base of small and medium local enterprises: Help them remain resilient and reach maximum potential; underpin their role as strategic partners of multinational companies and government-linked companies.
5. Developing human & intellectual capital as key competitive edge: develop a world-class work force by providing world-class education for youth, promoting life-long learning for life-long employability and encouraging management, innovation & technology.
6. Leveraging science, technology & innovation: lever science, technology and innovation; construct the existing IT2000 program to turn Singapore into an IT hub in Asia.
7. Optimizing resources management: optimize the allocation of scare resources to increase supply and encourage efficient usage of those resources.
8. Reinforcing Government role as a business facilitator: Support private sector by providing consistent policies & regulatory environment.

Besides the 8 keys strategies, CSC also recommended strategies for 5 sectors to enhance each sector. In manufacturing: develop world-class work force move to R&D, and nurture enterprises. In financial and banking: develop fund management industry, expand domestic capital market. In service: develop international trading, transport and logistics, business & professional services, media, communications and tourism. In domestic business: help local enterprises to optimize scare resources and develop business.

Responses from Government and Public: the report was warmly welcomed by the government and public and the recommendations were quickly adopted with immediate or nearly immediate effect.
Lessons drawn from the case
1. Build a competitive society is the core of the sustained growth in globalization context
2. Education is the core strategy that each government should take to build a world-class work force, lever science, technology and innovation
3. Private sector and small and medium enterprises play an important role in economic growth so it is deserved to receive full support and assistance from government
4. Effective integration in international markets is a strong wing of the national economy

In Vietnam, the government has formed policies and strategies that cover all above areas to build a knowledge－based and competitive society.