Plugging into the world is 'key to Singapore's success'

The Straits Times, March 7, 2007
By Audrey Tan, Assistant Money Editor



Plugging into the world is 'key to a nation's success'
Countries most connected to the world will flourish: MM


CONNECTIVITY is how Singapore built its success, and will continue to be critical for Asean and countries such as Russia, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said yesterday.

Nations that are most connected with the world will progress and flourish best, he told about 500 businessmen and government officials at the Russia-Singapore Business Forum.

'The first lesson Singapore had was if you do not have that connected-ness with the world, you will go back to becoming a fishing village,' he said.

'It was our connectedness, our port and our location that enabled us to become what we are.'

From its early days as a fishing village to becoming a newly minted state without a hinterland, Singapore survived by connecting with the world, he said at the dialogue session yesterday afternoon.

Companies from the United States and Europe came to Singapore and manufactured here. As they invested in the region from here, Singapore also became a financial centre to finance the region.

'Whichever country which is most connected and most effective in offering a platform for the transmission of goods, services, ideas, capital, that country will flourish,' Mr Lee said.

The next five to 10 years will be years of good expansion for Singapore as the region is set to grow.

But as investments in the region continue to flow primarily to China, Asean countries need to come together to provide a bigger marketplace, he said.

'Then we have a chance to compete against these big players. And we form the nerve centre for logistics, transport and communications, capital inputs into the region.'

Mr Lee was responding to questions from the audience, which included about 230 Russian delegates, on how Russia can learn from Singapore.

His dialogue session was the highlight of the one-day forum, which saw both countries explore ways to cooperate in areas such as tourism, ports and technology.

One problem that Russia faces is infrastructure, or getting its cities and countryside linked up by broadband, Mr Lee said.

He recounted his problems with the broadband connection in his five-star hotel in Moscow during his last visit to Russia in 2005.

'I think they didn't understand that for the modern traveller today - whether it's a businessman, tycoon or minister - that's your means of communication with your home base and everywhere else in the world,' he said.

Like Singapore, Russia also has to teach its people not to be afraid of new technologies, but to use them. Singapore children are taught to use computers in schools so that the population is trained for the future, he added.

And it is a rising Russia that Singapore is now engaging, Mr Lee also said.

There are about 140 Russian companies here, with around 600 Russians studying, working and staying in the country. 'With Russia growing, I believe those numbers will grow,' he added.

A key challenge for Russia is to organise its system so that hard work and learning pay off, he said in response to a question on what reforms he would suggest.

'I do not subscribe to the American liberal theory that democracy and the free market will solve everything,' he said.

'I believe you got to have order, discipline, rule of law, certainty of daily life. And you must make work, learning and studying rewarding. If you have that, everybody will grow.'