East Coast Plan unveiled

[jw5]

HSK wants to support our seniors.

Heng Swee Keat​

10 h ·
Meet Mdm Lee, a Bedok resident and former opera singer! She’s in her 80s and still very active in the community. At a recent community event, she gamely belted out a few lines from an opera to our delight!
In East Coast today, around 4 in 10 residents are 60 and above. Come 2030, one in four Singaporeans will be over 65. Over the years, we have put in place policies, programmes and networks to care for our seniors, and empower them to age gracefully and confidently. Community support is particularly important in enabling our seniors to remain active and engaged.
This June, St Luke's Hospital - Singapore is celebrating positive ageing through their #GoSilverSG campaign. Let us continue to support our seniors, so that like Mdm Lee, they can remain happy and healthy in their silver years. Read more about how you can support the campaign here: https://slh.org.sg/gosilver/gosilversg/.

 

[jw5]

HSK thanks talented artists, their parents and caregivers.

Heng Swee Keat​

10 h ·
Diversity | Connectedness | Fabric of Singapore | Blooming Singapore
Had a sneak peek at the four beautiful designs for this year’s NDP Packs and met with some of the artists, who shared with me the meaning and inspiration behind their artwork!
The four designs comprise 140 artworks that were co-created by 21 artists with disabilities and four student volunteers from SG Enable. From iconic Singapore landmarks to motifs of our vibrant multicultural communities, these wonderful designs capture how the diverse fabrics of our communities are woven together and connect us, enabling Singapore to thrive and bloom in the world.
A big thank you to all our talented artists for sharing your beautiful work, and to their parents and caregivers for the support!
#OnwardAsOneSG
NDPeeps

 

[jw5]

HSK wishes all our pilgrims a safe, healthy and fulfilling Haj!

Heng Swee Keat is with Cheryl Chan 陈慧玲 and
3 others
.​

3 d ·
One of the benefits of a multicultural Singapore is the ability to better understand and appreciate other faiths and communities. My fellow East Coast Grassroots Advisers and I sent our good wishes to our Muslim residents who will be performing the Haj this year. Many have waited some time for the opportunity to undertake this sacred journey, prolonged further by pandemic disruptions in the past few years. Wishing all our pilgrims a safe, healthy and fulfilling Haj!

 

[jw5]

HSK wishes all fathers and fathers-to-be, a heartwarming Father’s Day.

Heng Swee Keat is with Denise Phua Lay Peng.​

11 h ·
Wishing all fathers and fathers-to-be, a heartwarming Father’s Day with your loved ones!
At the recent Purple Symphony concert, I met father-son duo Stuart and Orion Ang. The Purple Symphony is Singapore’s largest inclusive orchestra comprising musicians with different abilities. Stuart and Orion both play the French Horn and were performing together for the second time!
Stuart told me that Orion has grown in confidence since performing with the Symphony and meeting other like-minded musicians. How wonderful that they get to bond over a shared passion for music!
I met Stuart and Orion at the Purple Symphony’s concert in 2019, before COVID-19 disrupted their annual performances. It was wonderful to watch the orchestra perform in-person again, and I particularly enjoyed this year’s showcase, Home Truly. They have always been performing at a high standard, so it’s remarkable to hear them sounding even better than before!
My thanks to Mayor Denise Phua Lay Peng, assistant conductor Liong Kit Yeng and the artistic team for their dedication, and kudos to all the performers for your perseverance!
#CelebrateAbilities
#SupportInclusion

 

[jw5]

HSK congratulates all recipients of the National Awards (COVID-19)!

Heng Swee Keat is with Gan Kim Yong.​

7 h ·
Heartiest congratulations to all recipients of the National Awards (COVID-19)!
Very glad that I was able to personally thank some of them for their exemplary leadership and contributions in coordinating Singapore’s response to the pandemic at yesterday’s Investiture ceremony. These award recipients, together with thousands of others, have served selflessly and with distinction on many fronts to protect lives and livelihoods. The long list of award recipients — from government agencies to companies, Social Service Agencies and community partners — reflect the all-rounded response we mounted to overcome the pandemic.
Coupled with the trust, confidence and cooperation of all Singaporeans, we were able to steer out of this unprecedented crisis stronger. My sincere thanks to everyone!

 

[jw5]

Heng Swee Keat​

1 d ·

Caught up with Director-General of Health at Ministry of Health, Singapore, Professor Kenneth Mak, recipient of The Meritorious Service Medal (COVID-19).

During the pandemic, Prof Mak was the Director of Medical Services and advisor to the COVID-19 Multi-Ministry Taskforce. As the government’s chief medical advisor, he was responsible for crafting the overall strategy for managing the outbreak and overseeing the public health response to the pandemic.

(MCI Photo by Betty Chua)
— with Gan Kim Yong.

 

[jw5]

Heng Swee Keat​

2 d ·

With my former Ministry of Finance (Singapore) colleagues — Permanent Secretary Ching Yee, Elaine Koh, Jamie Poh, and Vincent Wu. Vincent was from the Budget team for COVID-19 measures. Jamie was part of the Budget Implementation Committee while Elaine was in the COVID-19 Multi-Ministry Taskforce Secretariat. They represent officers from MOF who worked very hard during the pandemic. My thanks to everyone!

(MCI Photo by Betty Chua)

 

[jw5]

HSK celebrates the Dragon Boat Festival, or 端午节 on this fifth day of the fifth lunar month.

Heng Swee Keat​

12 h ·
We celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, or 端午节 on this fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Most of us associate this festival with bak zhang, or leaf-wrapped rice dumplings. Some families even take the time to make bak zhang at home, often as an inter-generational activity where treasured family recipes are passed down! At the same time, there are now also updated interpretations of bak zhang with unusual ingredients or even as a dessert — a wonderful example of marrying tradition with modernity!
祝愿大家，端午节快乐、阖家 “粽” 团圆！
(MCI Photo by Chwee)

 

[jw5]

Heng Swee Keat​

4 d ·

Speaking to Ng Heng Chew (on my left) from National Service Resort & Country Club and Chairman of Willing Hearts CLG Ltd. Teh Eng Hua. Heng Chew played a part in converting Kranji Golf Course into a Community Isolation Facility.

(MCI Photo by Betty Chua)

 

[jw5]

Heng Swee Keat​

5 d ·

The Meritorious Service Medal (COVID-19) was also presented to Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore Permanent Secretary Pang Kin Keong, and Group Exec Officer of PSA International Tan Chong Meng for their exemplary leadership.

(MCI Photos by Liu Ying)

 

[jw5]

Heng Swee Keat​

6 d ·

Jenny Chua was at the Investiture to support her son, Captain Ian Cheng. He piloted the FlyScoot flight that ferried stranded Singaporeans back from Wuhan.

(MCI Photo by Betty Chua)

 

[jw5]

Heng Swee Keat​

19 June at 12:50 ·

Speaking with Ezekiel Tan from Hope Initiative Alliance. During the COVID-19 outbreak, the organisation distributed care meals and essential items to more than 21,000 workers in more than 300 dormitories.

(MCI Photo by Betty Chua)

 

[jw5]

Heng Swee Keat​

19 June at 12:50 ·

With members from the SAF Military Band. They entertained guests with melodious tunes during the reception.

(MCI Photo by Betty Chua)

 

[jw5]

HSK wishes Selamat Hari Raya Haji to his Muslim friends back home in Singapore!

Heng Swee Keat​

11 h ·
Selamat Hari Raya Haji to our Muslim friends back home in Singapore!
On this day, congregants will gather at the mosques to perform their morning prayers. Hundreds of pilgrims will also be performing their pilgrimage in Mecca, and I met some of them at our East Coast Haj send off a few weeks back. Wishing everyone a meaningful and reflective day, and our pilgrims a fulfilling haj and a safe journey home!
(MCI Photo by Lim Sin Thai)

 

[jw5]

HSK took a train from Zurich to Munich.

Heng Swee Keat is in Munich, Germany.​

6 h ·
Took a train from Zurich to Munich for the second leg of my work trip.

Was fortunate enough to catch the Technical University of Munich (TUM)’s Entrepreneurship Day, which takes place every year on the last Thursday of June. TUM is known for their research excellence and entrepreneurship focus. I met many interesting startups and heard budding entrepreneurs pitch their startups to have a shot at winning the €5,000 prize!
The energy on campus was palpable, with students supporting and cheering their peers on. Good to see how Germany’s vibrant startup scene is rooted in universities like TUM, which provide a strong support ecosystem through close partnerships with industry and stakeholders in the innovation network.
TUM has strong partnerships with our Nanyang Technological University, Singapore as well as research institutions under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). I hope that we can strengthen these collaborations and fire up the entrepreneurial spirit amongst our youths!

 

[jw5]

HSK caught up with some overseas Singaporeans over dinner.

Heng Swee Keat is in Switzerland.​

3 d ·
Caught up with some overseas Singaporeans over dinner last night. Some are pursuing higher education while others are working professionals who have been in Switzerland for many years. We had a rich and wide-ranging discussion on the Swiss innovation ecosystem and the importance of encouraging creativity and innovation to better prepare for jobs of the future. Glad to see them doing well and carrying Singapore in their hearts and minds even as they pursue such interesting paths abroad!
Also spent the past few days meeting business leaders, academics, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists in Zurich and Basel to learn about Switzerland’s vibrant research and innovation ecosystem.
Like Singapore, the Swiss believe and invest in fully developing their people. They also pay attention to translating research and innovation into real-world solutions for positive societal impact. I hope that our research institutions and ecosystems continue to expand cooperation in areas like biotechnology, healthcare and quantum so that we can support each other and make new breakthroughs together!

 

[jw5]

HSK wishes all youths Happy Youth Day!

Heng Swee Keat​

10 h ·
Happy Youth Day!
Met a group of Swiss youths from ETH Zürich working on interesting projects at the Innovation Park Switzerland Zurich last week. The students worked closely with industry partners to bring projects like battery-powered racing cars to hydrogen-powered planes to fruition. All of them told me that they learnt more from this hands-on experience than through regular classes, and had much fun in the process!
In Singapore too, our youths are entrepreneurial and innovative. Initiatives such as BLOCK71 by NUS Enterprise equip them with the skills and connections in the industry through apprenticeship opportunities, so that they can pursue their passions and dreams.
I hope that our youths will always stay curious, dream big and scale new heights!

 

[jw5]

HSK congratulates homegrown FinTech company NIUM.

Heng Swee Keat​

11 h ·
Congratulations to homegrown FinTech company NIUM on the opening of your new headquarters in Singapore!
A leader in real-time cross-border payments, Nium’s growth shows how local start-ups can leverage Singapore’s vibrant FinTech ecosystem to make a global impact. Our strong infrastructure and regulatory frameworks encourage FinTech innovation while guarding against risks. Our excellent connectivity and the availability of strategic capital and talent — as a Global-Asia node for technology, innovation and entrepreneurship — enable start-ups to anchor and scale to wider markets. I am heartened that Nium has chosen Singapore as its strategic base and talent development hub as it pursues its next lap of growth. This will help create exciting new jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans and Singapore-based companies in the years to come.
I wish Nium every success, and may they continue to inspire many other Singapore start-ups to greater heights!

 

[jw5]

Heng Swee Keat​

1 d ·

Over the years, Singapore has cultivated a strong ecosystem for FinTech start-ups to build and develop here. As a result, FinTech investments in Singapore have grown 18-fold since 2017! I hope to see more startups like Nium both become local champions and create global impact.

(MCI Photo by Lim Sin Thai)

 

[jw5]

Heng Swee Keat​

2 d ·

Took a tour of Nium’s new office space. The colourful and energetic working space incorporates work, play, and rest. To add a Singaporean flavour, their staff decided to name meeting rooms after local delicacies such as Satay, Rojak and Laksa, and landmarks such as Sentosa and the Esplanade!

(MCI Photo by Lim Sin Thai)