East Coast Plan unveiled

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HSK was happy to join K2 students and their families.

Heng Swee Keat​

·
“是鱼儿，就要游向大海；是小鸟，就要飞向天空！” (A fish should swim towards the sea; a bird should soar towards the sky!)
I had the joy of joining these K2 students and their families at My First Skool (MFS) Bedok South for their very first graduation. The room was filled with laughter and a few tears as the children recollected poignant memories together with their teachers and friends, reflecting on how much they have grown over the years.
Good educators play a vital role in our children’s learning journey, and the dedication of MFS teachers truly shines. They have nurtured our little ones with love and encouragement, and supported them to learn, discover and grow through play and exploration. The bonds they have formed with the students and their families are truly special — some of these teachers have been with them since Nursery and even Infant Care! My heartfelt thanks to the teachers for your lasting impact on shaping our future generation.
To our young graduates, moving on to Primary School is an exciting adventure. May you cherish the wonderful memories you’ve made in preschool, carry forward the positive values on kindness and care that you’ve learnt here, and let them guide you as you soar towards your aspirations!

 

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HSK congratulates the graduating students of APSN Katong School.

Heng Swee Keat​

·
Congratulations to the graduating students of APSN Katong School, and all the best in your next phase of learning!
I was delighted to join APSN Katong School’s Awards and Appreciation Day to celebrate the remarkable achievements of these students. They had excelled and received awards for outstanding performance in different areas like workplace literacy and numeracy assessments, co-curricular activities, and displaying good values.
Truly, it takes a village to raise a child! From the parents, to teachers and staff at APSN, to companies like DHL Express and LEGO who conducted meaningful programmes and others who provided work attachments, and community partners like Bedok View Secondary School, which has been collaborating with APSN Katong School for 13 years to engage the students in joint activities such as CCAs, festival celebrations and performances. Thank you for being a member of the village to bring out the best in our students.
The audience and I enjoyed the spectacular showcase of talents by students from the Circus Art CCA. CCAs like this can stretch the students’ abilities and develop their confidence — watch the reel on my IG for their performances!

 

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HSK was glad to meet President of the Regional Council of Île-de-France Mdm Valérie Pécresse.

Heng Swee Keat​

·
Singapore and France have developed strong cooperation in a wide range of areas over the past six decades. Our universities and research institutions collaborate with their French counterparts in areas like clean energy, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and the circular economy. Many French companies also work with our ecosystem on new and innovative platforms and solutions.
Glad to meet President of the Regional Council of Île-de-France Mdm Valérie Pécresse, who is visiting Singapore to speak at the SG FinTech Festival. Île-de-France, which encompasses Paris and its surrounding regions, is an economically vibrant region that contributes nearly a third of France’s GDP. It is also home to a dynamic network of R&D institutions, industry leaders and startups doing interesting work across many scientific domains.
We had a fascinating discussion on harnessing technology to tackle shared global challenges – climate change, financial inclusion, the digital revolution and public health and well-being, among others. To do this, we must continue to bring the best minds together and foster deeper understanding across cultures and continents. Singapore looks forward to strengthening our ties with institutions in Île-de-France, and with other like-minded partners, to work together towards a better future.
I wish Mdm Pécresse a productive and memorable visit to Singapore.
(MDDI Photo by Ngau Kai Yan)

 

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HSK asks you to join him.

Heng Swee Keat​

6 November at 17:00 ·
Join us for a day of family fun at HeartbeatBedok this Sunday, 10 Nov!
There will be many useful programmes such as health talks for women and children, and health assessments for everyone to learn how to stay healthy and happy. Sign up early!

 

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HSK is happy to hear from residents.

Heng Swee Keat​

·
During my regular house visits, I meet residents who show me photos or videos they have taken that capture the beauty and vibrancy of Bedok. For instance, this stunning sunrise was taken by our resident James in front of his flat!
Happy to hear from residents that they enjoy sharing such simple yet meaningful everyday moments with their families and neighbours.
Many residents also shared heartwarming stories about the kindness of their neighbours. If you know of someone who has lent a helping hand or contributed to making Bedok a Caring, Vibrant or Green community, please nominate them for the Bedok Good Neighbours Award!
Nomination form: go.gov.sg/bgna

 

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HSK was happy to see booths and exhibits curated for women at different life stages.

Heng Swee Keat

is with Jessica Tan Soon Neo and
2 others
.​

12 November at 17:39 ·
Empowering women through wellness means enabling and supporting them to manage their own health.
At the “Healthy Women, Healthier Families” fiesta at Heartbeat@Bedok last Sunday, I was happy to see booths and exhibits curated for women at different life stages, with practical information offered on a range of topics such as breast cancer screening, menstrual disorders, fertility, pregnancy health, and menopause. I hope the many women, and their family members, who turned up learnt something relevant and useful from the health talks and wellness activities organised by our partners.
My thanks to the co-chairs Ms Diana Pang and Dr Ang Seng Bin, the Women Executive Committees of East Coast Buzz, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, SATA CommHealth, SingHealth as well as Osteoporosis Society of Singapore, for bringing your volunteers, experts and doctors to support our community!

 

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HSK wants to build a better future with opportunities, progress, and unity for all.

Heng Swee Keat​

13 November at 17:07 ·
Our next step will be taken with our best foot forward.
Directed by local filmmaker Boo Junfeng, gov.sg’s “Together, for Better” video series shows Singaporeans of all ages and backgrounds overcoming challenges and thriving at every stage of life.
Whether to build your first home, to start a new family, to embark on a new career, or to plan for retirement – you are not alone.
The #ForwardSG exercise is the government’s pledge to walk alongside every Singaporean, to support and empower individuals and families alike to realise their dreams. Together, we can build a better future with opportunities, progress, and unity for all. You can watch the films here:


YOUTUBE.COM
Together, for Better
#ForwardSG Step boldly into a future where dreams and aspirations can thrive. Be it in pursuit of your first home, your parenthood journey, your next career ...

 

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HSK congratulates everyone.

Heng Swee Keat​

14 November at 17:00 ·
It is the start of the school holidays! Many schools held graduation and awards ceremonies for our students across different levels and ages, to celebrate their achievements for the year. Congratulations to everyone!
I recently celebrated with the young graduates of PCF Bedok Blk 30 as they marked the end of their preschool journey and looked forward to an exciting new chapter in primary school.
It was a joy seeing the kids perform and shine on stage. To our little graduates, may your path ahead be filled with curiosity, discovery, and fun!

A big thank you to our dedicated teachers for nurturing our students over the years. Wishing all students, teachers, and families a meaningful and enjoyable year-end break!
PAP Community Foundation

 

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HSK thanks Governor Kim.

Heng Swee Keat

is in Gyeonggi-do.​

23h ·
Gyeonggi province is the most populous province in the Republic of Korea and one of the key economic and innovation hubs of the country.
Grateful to be hosted by our Gyeonggi friends at Pangyo Technovalley, Gwanggyo Bio Hub and Suwon Hwaseong Fortress. These sites reflect Gyeonggi’s storied history and forward-looking vision.
I am impressed by the progress they have made. Just as importantly, there are many collaboration opportunities between our companies in Singapore and Gyeonggi to harness science, technology, and innovation to create new opportunities and jobs for our people.
Ended the day with dinner hosted by Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon, whom I last met in Singapore in 2018. Under his leadership, Gyeonggi has made significant strides in AI, biotech and technological growth.
As Singapore and the ROK work towards upgrading our bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership next year, I look forward to Gyeonggi’s contributions in R&D and Technology.
My thanks to Governor Kim for the warm and gracious hospitality!

 

[jw5]

HSK was glad to meet entrepreneurial startups and investors.

Heng Swee Keat​

10h ·
Beyond the large family businesses like Samsung, Hyundai, LG, SK and Lotte which are internationally renowned, the Republic of Korea also has a vibrant corporate ecosystem that holds great promise and opportunities.
I was glad to meet entrepreneurial startups and investors, who provided insights into the ROK’s “new economy” driven by R&D and innovation. Our local institutions like the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore are actively driving collaborations in ROK in this area, and I look forward to many new milestones ahead.
I also had the opportunity to learn more about the creative industry in ROK, including a visit to CJ Entertainment which produced global hits like Parasite and Crash Landing on You. These productions, and other creative outputs like K-pop, are not only creating a new source of growth in ROK, but also winning friends and fans globally. It is interesting to hear that around 10% of graduates in ROK study arts-related courses, which builds a strong pipeline of talent for these sectors. In Singapore, our University of the Arts will be enrolling students this year, and I look forward to their success in developing talent for the creative industry.
As a Global-Asia node for technology, innovation and enterprise, we will continue to foster new partnerships and deepen collaborations with like-minded enterprises to enrich our Research, Innovation and Enterprise ecosystem and spur our next bound of growth to enhance our people-to-people ties.

 

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HSK visited a bookstore in South Korea. (something he cannot do in Singapore)

Heng Swee Keat​

1h ·
Am back home from a productive visit to Seoul and Gyeonggi!
Dropped by a local bookstore in between meetings to check out interesting reads. It's no wonder why the store is popular — the glowing arches in the interior space feel like portals into another world — an apt reminder of how books transport us across time and space, while expanding our knowledge.

 

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from straitstimes.com:

South Korea’s vibrant corporate ecosystem filled with opportunities: DPM Heng​

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat (right) with South Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Lee Ju-Ho in Seoul, on Nov 19. PHOTO: MDDI

Sarah Koh
UPDATED

NOV 21, 2024, 09:29 PM

FacebookTelegram

SINGAPORE – After a working visit to South Korea, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat described the country as having a “vibrant corporate ecosystem” that holds great promise and opportunities.

DPM Heng, who was in South Korea between Nov 17 and 21, said in a Facebook post on Nov 21 that he met start-ups and investors, gaining insights into South Korea’s “new economy” driven by research and development and innovation.

“Our local institutions like Nanyang Technological University are actively driving collaborations in (the) Republic of Korea in this area, and I look forward to many new milestones ahead,” said DPM Heng, who is also chairman of the National Research Foundation.


He noted that around 10 per cent of South Korean graduates study arts-related courses, which builds a strong pipeline of talent for creative sectors such as K-pop and television shows.

“In Singapore, our University of the Arts will be enrolling students this year, and I look forward to their success in developing talent for the creative industry,” DPM Heng said.

During his visit, DPM Heng also met South Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Lee Ju-ho, senior secretary to the president for science and technology Park Sang-wook, and Bank of Korea governor Rhee Chang-yong.

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Nov 21 said the meetings reaffirmed the “robust and longstanding partnership” between Singapore and South Korea and the commitment towards upgrading bilateral relations to a strategic partnership in 2025.

DPM Heng Swee Keat (far right) met government officials, start-ups and investors during his working visit to South Korea. PHOTO: MDDI
The upgrade would coincide with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Singapore and South Korea, the statement said.

DPM Heng and South Korean corporate leaders, start-ups and academics discussed how both countries can step up collaborations in the fields of deepening regional economic integration and harnessing science, technology and innovation, the statement said.

They also explored developing policies and programmes to support people in the face of economic and social challenges, such as an ageing population.

By 2030, around one in four Singapore citizens will be aged 65 and above.

DPM Heng also travelled to Gyeonggi province, where he was hosted to dinner by Governor Kim Dong-yeon, the statement said.

DPM Heng and Dr Kim discussed ways in which Singapore and Gyeonggi province – the largest province in South Korea – could step up cooperation in the areas of artificial intelligence, science and technology, as well as exchanges between researchers, students and youth.

In Gyeonggi, DPM Heng also visited Pangyo Technovalley and Gwanggyo Bio Hub to learn about the province’s efforts to develop its innovation ecosystem.