Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat announced in Budget 2017 that the Government will introduce the SMEs Go Digital Programme to help small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) build their digital capabilities.
Under the programme, SMEs will get step-by-step advice on the technologies to use at each stage of their growth.
Another key initiative announced was the Global Innovation Alliance which will allow SMEs to connect with overseas markets.
Foreign companies can also link up with Singapore partners to co-innovate, test new products in Singapore and expand in the region.
The Digital Challenge
The Labour Movement and its partners have welcomed the initiative.
Singapore’s workforce needs to be prepared in terms of skills and mindsets to thrive in the future digital work environment, said CEO of NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) and Assistant Director-General Gilbert Tan.
“To accomplish this, we need to roll out a skills package to prepare our workforce for the future. This package would need to cover working in the digital future, essential technology skills, as well as mindsets of inculcating lifelong employability, the desire and motivation to continuously upgrade to keep one step ahead of job requirements,” said Mr Tan.
Currently, the Labour Movement through training provider NTUC LearningHub (LHUB) already has courses in place for the digital era.
“At NTUC LearningHub, we already have a suite of Professional Conversion Programmes and courses to cope with the digital era. Many of our courses are already bite-size short courses as we understand the work-learn balance needs of our workers,” said CEO Kwek Kok Kwong.
Meanwhile, NTUC Assistant Director-General and U Professionals, Managers and Executives & U Associate Unit Director Vivek Kumar emphasised the importance of digitalisation for the long term.
“From the Global Innovation Alliance to the focus on digitalisation of our enterprises, the Budget encourages us to prepare for not just reacting to the short term tremors, but also to make our foundations firmer. However, we must be conscious that this is not an easy shift for individuals or businesses,” he said.
The SME Perspective
The Labour Movement’s SME community also welcomed the new measures.
Responding to the SMEs Go Digital programme, NTUC Assistant Director-General and U SME Director Yeo Guat Kwang noted: “SMEs should realise that all the schemes and programmes which have been introduced over the past few years to help them are still there. In this Budget, the funding is more focused to help them make their businesses more viable and at the same time create better jobs and improve the livelihood of their workers.”
Summing things up, Kurt Wee, President of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (ASME), a U SME partne, said SMEs and local enterprises can receive help for their specific technological needs.
“ASME believes that these digital proposals are in line with market needs. These initiatives, combined with the established network of SME Centres, can handhold SMEs through their digitalisation journeys, enabling SMEs to leverage on technology and enhance their businesses,” he explained.
Source:NTUC This Week
