DPM Heng Swee Keat shares Singapore’s Smart Nation insights in New Delhi

Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who is in New Delhi for a bilateral visit from October 1 to 4, shared insights from the island state's Smart Nation initiative. 

Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) India Economic Summit (IES), of which he is the co-chair this year, he also talked about how technology should be human-centric and help amplify potential, rather than replace workers.

Singapore's DPM Heng Swee Keat co-chaired the India Economic Summit in New Delhi on Thursday, October 3. Photo courtesy: MCI, Fyrol
Singapore's DPM Heng Swee Keat co-chaired the India Economic Summit in New Delhi on Thursday, October 3. Photo courtesy: MCI, Fyrol

DPM Heng also spoke about strengthening ties and deepening collaboration between South Asia and ASEAN, including on the digital economy.

On the sidelines of the summit, he met foreign counterparts Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, and Minister of Railways and Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal.

Singapore's DPM Heng Swee Keat meeting foreign counterparts Minister of Railways, and Minister of Commerce and Industry of India Piyush Goyal and Ministry of State (Independent Charge) Civil Aviation, Housing & Urban Affairs and Commerce & Industry Hardeep Singh Puri at the sidelines of India Economic Summit. Photo courtesy: MCI, Fyrol
Singapore's DPM Heng Swee Keat meeting foreign counterparts Minister of Railways, and Minister of Commerce and Industry of India Piyush Goyal and Ministry of State (Independent Charge) Civil Aviation, Housing & Urban Affairs and Commerce & Industry Hardeep Singh Puri at the sidelines of India Economic Summit. Photo courtesy: MCI, Fyrol

"Singapore enjoys warm, broad-based, multi-faceted bilateral relations with India," DPM Heng wrote in a Facebook post. "We discussed regional and global economic developments and how we can further deepen collaboration in areas such as infrastructure, digitalisation, and trade facilitation." 

Some 100 Singaporeans gathered here at the Singapore High Commission in Delhi for the reception. Photo courtesy: MCI, Fyrol
Some 100 Singaporeans gathered at the Singapore High Commission in Delhi for the reception. Photo courtesy: MCI, Fyrol

Singapore High Commission in Delhi hosted a reception for Singaporeans in New Delhi to meet and interact with the minister. "One of my favourite highlights when I travel overseas is being able to meet up with overseas Singaporeans," Heng said. 

He also visited the Lodhi Colony – an art district decorated with street murals and vibrant eclectic artworks. In a few photographs uploaded to a Facbook post, Heng showed off murals at ‘Singapore Lane’ done by local artists – Yip Yew Chong, Sam Lo, Eugene Soh and Sheryo.

DPM Heng took a wefie in front of
DPM Heng took a wefie in front of "Impressions of Lodhi" by Yip Yew Chong, with Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for National Development, Desmond Lee, Minister of State, Ministry of National Development and Ministry of Manpower, Zaqy Mohamad and Raymond Lim from Singapore Tourism Board at the Lodhi Art District. Photo courtesy: Heng Swee Keat FB

"They have done well promoting our art and culture beyond our little red dot. I hope that the Singapore community in India will continue to play their part and make Singapore proud," he added.