Two Ministers of Singapore will participate in the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting at Davos in Switzerland including Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.
The WEF Annual Meeting is a platform for leaders in government, industry and academia to share experiences and explore novel approaches to address evolving global challenges. The meeting will continue till January 20.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan who also happens to be Minister-In-Charge of the Smart Nation Initiative along with senior minister Sim Ann will participate in sessions on our Smart Nation Initiative, including the impact of new technologies on future jobs; enhanced education and training; autonomous mobility to improve public transport; and more responsive public services.
Minister Balakrishnan will also attend sessions involving government and business leaders from ASEAN to share the lessons learnt from the ASEAN experience and the opportunities, challenges and priorities of ASEAN in the new global context. He will also take part in sessions on issues related to energy and regional security frameworks.
Sim Ann will participate in sessions related to sustainable energy innovation and globalisation. She will also represent Singapore at the Informal World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Gathering, hosted by Swiss Federal Councillor Johann Schneider-Ammann, on the side-lines of the WEF Meeting.
This meeting will bring together more than 30 Trade and Foreign Ministers of selected WTO Members to discuss potential deliverables for the upcoming 11th WTO Ministerial Conference in December, as well as the future of trade in light of the current global economic situation.
Minister Balakrishnan and Sim will be accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Trade and Industry and Smart Nation Programme Office, Prime Minister’s Office.