Like a number of other commentators, I found nothing to inspire or excite in the recent CFE Report. Not that the report was wrong in anyway. These are challenging and uncertain times. The global economy not yet really out of its tailspin. Globalization and free trade on the retreat in the face of increasing ideological extremism and protectionism. Singapore caught in the crossfire between an increasingly belligerent China and a dysfunctional US political climate. Lastly the exponentially rapid changes brought about by the transformational growth of IT. I can well imagine the difficulties the CFE had in trying to formulate a strategy going forward.
Nonetheless, I had hoped that the CFE would at least come up with a bit more clarity of vision and strategy, than just articulating the same tired motherhood statements about what we need to do. On the ground the civil service and schools has been charged to chase after the latest sexy technologies, regardless of the real improvements in efficiency and productivity, for no other reason than to look like they are at the leading edge of development. Sad. These cannot be our means of riding out this turbulent period.
But what to me was fundamentally missing in this report was the failure to consider the impact such changes have on the average Singaporean (citizen, of course, not just residents!). No doubt this was a report on future economics, but these strategies cannot be considered in vacuo. Any response to the rapidly changing global market and economic trends have major impact in terms of how the local population can adapt, find meaningful work and prosper. The usual government solution to just import ready-made employees must not be the norm.
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