S’pore must do more integration as immigration crucial for economy amid low birth rate: Jeffrey Siow

Singapore needs to better integrate foreigners to stay open to immigration, which is crucial for the country’s economy and society to remain dynamic, said Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow.

This need for immigration comes amid concerning demographic realities such as the Republic’s “abysmal” total fertility rate (TFR), which hit a historic low of 0.97 in 2024, he said.

“But immigration can only go as far as integration allows, and we can only stay open and welcoming to newcomers if we are able to integrate them well,” added Mr Siow, who was speaking on a panel at the Institute of Policy Studies’ (IPS) Singapore Perspectives conference on Jan 26.

Read more at: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/spore-must-do-more-integration-as-immigration-is-crucial-for-economy-amid-low-tfr-jeffrey-siow