IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking is an indicator of countries’ capacity and readiness of their economies to implement and explore new technologies for a transformation in the government, businesses, and society as a whole. In 2021, Singapore was ranked 5th in her ability to adopt new technologies, following closely behind Denmark and Sweden. Factors that were taken into consideration for the ranking include the digital knowledge of the country, the ability to develop new technologies, and preparedness to implement such technologies.
The Smart Nation
With the vision to set itself as a Smart Nation, the government has three areas of focus: Digital Government, Digital Economy, and Digital Society. Several projects have also been put in place to move the country towards the digital era; all without leaving those without technical knowledge behind. Such projects include e-payments, national digital identity, GoBusiness, and smart towns.
Digital Government
Making a physical trip down to the government offices or embassies is a thing of the past. With technological advancements, individuals can simply do what needs to be done through secured government sites. These secured sites have seamless integration with the database and have an easy interface for individuals of all ages to use. By ensuring that the data submitted are secured and resilient against cyberattacks, citizens will have an increased level of confidence in the government and will be open to adopting new digital technologies.
Digital Economy
Digitalization of business transactions is crucial in attracting foreign investors. With more investments, organisations will be able to expand their business, create more jobs, and employ more workers. This ultimately leads to an increase in opportunities and economic growth in Singapore.
Digital Society
The government aims to make technology accessible to every citizen and to improve society’s digital literacy. During the Circuit Breaker period in 2020, Smart Nation digital ambassadors have been deployed to various parts of the country to assist seniors and non-tech-savvy hawkers to switch to e-payments and listing their products on various food delivery platforms. Not only that, there are also two smart towns that were recently developed – Punggol Digital District (PDD) and Tengah. These districts integrate smart technologies into public spaces to increase efficiency in facilities management, and goods delivery, as well as increase the level of security in the neighbourhood.
Technology has been rapidly changing how society and the government work. In just a couple more years, Singapore will be developed as a Smart Nation and our lives will be ever more entwined with technology. If you aspire to be a citizen in this technologically advanced city, get in touch with us via our contact form, email (contact@fcg.com.sg), or WhatsApp (+65 8792 2664), to know more about the immigration process today!