Yong Ying-I, Chief Executive Officer, IDA Singapore - Speech MOU Signing Ceremony for Singapore@Work 2000 TV Programme
Yong Ying-I, Chief Executive Officer, IDA Singapore - Speech
MOU Signing Ceremony for Singapore@Work 2000 TV Programme
Singapore, 28 June 2000
1. Thank you for coming this morning to witness the MOU Signing Ceremony for Singapore@Work 2000, an 8-part TV Programme to encourage Local Enterprises to adopt e-commerce to heighten their competitive advantage.
2. This new series of TV programme is built upon the successful first series presented over TCS 5 & 8 in 1998. We have gathered many positive feedback from the first series and attracted viewership of about 350,000 per episode. Many industry players and partners also commented that the programme has helped to encourage companies to computerise their operations. They told us that they looked forward to more awareness programme organised by the Government and the media. The number of companies which applied for Local Enterprise Computerisation Programme (LECP) has also increased substantially from about 350 approved cases in 1998 to almost 600 cases in 1999, show a widespread willingness amongst the business community to take action.
3. According to the key findings from the ICT usage survey 1999, the top concerns to adopting e-commerce are perceived to be cost and security issues. In the new series, we will illustrate the benefits derived by adopting e-commerce and on how to improve the security feature of the system. In fact, companies may consider outsourcing their ICT functions to any of the many solution providers or application service providers which will result in lower cost and ensuring higher security features.
4 As we move into the new economy, Local Enterprises need to change the existing business model in order to succeed. The infocomm technology has changed the playing field for companies both big and small, and only those who are flexible, agile and fast would do well. Companies should re-examine their businesses and consider new strategies such as strategic alliances with industry partners. Our academic institutions can also help to provide valuable help to the industry on what business models work in Asia. For instance, a casebook based on the case studies in the earlier series has been published early this year by the Faculty of Business Administration of National University of Singapore and being adopted for academic purposes. According to the NUS, the casebook provides practical real-life examples of how companies leverage on infocomm technology to improve business competitiveness.
5. Through the "Singapore@Work 2000" series, we hope to help local enterprises to see new opportunities in E-Commerce and leverage them for their business competitiveness. In particular, on how to get started, the various types of innovative business models they might consider and the available applications and technologies in the market. We believe that the TV medium will be a very good one to convey the above messages to the workforce in the most effective and fastest way.
6. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the sponsors for this initiative. This 8-part series is co-organised by the Singapore Productivity and Standards Board, sponsored by 9 industry partners, namely BMC Software Asia Pacific, IBM Singapore, JustLogin.com, Keppel TatLee Bank, National Computer Systems, Singapore Telecommunications, Stratech Systems, Sun Microsystems and WizOffice.com.
7. The series is also supported by the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Singapore Confederation of Industries, Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Singapore International Chamber of Commerce, Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce & Industry, The Association of Small & Medium Enterprises, Association of IT Consultants and last but not least, Singapore Information Technology Federation. The Singapore Government cannot be effective doing this on our own, and certainly not IDA on its own. The support of the industry and generosity of our sponsors is crucial to the success of this effort.
8. I am confident that with your efforts, we will be able to help our local enterprises take their first steps forward towards e-commerce and encourage further e-commerce adoption.
9. Thank you and have an enjoyable morning.
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