Speech by President S R Nathan at reception for Creative 2005 Reinvent Your Future

Minister Lee Boon Yang
Minister Mah Bow Tan
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

1 Let me first of all welcome all of you who are present here tonight, especially our overseas friends. This highlight event held under the auspices of the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts’ (MICA) Creative 2005 – Reinvent Your Future platform has a special significance.

2 As just mentioned by Dr Lee Boon Yang, Singapore has put the spotlight on creative industries for the first time, and at an International level. It is marked by a series of events and activities under the banner of Creative 2005, to celebrate and promote the Creative Industries comprising Arts, Design and Media.

3 Creative 2005 puts life into our national strategy. Driven by MICA, DesignSingapore Council, Media Development Authority and National Arts Council, this series of events seeks to develop Singapore into a prominent Asian node for Creative Industries.

4 Drawing on our cosmopolitan society and unique confluence of diverse cultures, businesses and technologies, Singapore is well-positioned to attract, package and present the best of creative insights, talents and products from Asia and around the globe. A key factor which has enabled Singapore to draw companies like LucasFilm, Koie and BMW Designworks, is our ability to provide them the ambience and comfort to create new and distinctive products and services which draw inspiration from both the East and the West. Apart from a world class business environment and strong Intellectual Property regime, our compact size and dense mix of activities spanning arts, business and technology facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration and experimentation. We have created an increasingly supportive environment for the Creative Industries to prosper.

5 The fact that this reception is being held here tonight at the Istana underscores the importance that Singapore attaches to the Creative Industries. In a report by Singapore’s Economic Review Committee, the Creative industry was identified as one of the promising services areas to grow, along with other sectors such as Healthcare and Education.

6 Through the Creative Industries Development Strategy (CIDS), a three-pronged approach comprising Renaissance City 2.0, DesignSingapore and Media 21, Singapore aims to double the GDP contribution of this cluster to 6% in 2012.

7 All over the world, we are beginning to see the vast potential of this cluster. The Creative Industries are estimated to account for more than 7% of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) and are forecast to grow by an average of 10% annually[1]. In the UK, for example, the Creative Industries contributed to over 8% of Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2001 and creative employment totalled 1.9 million jobs in June 2002[2]. Countries in this region such as China, Thailand and more recently, the Philippines are also focusing their attention on creative industries. We too want to be able to tap on the vast potential of the creative industries to spur Singapore’s next phase of economic growth. We believe that our investments in this industry will reap dividends in the economic and social spheres.  

8 Singapore also seeks to play more significant roles in the global creative community.  Our local talents are increasingly making headlines internationally.  One of Singapore’s notable film-makers, Eric Khoo, helped place Singapore on the world map recently when his film ‘Be With Me’ received a five-minute standing ovation when it opened the prestigious Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival. The House of Harmony, the first co-production between Singapore and Germany, premiered in Germany on 30 October to 5.5 million viewers.  I was told the telemovie was completely shot in Singapore with production and creative talents from both countries and a star-studded cast from Singapore, Germany and Hong Kong.

9 In the area of design, the international headquarters of the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI), as well as the BMW Designworks Asian Design Centre have set up in Singapore in 2005.  As a growing media city, Singapore is already home to some of the international brands including AXN, BBC World, CNBC Asia, and Discovery Networks Asia. RGM Holdings, a leading talent management company which lists Cate Blanchett among its clients, is the latest to set up its headquarters and a US$100 million media financing facility in Singapore. These developments signify the growing importance of design in Singapore, as well as the potential of Singapore design in the perception of international design bodies.

10 As Singapore’s Creative Industries come of age, it is timely that Singapore gives due recognition to its creative talents in a significant and meaningful way.  I would like to begin this process with the inauguration of the President’s Design Award as design is an important component of the Creative Industries.

11 The President’s Design Award honours the very best of Singapore’s design community. It is the premier award for Singapore designers whose outstanding talents and design have not only contributed to the development of Singapore as a leading design city but also, to our culture and our quality of life.

12 Administered by the DesignSingapore Council and the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore, the Award will embrace all design disciplines, including but not limited to fashion, industrial product, communications, architecture and urban design.  Nominees for the two categories of ‘Singapore Designers of the Year’ and ‘Singapore Designs of the Year’ will be shortlisted on the basis of merit.  For “Singapore Designers of the Year”, this includes demonstrating design excellence, peer recognition, and a sustained body of professional works. Designed products eligible for “Singapore Designs of the Year” should be of a high calibre, and have contributed to the shaping of Singapore as a distinctive global and leading design city. Following the public nomination process, the candidates will be assessed by a jury of specialists.

13 The President’s Design Award is an important initiative to nurture and encourage Singapore’s pool of creative talent to excel in their chosen field of expertise. By recognising and celebrating our most successful and creative professionals, the Award should help raise awareness and garner due respect for our designers and their works, and engender national pride in their achievements.

14 Good design has the ability to enhance individual, corporate and national competitiveness. In an ideas-driven economy, design will also become increasingly important as it creates new intellectual property. Extend design to a nation-wide vision and it will have the potential to achieve much more. In countries such as Scandinavia and Japan, design thought permeates beyond the various design disciplines of fashion, environment, communications and product design, influencing even the design of systems and the way people live. Our understanding of design determines the extent to which we are able to influence, shape and overcome each situation. The President’s Design Award signals the importance and relevance of design for every Singaporean.

15 On this note, I now declare the inaugural President’s Design Award open for nominations.

16 I wish everyone a pleasant evening, and an enjoyable stay in Singapore for our overseas visitors. Thank you.