Singapore and Chinese companies signed 13 deals yesterday for the collaborative efforts to employ digital technologies in education, manufacturing and telecommunications at the annual Smart China Expo in Chongqing, China on Monday, August 26, 2019.
The efforts include using technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality and artificial intelligence in a new learning procedure for pre-schools and developing analytic solutions for smart manufacturing.
About 70 Singapore companies attended the four-day event.
The event also saw the signing of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) by Singtel and StarHub with the three biggest mobile network operators in China: China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom.
The MOUs were signed in efforts to strengthen collaboration and support between the organisations.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) said that the MOUs are a start to the journey of improving data connectivity between Singapore and Chongqing. This will as a result place both cities as strategic hubs where businesses will flock to; Singapore for expanding into the Asia-Pacific region and Chongqing for western China.
IMDA also mentioned that SingTel will offer its resources in cloud, Internet of Things and smart city solutions to help businesses speed up their digitalisation process.
IMDA chief executive Tan Kiat How said that Chongqing and the western region of China are crucial markets for Singapore-based technology enterprises.
He added that there is an observation of an increase in Chinese enterprises moving into South-east Asia and are in search of like-minded business partners from the region.
The expo housed a Singapore Digital pavilion which featured the display of fintech and urban solutions, artificial intelligence, data analytics, transport and logistics.
There was also the launch of a 40-million yuan (S$7.8 million) fund to aid new infocomm media projects, in the aims of encouraging joint partnerships.
Minister of Manpower Josephine Teo said that this event presents a platform for Singapore and China to learn and grow more from each other through the sharing of experiences and expertise.
“In a future economy, where service sectors play such an important role, we believe Singapore’s efforts in creating a trusted and vibrant B2B (business-to-business) ecosystem, coupled with our extensive business networks in the Asia-Pacific region, will place us in a good position to partner Chongqing and China,” she said.
There recently also have been collaborative efforts on technology and innovation between Singapore and China.
In an earlier OpenGov article, we reported on the discussion of more collaborations between Singapore and Zhejiang, China.
Sustainable cities and communities of the future were discussed at the 14th Singapore-Zhejiang Economic and Trade Council (SZETC) meeting in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, back in July this year.
It was co-chaired by Senior Minister of State for Communication and Information, & Culture, Community and Youth Ms Sim Ann, and Zhejiang Vice Governor Zhu Congjiu.
Singapore companies will see more opportunities in key sectors including urban development, logistics and e-commerce in Zhejiang, as the province moves towards a future of urban sustainability, innovation, and modern living.
The Singapore-Zhejiang Economic and Trade Council has seen good progress in collaborations under its five Working Groups: Oil Trade and Maritime Services; Technology and Innovation; Youth and Cultural Exchange; Financial Connectivity, Legal and Professional Services; and Sustainable Urban Development.
