Singapore had been evolving rapidly over the last ten years from a manufacturing based economy to a knowledge based economy and as a result, many of our people were displaced and forced into the street due to strucutral changes in the employment market.
This trend will continue to take its tolls on our populations especially those that are less educated and illeterate. Even many who are educated but did not keep up with the market trend by learning and developing new skill to match the challenge of the new economy are similarly affected.
Many businesses were forced to closed down or relocated to remain viable. This include many of our government agencies which are also forced to reinvent themselves and change its employment policies. Many more businesses especialy retail outlets in the heartland are also feeling the crunch with the slowdown in demand for their products and services.
With the opening up of the internet market for service providers, distribution of products and services online will gradually replace most of the traditional ways of moving goods & services. How will this affect our future businesses and population and what measure is being done to bring us to the next level of capability to cope with the challenges of a new world?