Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan says diversity and open population sharpen's the country's edge

He spoke to a gathering of American and international policymakers

The escalating diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, and its impact on travel plans and visa application is worrying the Indian tourism industry.

The relationship between the two countries severely deteriorated following a startling statement by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday. Trudeau accused an Indian government agency of being responsible for the death of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June this year.

Over time, India has been urging countries such as Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom to initiate legal proceedings against Khalistani terrorists. Prime Minister Modi has personally discussed this matter with the respective Prime Ministers of these countries, with a particular emphasis on Canada, where Sikhs constitute nearly 2% of the nation's population.

Amidst the same, here's another nation with widespread cultures and diversity on par with that of India. Singapore's growing reputation as a thriving tech hub, coupled with its adept handling of geopolitics, has garnered attention in Washington.

During a recent interview, Singapore's Foreign Minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, was questioned about how the country maintains positive relations with both the United States and China, particularly in the face of escalating techno-economic competition between these two global giants.

Dr. Balakrishnan pointed to one key factor: Singapore's approach of prioritizing the enhancement of its own competitive strengths rather than becoming overly embroiled in competitive conflicts.

He spoke to a gathering of American and international policymakers, members of Congress, and executives from Silicon Valley during the Global Emerging Technology Summit organized by the Special Competitive Studies Project.

This non-profit and non-partisan think tank, headed by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, believes that China could emerge as a victor in the technology competition. As a result, they have advocated for the United States to bolster its domestic manufacturing capabilities and intensify its oversight of technology transfers to China.

“Having two superpowers compete, that is competition. Having lots of small companies competing, that is competition. The real question is competitiveness. In Singapore, it is the latter that we are focused on,” he said.

And the most important ingredient for competitiveness is people, Dr Balakrishnan stated.

“That means getting immigration policy right, getting education policy right, getting adult education right,” he futher added.

When asked about how Singapore was crafting its immigration policies to draw in top-notch tech companies and venture capital firms from around the globe, he attributed this to the country's policies, along with its diverse and inclusive population. “It helps that in Singapore we are a small, very young nation. We’re multiracial, multilingual. We use English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil."

He recognized that the arrival of foreigners might occasionally provoke concerns among Singaporean citizens but emphasized that the nation recognizes the importance of maintaining its openness. “That does not mean from time to time we will not have political pushback against foreigners, against competition, against globalisation.

According to the Economic Development Board, Singapore boasts over 4,000 technology startups, 400 venture capital companies, and 200 incubators and accelerators. Furthermore, in the first quarter of 2023, it drew nearly $700 million in funding for technology startups. Dr. Balakrishnan also highlighted that having a government that is supportive of the tech industry is an additional advantage.

Also read: India Canada row: Tech industry in wait and watch mode, says no immediate areas of concern