GovTech to transform how government delivers public services

SINGAPORE must remain forward-looking and embrace technological change, in order to realise its vision of becoming a Smart Nation, according to Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim.

He said the government has a big role to play by setting the example and applying ICT (Infocomm Technology) and related engineering solutions to improve quality of life, create opportunities for businesses, and drive productive and efficient government processes.

The minister was speaking at the launch of the Government Technology Agency, or GovTech, on Friday. The new statutory board will spearhead the government's digital and data strategy. It will partner public agencies, industry and citizens to transform public service delivery through the use of technologies such as data science and analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Ng Chee Khern, who is permanent secretary (defence development), will be chairman of GovTech, while Jacqueline Poh, former managing director of IDA (Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore), will be the CEO.

The two statutory boards, GovTech and the the Info-communications and Media Development Authority (IMDA), were created after the IDA and the Media Development Authority (MDA) merged. IMDA was formally launched last week.

Dr Yaacob said GovTech will transform the way the government delivers public services. One key digital government initiative that GovTech is working on is Moments of Life, a platform that will anticipate when citizens will require certain government services, based on the events and stages of their lives that they are in. The minister added that GovTech will also work with other agencies to develop digital services that are new, innovative and meaningful to citizens.