Thank you, Michael.

Mr. Anthony Simonds-Gooding, Chairman

Mr. Dick Powell, President

Ladies and Gentlemen

1          Good evening. It is a pleasure to be here again. In March 2005, I was at the Old Truman Brewery in London to present the SINGAPOREdge featuring Singapore creative talents: from the arts to architecture, city planning to interior design, product design to music and fashion to cuisine.

Development of the Creative Industries in Asia

2          This evening, I have been asked to speak on Creativity in Asia from a Singapore perspective. This is indeed a very hot topic. Creativity and innovation are regularly featured on the agendas of business and regional meetings. The most recent was two weeks ago at the World Economic Forum-Asia Forum, in Tokyo, offering an extensive discussion on corporate innovation and creativity in Asia. There is growing emphasis on creativity and value added in Asia. Indeed more Asian countries and corporations are shedding their image as makers of cheap and poor quality goods. They are drilling into the motherlode of cultural capital and creativity to fuel their next phase of growth. The common perception of Asia as the sweatshop and factory of the world will change as Asian corporations tap their creative resources for growth. Japan is obviously the leader in this field. Today, other Asian countries are also zeroing on the Creative Industries.  

3          The Philippines and Thailand have gained a regional reputation for architecture, interior design and web design. The Thais have transformed their traditional Thai-silk cottage industry into a modern fashion industry with international appeal. South Korea’s chaebols such as Samsung and LG are recognized global design leaders. Samsung launched more than 150 new models of handphones each year. LG has recently won the coveted Red Dot-Design Team Award. In China the new strategy is to move from “Made in China” to ”Designed in China.” They have more than 800 university-level design schools. Chinese products by companies such as ZTE and Haier are already better designed and not competing on just price alone. Many other Asian countries have concluded that creativity is vital to maintain a competitive edge in a globalised market.

Singapore’s Creative Industry Development Strategy

4          Singapore is reinventing itself into a knowledge and innovation driven economy. In 2002, we launched a holistic effort to develop our Arts, Design and Media sectors which make up our Creative Industries. To sustain our Creative Industries, we are nurturing and supporting creative talents. We are developing a school for the arts for talented high school students. Our universities and polytechnics have diversified into arts, design and media fields.

5          In the Arts, we are enlarging space and creating opportunities for our visual and performing artists. We have increased government support for the arts.  In September this year, we will launch the inaugural Singapore Biennale 2006 an international exhibition of contemporary art. We are also developing a new National Art Gallery. In 2002, we inaugurated the Esplanade-Theatres on the Bay with world class concert hall and theatre. Since its opening, the Esplanade had attracted a growing audience to its rich and diverse arts programme. It has given a tremendous boost to the performing arts in Singapore. This blossoming of the arts will inspire and fuel more creative and innovative initiatives.

6          In the media sector, we are still very new. But already Singaporean media talents and their works are being showcased internationally at events such as the Cannes Film Festival, MIPCOM and MIPTV. A recent Singapore-made film, “Be with me”, by Eric Khoo received a 5 minute standing ovation at Cannes Directors’ Night. The film was well received not just at home but in several other countries including Korea, home of the famous “Korean wave”. The access to media talents and a supportive environment had also been noted by major international media giants. For example Lucasfilm Animation had set up an animation studio in Singapore. Koei Entertainment of Japan and Electronic Arts of the US had opened their game development studios and RGM Holding launched media fund operation last year. Our media production companies are collaborating with production companies in New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, Germany and Italy to produce uniquely Asian content for TV and cinemas.  

7          In the design sector, our companies are increasingly embracing design. They understand it is design or resign. Singapore-designed products such as Creative Technology’s Zen Vision MP3 player and portable speaker system have recently won the prestigious Red-dot Design Award. Singaporean architectural firms WOHA and W Architects were invited to exhibit their works at the AEDES Gallery in Berlin earlier this year. Two of the seven RIBA Worldwide Awards last year were from Singapore.  We are also host for the International HQ of the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI) for 2005 to 2008. The Red Dot Design Concept Award, first Red Dot Awards outside Germany, is based in Singapore. BMW opened their first Asian design studio in Singapore early this year. Come 2009, we will host two major international design events: Congresses of the International Federation of Interior Architect/Designers (IFI) and International Council of Society of Industrial Design (ICSID).

Singapore as a Gateway to Creative Asia

8          Clearly, Singapore provides a choice location for many international companies to draw inspiration from our rich and diverse Asian heritage. We offer a strategic location between the twin hubs of the Asian giants, China and India, with strong ties to ASEAN and its 500 million people. Our diverse cultural tradition, multi-lingualism, superb IT infrastructure and protection of intellectual property rights offer unique advantages to creative and innovative enterprises. If you are seeking to tap the explosion of opportunities in the creative and design sector in Asia, Singapore is the place to be.

Conclusion

9          Finally, it leaves me now to congratulate D&AD for successfully organising this Forum and I wish all participants a fruitful discussion. We have placed at your tables copies of a book which we published after the SINGAPOREdge event last year. We hope this momento will lead you to discover more about Singapore’s design and creative enterprises

10        Thank you.