Mr S Iswaran at the ASIS International Security Conference

SPEECH BY MR S ISWARAN, MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY AT THE ASIS INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CONFERENCE, 12 FEBRUARY 2008, 9.00AM, RAFFLES CITY CONVENTION CENTRE 

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning,

Introduction

I am pleased to join you today at the second ASIS International Security Conference to be held in the Asia-Pacific Region, and warmly welcome all international participants to Singapore.

It has been more than six years since 9/11.That attack and subsequent acts of terror in Madrid, London, Bali and Jakarta, have caused governments, businesses and individuals around the world to take a hard look at security, and put in place systems and measures to ensure that such criminal acts are not repeated.Industry conferences such as this help ensure that security remains high on the international agenda, and provide a platform for the sharing of best practices among experts in the field.

Security in the Modern Economy

The modern economy depends vitally on the physical and virtual movement of data, capital, goods, services and humans in a secure environment.It underpins the Internet, international capital markets, and the global trading system.Security breaches can have a profound impact on the world economy.

It is, therefore, noteworthy how, in the course of this decade, global security systems have continuously adapted themselves to new threats to facilitate growing interconnectedness amongst countries.The travel and transportation sectors have adjusted to new realities and today global outbound travel is growing at about 4% per annum – even higher in Asia.Global trade has also been restored to a normal trajectory with trade in goods and services increasing by 14 and 13 per cent respectively between 2001 and now. There is hope that this will be given a further boost with a positive outcome for the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Doha Development Round to further lower trade barriers around the world.

Singapore is a key advocate of free trade, open skies and the interconnectedness of global markets.We have played an active role in shaping the negotiations and facilitating the process. Currently, Singapore has signed 11 Free Trade Agreements with key economies like the US, India and Japan. As an open economy and important node in the global economy, Singapore cannot afford to let our guard down when it comes to security.

Just recently, two men were arrested in Singapore for planning acts of terror or “armed jihad” after being influenced by radical ideas in print, on video and online. Before their arrest, they had succeeded in influencing another man to join their cause.This is a troubling new phenomenon of self-radicalised individuals who imbibe extreme ideology independent of direct recruitment by established terror groups. They can find information easily off the Internet and they similarly make use of such technologies to spread their ideas.

Security Cooperation at the International Level

We must remain vigilant against such activities. And this has to be a collective responsibility at the international, national and corporate levels. First, it is important that countries cooperate at the international and regional levels to counter terrorism and other security threats. This can be done through the sharing of codes, standards, threat assessments and best practices.International and regional security agencies and organisations must continue to work together to develop mechanisms to facilitate assistance and cooperation between countries.

One such collaboration is with the US on the Container Security Initiative (CSI), which Singapore was the first country in Asia to sign on to. The CSI addresses the threat to border security and global trade posed by the delivery of terrorist weapons in shipping containers.Singapore also works closely with our ASEAN neighbours to keep the Straits of Malacca, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, safe. This emphasis on port security is particularly important given that Singapore is the busiest container port in the world, attracting some 140,000 vessels annually. At any one time, there are 1,000 ships in our port. An incident in our port would have adverse consequences not only for Singapore but also for international shipping lanes through the Malacca Straits.

Preparedness at the National Level

Second, Singapore, as a nation, must be prepared. Over the last few years, extensive measures have been implemented to strengthen security at our borders through stringent immigration and security checks. We have also enhanced the security of our key infrastructure like the airport and JurongIsland, which houses our petrochemical industry. Our homefront agencies have worked together to integrate the homeland preparedness plans. Regular exercises are also conducted among the agencies, as well as with the community, to test, review and enhance our plans and systems.

Due to these efforts, Singapore’s reputation as a trusted jurisdiction has been preserved. In 2007, the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) Survey conducted among regional businessmen, rated Singapore as “the least risky” country in Asia. However, this is not the sole effort or responsibility of Government. We must leverage on the strong Government-Business partnership in Singapore to ensure we remain secure and resilient.

Partnership at the Corporate Level

The Government has, therefore, engaged the business sector in close consultations on security issues. One good example is the engagement with the two Integrated Resort (IR) operators. The collaboration started from the very beginning at the design stage of the projects, between the architectural and security consultants of the IRs and the Ministry of Home Affairs. All parties were mindful of the interplay of many factors, economic, structural and operational, and to ensure that we don’t turn the IRs into fortresses that detract from the visitors’ experience.

Such close coordination will also be key to the success of our inaugural Formula 1 Grand Prix in September. F1 is a national project not just because of the economic spin-offs it will generate, but because this is an event that will put Singapore on the world stage. As the race circuit will be in the heart of our city, the cooperation of the various stakeholders around the circuit park is critical to ensuring that operational and security plans are in place in a timely manner. And I am happy to note that many stakeholders have already stepped up to the table to do their part and work closely with the Police to ensure a safe and enjoyable event.

SPRING Singapore has also been working with SMEs on business continuity management (BCM). One such SME which has benefited from BCM is Jason Electronics, a leading supplier of marine electronics products. SPRING helped the company by providing financial assistance to their BCM measures through the Local Enterprise Technical Assistance Scheme (LETAS) grant. It also linked the company up with BCM consultants. Through SPRING’s BCM seminars, the company was also able to gain knowledge on how to address physical and infrastructure issues during contingencies. I understand that the Singapore Business Federation is also putting together a pilot project with about 15 private sector companies to create greater awareness of, and encourage participation in, BCM programs.

Conclusion

A heightened security environment may pose impediments to the free movement of goods and people. For businesses, security measures may mean additional cost. But they are unavoidable aspects of today’s environment.The challenge lies in striking the optimal balance between the protection of our people and our assets without imposing excessive measures that may disrupt economic activity and impose punitive costs on businesses.I am confident that the network of industry experts here today will share their views on these and many other issues, and offer innovative security solutions. I wish you all a productive conference.Thank you.