SINGAPORE, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) on Friday launched the Industry Transformation Map for Infocomm Media industry, which will prepare Singapore for the digital economy through three thrusts.
The first thrust is exploring new growth areas by leveraging four frontier technologies, namely artificial intelligence and data analytics, cybersecurity, immersive media, and Internet of Things (IOT).
The other two thrusts are guiding companies and workforce from the other sectors in adopting digital technology, and strengthening a vibrant core of infocomm media professionals and companies.
Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information, said at the map launch that the infocomm media industry will have its value-add to grow at around 6 percent annually from 2015 to 2020, almost twice as fast as the overall economy.
He added that the industry will employ more than 210,000 workers and create more than 13,000 new jobs as professionals, managers, executive or technicians by 2020.
The IMDA inked partnerships with IBM, Microsoft and Samsung under the Strategic Partners Programme (SPP) at the map launch event, aiming to help local technology companies scale up and build digital capabilities through joint development of innovative solutions and products for global problem statements.
Tan Kiat How, Chief Executive Officer of IMDA, told Xinhua on the sidelines of the map launch event that Singapore also looks forward to working together with Chinese companies to create new products and solutions in frontier technology fields, such as AI, cybersecurity and IOT, and jointly seizing new opportunities on the global stage.
"Singapore companies are very good at applying AI products and services in the sectors we are globally competitive in, such as financial services," he said, adding that Singapore companies can work together with Chinese companies to enter new markets and serve enterprises and consumers.
