SINGAPORE, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat on Tuesday called on businesses to invest in innovation, people and community, so as to continue their good stewards for the future.
Heng said at the Stewardship Asia Roundtable 2019, organized by Stewardship Asia Centre in conjunction with Temasek's Ecosperity Week, that businesses should invest in their future through innovation, and be quick to innovate in order to stay relevant and competitive.
"Companies need to make the effort to understand new developments in technology in their fields, consider how these can be adopted and integrated into existing business processes, and create new value," he added.
Heng said that continuous innovation with technological advancements means that the jobs of tomorrow would be different from the jobs of today, therefore businesses should invest in people, which is of utmost importance because people are the most valuable resource.
"To keep up with the fast-changing environment, we must empower our workers to develop an attitude and spirit of continuous and lifelong learning," he said, adding that companies should look after the health, safety and welfare of their workers.
Besides, the deputy prime minister said that businesses should invest in community, as everyone played a part in building a caring and giving society that takes care of the needy and vulnerable. He said that companies had an integral and multiplier role to play by offering their expertise and resources, and mobilizing employees to create impactful and sustainable corporate social responsibility initiatives.
"Ultimately, a caring and cohesive society requires everyone, including businesses, to come together to do good for a more sustainable tomorrow," Heng said.
The Stewardship Asia Roundtable is an annual leadership platform for the exchange of ideas and perspectives on advocating effective stewardship and governance across Asia. This year's event attracted over 200 participants consisting of business leaders and thinkers from about 20 countries and regions and 146 organizations across Asia.
