Singapore PM Lawrence Wong's National Day Message for 2025

Singapore's Founding and Resilience

• 💡 Singapore became an independent nation in 1965, a path not initially intended by its founding leaders who believed it had to be part of Malaysia.
• 🚀 Despite being considered too small and vulnerable, the nation prevailed and prospered against significant odds, marking the significance of SG60.
• ✅ Over the past 60 years, Singapore has overcome numerous challenges, including racial strife, economic crises, and global pandemics, demonstrating its resilience and ability to learn from setbacks.

Navigating a Volatile Global Landscape

• ⚠️ The global order that allowed Singapore to thrive for decades is now unraveling, characterized by new conflicts, deepening geopolitical tensions, and worsening protectionist sentiments.
• 🌍 This presents a more contested, fragmented, and volatile world that small states like Singapore must navigate, facing bigger powers willing to use all tools at their disposal.

Economic Strategy and Future Preparedness

• 📈 Singapore is refreshing its economic strategy to strengthen competitiveness, deepen capabilities, and secure its future in this changed world.
• 🤖 This involves moving faster, adapting quicker, and innovating smarter, including embracing new technologies like artificial intelligence and robotics across the economy.
• 📊 The Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce is actively rolling out targeted measures to support businesses and help Singaporeans maintain employment amidst economic uncertainty.

Supporting Citizens and Social Compact

• 🌱 The government is committed to walking this journey with its citizens, expanding opportunities for learning and skills upgrading and strengthening social safety nets.
• 🤝 Initiatives like Forward Singapore aim to refresh the social compact, providing support and confidence, and schemes like the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme help those facing setbacks.

The Enduring Singapore Spirit

• 💖 At the heart of Singapore's success is its unity, mutual support, and shared purpose, which are crucial for a small nation that cannot afford to be divided.
• 🇸🇬 The nation was built on the principle of being a multi-racial nation where everyone has an equal place, regardless of race, language, or religion.
• 🌟 Drawing strength from its past journey from "third world to first," Singapore aims to press forward with confidence to secure a brighter future for generations to come.