Singapore ministry taps SapientNitro’s Kim Douglas for its Infocomm Media Masterplan

The new committee’s task is to study the media sector and explore development options and wider information-communications strategies in Singapore. The ultimate goal is to transform the country into a leading media and infocomm hub.

In June 2013, Yaacob Ibrahim, Singapore’s minster for communications and information, announced the committee’s formation. Koh Boon Hwee, chairman of Credence Partners, will chair the 14-member body, which will be private sector-led with support from the ministry, along with the Infocomm Development Authority, the Media Development Authority and the Economic Development Board.

Over the next two years, the steering group will work closely with academia, and the private and public sectors to deliver a masterplan that will guide the development of Singapore’s infocomm and media sectors into 2025.

“All eyes are on Asia and particularly Singapore as a global centre for technological advancements, and I very much look forward to helping identify key development areas to propel Singapore as a world leader in the sector,” Douglas said.

The Steering Committee comprises five working committees and is likely to make recommendations in terms of technology and R&D, infrastructure, industry and enterprise development, manpower and talent development and economic and social transformation.

Douglas and the team plan to concentrate on developing talent, skill sets and best practices. The committee also has an aim to encourage influencers and role models to participate in key industry or technology positions as well as help line up both government and private funding. Another key agenda is to instil a startup mentality like that found in the USA’s Silicon Valley area, Douglas said.

Singapore’s infocomm industry, comprising mobile, data, broadcast and other media communications, registered healthy 23 per cent growth in 2012, reach $102 billion and contributing 144,000 jobs. Figures for 2013 were not yet available.