Singapore Being a Good Global Citizen

Having “benefitted from the assistance and goodwill” of others when it was a developing country, Singapore believes in doing its part as a “good global citizen”, Singapore’s Emeritus Senior Minister has said.

And a key complement to the government’s sharing of its development experience, is the Singapore International Foundation’s efforts in helping “to build good relationships between Singaporeans and others”, ESM Goh Chok Tong said on Friday.

“SIF has contributed to the good image of Singapore as a helpful and trustworthy friend,” he said, adding that its efforts “have gained us much goodwill”.

Speaking at the SIF’s 20th Anniversary Partner Appreciation Dinner on 21 October 2011, ESM Goh recounted how as the then prime minister, he supported the establishment of SIF to nurture the compassion he saw in Singaporeans and encourage them to “volunteer their services to the global community of nations”.

He added that the endeavours to help others “will also make us better Singaporeans”, exposing us to the disadvantaged, kindling our generous spirit and motivating us “to do likewise at home”.

“In our push for rapid economic development, important characteristics of developed countries such as graciousness and generosity risk falling by the wayside. Hence, it is important for us to live beyond self and family and help build a kind and gracious society,” he said at the dinner where SIF honoured its partners’ contributions.

The guest of honour also gave out awards to partners to recognise their work with the foundation, and launched SIF's commemorative book, Inspirations for a Better World, a collection of stories and ideas from 40 of the foundation’s alumni on making the world better through simple actions that everyone can carry out in his everyday life.

On an evening celebrating the hundreds of partners the SIF has worked with since it started in 1991, ESM Goh affirmed the crucial role SIF plays and said “your journey continues as your mission remains important”.