PM Wong to announce details on support for families, costs of raising children at NDR

But many parents are rightly concerned about its effects on children and young people, especially how excessive use can harm their mental well-being, relationships and health development, he said.

He added that the Government will put in place stronger safeguards to protect children and help them navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.

By the same principle, Singapore will adopt artificial intelligence on its own terms, by making full use of it to raise productivity and create better jobs, he said.

This will be paired with investment in skills and training, so that every worker can adapt, grow and thrive.

As new technological breakthroughs reshape the world, they create opportunities unimaginable just a few years ago but also raise new challenges and questions, PM Wong said.

“We cannot stand still while others move ahead. But neither should we accept every new technology uncritically,” he added.

“Singapore will embrace these advances on our own terms. They must remain tools that serve people, strengthen communities and improve lives.”

In his message that also covered how the Republic is dealing with a changed world, PM Wong said the Singapore economy has remained resilient despite the challenges brought by an uncertain global situation, marked by conflicts, trade barriers and weakened trust between nations.

Singapore has felt this most directly through the crisis in the Middle East, which remains volatile, he noted.

The effects of the conflict continue to ripple across the world, through higher energy prices, disrupted supply chains, and increased costs for households and businesses, he said.

Despite this, Singapore’s growth has been robust in the first half of the year, and the momentum is expected to continue, he said.

The labour market has also remained stable, with new jobs continuing to be created, and Singapore is also benefiting from the rapid growth of AI, especially in the semiconductor sector, he added.

Even then, he acknowledged that many Singaporeans are understandably concerned about their jobs, their families and their future.

He noted how the Government had worked to bring back Singaporeans from the Middle East when the conflict erupted, and how it also acted quickly to help households and businesses cope with the uncertainty, and had recently announced another package of measures.

“We cannot control events beyond our shores. But we can control how we respond. And we will always stand by Singaporeans,” he said.

At the same time, the Government is also dealing with tomorrow’s challenges and has completed a comprehensive review of its economic strategies that will lead to a refresh in the approach to industry and trade and strengthen competitiveness, he said.

“Our goal is not just to weather the current turbulence. It is to emerge stronger, more resilient, and better positioned for whatever lies ahead,” he added.

Looking further ahead, PM Wong said Singapore has always taken the long view, thinking not just in years but in decades.

He said the Government will continue to strengthen energy security, optimise the island’s limited land, and invest in the infrastructure of tomorrow.

Building for the future also means remaining open to new ideas, forging links with the wider world, and welcoming those who wish to contribute to society and make Singapore their home, he said.

For a small nation like Singapore, staying connected to the world is a necessity and not a choice, he added. “When times are uncertain, it is tempting for countries to turn inward. But Singapore cannot afford to do so,” he said.

“Our openness has served us well throughout our history, and it remains vital to our success in the years ahead.”

As the world becomes more divided, the values embodied in the National Pledge – that Singapore can become one nation, bound together not by race, language or religion, but by a shared commitment to one another and to the country – have become more relevant than ever, he said.

He called on every generation to do its part to build a better future for the next.

Wishing Singaporeans a happy National Day, he said: “We inherited a Singapore built through the sacrifice, hard work and foresight of those who came before us. Now, it is our turn to build on that legacy and leave behind an even stronger Singapore.”