Singapore Ambassador: Human Resource Development Crucial for Economic Growth
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Singapore’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Kwok Fook Seng, has explained the importance of human resource development for the economic growth of Indonesia and Singapore.
“In our efforts to support human resource development, I don’t think we can overemphasise how important this programme is for the future of our economy,” Kwok said at the SingCham Uplifting Summit 2026 in Jakarta on Thursday.
The SingCham Uplifting Summit 2026 is a programme awarding scholarships to 13 Indonesian students, giving them access to financial assistance, mentoring, and professional experience.
In its second year, the programme’s scope has been expanded to include scholarships for students in their final semester, allowing them to receive a stipend for one semester, as well as the opportunity to take part in paid internships at companies in Singapore.
The students come not only from universities in the Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek) area, but also from Bandung, West Java.
In addition, Kwok said that the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) today poses a major challenge to the sustainability of the energy transition. According to him, human innovation can solve this problem.
He stressed that although humans are greatly assisted by technology, technology itself remains the product of human innovation. Therefore, developing human resource capacity plays a highly important role in nation-building and economic growth.
“What we really want to see is for students to gain experience with operating systems that differ from what we usually use,” he said, referring to differences between how companies operate in Singapore and in Indonesia.
“However, ultimately, we encourage you to develop independent skills and embrace the diversity of views and approaches, because this is what will help us find new solutions to the new problems we face every day,” he added.
Kwok added that the education programme is part of bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Singapore, and at the same time an investment in the future of both countries.
“And at the heart of all this are human resources and our people. Everything we do is for the benefit of our people, so this is very important,” said the Singaporean Ambassador to Indonesia.