Singapore Ambassador: Human Resource Development Crucial for Economic Growth

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Singapore’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Kwok Fook Seng, explained the importance of human resource development for the economic growth of Indonesia and Singapore. “In efforts to support human resource development, I think we cannot emphasise enough how important this programme is for our economic future,” Kwok said at the SingCham Uplifting Summit 2026 in Jakarta on Thursday. The SingCham Uplifting Summit 2026 is a scholarship programme for 13 Indonesian students, providing them with opportunities to obtain financial assistance, mentorship, 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 participate in paid internships at companies in Singapore. The students are not only from universities in the Greater Jakarta area but also from Bandung, West Java. Furthermore, Kwok said that the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has presented significant challenges to the sustainability of the energy transition. According to him, human innovation can solve these problems. He stressed that although humans are greatly assisted by technology, technology itself remains a product of human innovation. Therefore, human resource capacity building plays a vital role in national development and economic growth. “What we really want to see is the students gaining experience with a different operating system from what we are used to,” he said, referring to the differences between corporate operating systems in Singapore and Indonesia. “But ultimately, we encourage you to develop independent skills and embrace 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 educational programme is part of bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Singapore, as well as an investment in the future of both countries. “And at the heart of all this are our human resources and our people. Everything we do is for the benefit of our people, so this is very important,” he said.