) or https:// as an added precaution.Mr Tan Yew Kong, Vice Chairman, Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association,
Mr Ang Wee Seng, Executive Director, Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association,
Mr Andrew Chong, Chairman, ITE,
Mr Peter Lam, CEO of ITE,
Distinguished guests, industry leaders, educators, students and partners,
1. Good morning.
2. I am pleased to join you for Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (SSIA)'s Electronics Industry Day 2026 to celebrate the semiconductor innovations shaping the future, and the partnerships that make this possible.
3. Semiconductors are the foundation of modern electronics – and some say even modern life. They power our smartphones, cars and medical devices, and are essential to both the Internet and the AI systems that are changing the world today.
4. Semiconductors are therefore a fundamental building block for innovation and further technological advances. This is why the global semiconductor market is growing at an unprecedented pace. It is likely to hit US$1 trillion by the early 2030s, more than double its current valuation.
5. Singapore is a critical node in the global semiconductor supply chain. We produce around one in ten of the world's chips and one-fifth of global semiconductor equipment.
6. This allows us to contribute to global efforts to enable new technologies such as AI, 5G, and electrification and provides good jobs for our people.
7. Today, electronics contributes nearly 6% of our GDP, and employs over 35,000 people. And we want to continue to seize this growth opportunity.
8. That is why we are currently conducting an Economic Strategy Review, so that we have the right strategies and the right plans in place for Singapore to seize growth opportunities in electronics and other sectors and for Singaporeans to have good jobs in the long-term.
9. One key competitive advantage that we have is our ability to bring together different parts of our ecosystem to achieve a common goal. This can be seen in all the exhibition booths that all of us have visited this morning, where we have brought together the entire semiconductor value chain in one place.
10. From wafer fabs, assembly and test houses, to equipment manufacturers and materials companies, we have a wide array of capabilities and talents that is all gathered here.
11. And by working closely together, we can innovate quickly, and we can move fast.
12. Another key competitive advantage is our human capital, all of you, a workforce that both our local companies and multi-national corporations can depend on. And we need to continue investing in our people.
13. The Economic Strategy Review Human Capital Committee, made up of members from the private sector, our union, and the government is focusing on recommendations to keep our workforce agile and ready, amidst constant and rapid change.
14. For our workers, recommendations on how we can support you as adult learners to gain new skills and stay ahead of changes in the workplace.
15. For our students, recommendations to help you graduate with the right mix of domain knowledge, AI and technology knowledge, and soft skills to make you more effective with AI.
16. A key recommendation is to strengthen work-learning integration, to allow our students to graduate with industry-relevant skills and experience.
17. For example, we recommend expanding structured pathways to allow students to learn and work at the same time. One such pathway is ITE's Work-Study Diploma, where learners are hired as full-time employees of a host company, and benefit from both on-the-job training delivered by employers, as well as classroom instruction by ITE.
18. In this way, learners gain practical skills that can be applied directly in the workplace while working and also get first-hand experience. Employers gain access to a ready talent pipeline, and best practices from ITE. And, at the same time, ITE will strengthen its understanding of industry needs, helping it to keep its programmes and curriculum up-to-date.
19. So this is a win-win-win programme.
20. I am thus very happy that we will be witnessing the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between ITE and key industry players today as they come on board as employer partners for the Work-Study Diploma in Microelectronics, joining other existing employer partners from across the semiconductor value chain. In this way, we can continue to meet the talent needs of our entire semiconductor ecosystem.
21. Another way we are strengthening work-learning integration is for our students to be trained in the skills that employers value.
22. Our Institutes of Higher Learning will continue to work closely with employers and ecosystem partners to keep their curriculum up to date, and offer students internship and industry attachment opportunities.
23. A good example is SSIA's Semiconductor Active Youth (SAY) programme, where educators, industry mentors, and employers work hand-in-hand to guide selected undergraduate students. These students have opportunities to work on projects in real world environments and be mentored by industry practitioners.
24. Later, we will celebrate the graduation of the 2025 cohort of SAY Ambassadors. They have actively immersed themselves in the semiconductor sector, going beyond the classroom to build connections across the semiconductor value chain. Well done to all our students!
25. In closing, I encourage our students to explore the many exciting opportunities in the electronics and semiconductor sector. As you take ownership of your career journey, you will be supported by the community and industry, who will provide guidance, mentorship as well as real-world expertise.
26. Working together across SSIA, our Institutes of Higher Learning, companies, and agencies, we will keep our semiconductor industry at the cutting-edge, support global innovation, and deliver good jobs for Singaporeans.
27. Thank you, and I wish you a wonderful Electronics Industry Day 2026.