Speech By Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister In The Prime Minister's Office, At The DBS Foundation Impact Beyond Dialogue – Regional Edition, 23 October 2026

Good afternoon, everyone.

Mr Ho Tian Yee, Chairman, DBS Foundation
Mr Lim Him Chuan, Country Head, DBS Singapore
Karen Ngui, Head, DBS Foundation
DBS Foundation Impact Community partners
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

Opening

It's a great pleasure to be here with all of you today, and I really do want to congratulate DBS Foundation for bringing together so many people, stakeholders and partners who care about the future of our society.

Today’s theme, “The Future of Us: Building Better Lives Across Generations”, is very relevant for Singapore.

At one end of the spectrum, Singapore has crossed the 21% threshold. The proportion of Singaporeans aged 65 and above is now 21.4%, and that makes us officially a super-aged society. Yet, despite this, many Singaporeans who are 60 and above feel that they still have so much more to contribute and to give. Retirement from work is not retirement from life. There is a need to see how we can live better lives, even in our senior years.

At the other end of the spectrum, the babies who are born today will grow up in a world where health, education, work, society, environment, climate, and life will be very different from ours. When they grow up, they will be working in jobs that do not yet exist, and which we can't even imagine. AI will be just part and parcel of everyday life, and they will use technologies that have yet to be invented, and which, from where we are standing today, are still the stuff of science fiction. And living beyond 100 years may well be the norm rather than the exception.

And in between all of those who have crossed 65 and the baby who is born today, there is an entire spectrum of Singaporeans who will experience varying degrees of change across their life journey.

So the question then is: how can we build a better life for each and every generation? While each generation will have different experiences and face different challenges, I do believe that there are some fundamental commonalities that will enable each of them to live fulfilling lives.

First, people need strong connections and a sense of belonging, so that they have relationships and communities they can rely on.

Second, they need the capability to learn, adapt, and contribute continuously throughout life.

Third, individuals and families need a wider circle of care and support, particularly as caregiving needs grow and responsibilities increasingly overlap.

These three foundations — connection, capability and care — will help Singaporeans not only respond to change but continue to build good and meaningful lives across generations. And we must do more to strengthen these foundations.

First Foundation: Building Strong Connections

Let me start with the first one: connection.

In a rapidly changing world, relationships and communities become even more important, not less. Technology may change how we work and interact, but people will need—or people will continue to need—others whom they can trust and rely on. Strong relationships are also the foundation on which marriages, families, and resilient communities are built.

That is why we must be intentional about creating opportunities for people to meet, connect, and develop a sense of belonging throughout their lives.

Our physical environment might not create community on its own, but well-designed and inclusive spaces can encourage people to participate in community life and support one another.

The recently launched SG Youth Plan recognises the importance of creating spaces for young people to connect, from third spaces beyond home and school to flexible accommodation with communal spaces. The friendships and connections formed in our youth often become part of the support networks that last a lifetime.

Our environment continues to shape how we engage with the world around us, even as we age. Sheltered walkways or a park within easy reach of home can make it easier for seniors to maintain routines and relationships. Through Age Well SG, we're designing environments that support ageing in place.

Businesses and community organisations can complement these efforts by activating spaces and creating opportunities for people of different ages and backgrounds to come together. One example is City Sprouts. With support from DBS Foundation, City Sprouts has transformed underused urban spaces into inclusive community hubs where people of different ages and backgrounds can come together to learn, volunteer and connect.

This illustrates an important point: physical spaces provide opportunities for connection, but it is people, programmes, and partnerships that breathe life into those spaces. The Government, businesses, and community organisations must therefore work together to create and shape spaces where relationships and communities can flourish.

Second Foundation: Building Capability Across Life

The second foundation is capability.

As we live longer, learning can no longer end with formal education. Learning, adapting, and contributing will increasingly be lifelong pursuits.

This starts with giving young people the confidence and exposure to navigate a changing world of work. The recently launched SG Youth Plan will offer job tasters, short-term work exposure opportunities, and mentoring opportunities that allow youth to explore different careers and life pathways.

DBS Foundation is also contributing to this effort. In 2025, it committed 14.5 million Singapore dollars to support ITE students through Study Awards and mentoring programmes, particularly for those from low-income families. It's therefore especially fitting that today's dialogue is being held at ITE College Central, an institution that has equipped generations of students with practical skills, confidence, and industry exposure to thrive in a rapidly changing economy.

But the need to adapt doesn't end when we leave school or enter the workforce. We have to be able to navigate new technologies in the workplace.

AI has tremendous potential, but many people are asking, “How do I keep up?” Efforts such as the SkillsFuture AI Subscription initiative help Singaporeans move from awareness to action with a complimentary six-month subscription to experiment with select AI tools.

Businesses can help too. Since 2022, DBS Foundation has partnered IMDA to strengthen digital literacy, reaching more than 150,000 people. Their renewed partnership aims to help more people develop AI literacy, including seniors, youths, and persons with special needs.

At the same time, we're investing in lifelong learning. The SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme supports mid-career Singaporeans aged 40 and above to undertake a substantive skills reboot and keep their skills relevant as industries evolve.

Many older Singaporeans want to remain active and continue working and contributing. That is why we are progressively raising the retirement and re-employment ages and taking steps to support senior employment by promoting fractional employment and more flexible work arrangements. Beyond the workplace, through Active Ageing Centres and other community programmes, seniors can continue to learn, build new connections, and contribute in different ways.

Ultimately, capability is about giving Singaporeans the confidence, skills and opportunities to continue learning, adapting, and contributing throughout their lives.

Third Foundation: Care and Support

Next, the third foundation: care and support.

As we live longer, balance multiple responsibilities, and navigate a more uncertain world, the need for care and support becomes even more important.

Families are often the first source of support. They provide stability, encouragement, and care through life's ups and downs. But families themselves also need supportive environments. Government, employers, businesses, community organisations, and individuals all have a part to play in creating a wider circle of support, so that families can thrive at every stage of life.

At this year’s National Day Rally, PM Lawrence Wong announced a series of initiatives aimed at giving families greater assurance and confidence. These include the SG Child Support Package, enhanced childcare leave and more affordable and accessible childcare and student care.

We are now working on the next phases of the Marriage and Parenthood reset recommendations, which would include areas such as how to attain better work-life balance and more progressive workplace norms and practices, as well as fertility and maternal health, and reducing education stress, among others.

We're also paying attention to families who may require even greater support. DBS Foundation has come alongside the Government, partnering MSF through ComLink+ to support low-income families with children through programmes that strengthen both social and financial resilience. DBS Foundation also worked with KidSTART Singapore to support parents through programmes on maternal nutrition, mental well-being, and financial literacy.

Such support does more than help families through difficult periods. It actually strengthens their foundations, builds resilience, and creates better opportunities for their children.

That is how we build a society where people are supported to navigate life's challenges and opportunities with confidence. And we're very glad to have partners like DBS to walk this journey with us.

Conclusion

So, in conclusion, to achieve better lives for all our generations, we must get these three fundamentals right.

Government will do its part, but everyone else has a role to play as part of our We First society.

And that is why the work of DBS Foundation matters. Through its partnerships, DBS Foundation has brought together people, ideas and resources to address real needs on the ground. Whether it's helping young people prepare for the future, strengthening support for families, building digital confidence, or supporting innovative solutions to social challenges, it has shown how collective action can create meaningful change.

DBS Foundation’s Impact Beyond Award is one example. By posing a challenge statement that spotlights a pressing societal need and inviting businesses to pitch their solutions, it activates businesses to contribute to and transform society. These efforts remind us that building a better future is not the responsibility of any one organisation or sector. It is a shared endeavour.

And that is how we will build better lives across generations: by creating a Singapore where people feel confident about the future, supported in their relationships and families, and empowered to make a difference. This is the future of us. Thank you.