Economy & Finance, Law & Governance, Parliament
Upholding Trust and Effective Government
19 September 2025
Find out how Singapore is strengthening the rule of law, public trust, digital capabilities and long-term planning, while maintaining sound public finances and effective public services.
At the opening of the First Session of the 15th Parliament on 5 September 2025, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam spoke on the importance of upholding trust, both between the Government and the people, and amongst citizens themselves.
The Government will uphold the Rule of Law and safeguard public trust in our legal system, while taking a long-term view in governance. As we navigate global uncertainties, economic shifts, and technological disruption, our Public Service must rise to the challenge with resilience and adaptability. We will support sectors and individuals in seizing opportunities for growth such as in AI, as well as uphold trust in digital spaces and the information ecosystem while strengthening digital infrastructure and public sector capabilities. At the same time, sound fiscal policies will sustain a dynamic economy as we secure better quality of life for all Singaporeans.
The following agencies have outlined key initiatives and focus areas under the theme of “Upholding Trust and Effective Government”:
Prime Minister’s Office (Public Service Division) (opens in new tab)and (Public Sector Science and Technology Policy and Plans Office (opens in new tab)) PMO(PSD and S&TPPO)
For more details, please refer to the President's Address at the First Session of the 15th Parliament (opens in new tab).
Ministry of Law
1. Upholding the Rule of Law and Expanding Access to Justice
Enhance our civil and criminal justice systems to meet changing societal needs, including:
Taking steps to promote responsible online behaviour and create a safer digital space, including a new agency to better support victims of online harms.
Simplify legal processes and court procedures to make it easier for Singaporeans to understand and use, including:
Improving how civil judgments are enforced.
Expanding the Maintenance Enforcement Process to deter non-payment of maintenance.
Deepening the therapeutic justice approach to support healing and family well-being.
Strengthen our insolvency framework to support economic stability by:
Reviewing the Debt Repayment Scheme to enable debtors to better manage their finances.
Strengthen access to justice by expanding the outreach and support for civil legal aid and criminal defence aid.
2. Growing Singapore as a Global Legal and Intellectual Property (IP) Hub
Boost Singapore’s reputation as a trusted legal services hub by:
Deepening international partnerships through flagship events like the Singapore Convention Week.
Reviewing our international arbitration laws to keep Singapore competitive for dispute resolution.
Strengthen legal education across the legal industry by:
Updating training requirements and rolling out a new skills framework for the legal sector.
Helping law firms adopt legaltech solutions and embrace the use of AI and technology to support their work through the new Legal Innovation and Future-Readiness Transformation Initiative.
Refresh Singapore’s IP Strategy 2030 to attract more IP and intangible asset (IA) activity:
IP Management Clinics to help businesses grow globally.
IA valuation guidelines to help firms protect and monetise their IP.
3. Optimise State Assets for Singapore’s Future
Optimise state assets to meet national needs, including to drive strong social outcomes through innovative use and re-use of space, such as:
The multi-generational co-living space at Commune @ Henderson.
The social innovation hub at The Foundry.
Digitalise property transactions for more convenience, transparency and security through the Digital Conveyancing Portal.
Prime Minister’s Office (Strategy Group)
1. Our Future Singapore – Driving Strategic Priorities for the New Term
Developed a set of strategic priorities to (a) secure Singapore’s place in a changed world; (b) transform our economy to keep it competitive; (c) expand opportunities and strengthen assurances for all; (d) unite Singaporeans; and (e) forge stronger partnerships with individuals, communities, and businesses to shape Singapore’s future together.
Drive Whole-of-Government efforts to implement our national priorities, while ensuring that agencies work together to address critical cross-cutting issues, achieve greater synergies, and manage trade-offs optimally across policy domains.
Sharpen foresight and sense-making to better anticipate future challenges and opportunities and develop robust strategies in response.
2. Our Population – Tackling Challenges and Harnessing Potential
Redouble our efforts to support marriage and parenthood and build a Singapore Made For Families, including doing more to help parents better manage their work and family commitments, and working with stakeholders to build a culture that celebrates and values families.
Continue to support seniors to lead active and healthy lives, stay employed if they wish, and age with confidence, and enhance our built environment and service provisions so that they can be well cared for in their homes and connected to their communities.
Carefully manage our foreign worker and immigration flows, while helping newcomers integrate into our society.
3. Climate Change – Securing our Longer-Term Competitiveness and Survival
Commit to our net zero emissions by 2050 target and follow through on this ambition with concrete action, as continued investment in climate action is critical to Singapore’s long-term competitiveness and survival.
Continue to decarbonise our energy mix, pursue key mitigation measures, work with industry to develop robust transition plans for businesses, and collaborate with international partners to support our mitigation efforts.
Strengthen our climate adaptation plans. This includes boosting our heat resilience plans, and partnering neighbouring countries to tackle transboundary climate risks.
Prime Minister’s Office (Public Service Division) (Public Sector Science and Technology Policy and Plans Office)
1. Strengthening Public Service Delivery for Citizens and Businesses
Prioritise the delivery of sustainable, efficient, and effective solutions as resource constraints tighten.
Strengthen and streamline the delivery of services to citizens and businesses while maintaining our human touch.
Expand and pool our science, technology and engineering capabilities and resources across agencies, to accelerate the use of science and technology as capability multipliers to address Singapore’s needs and opportunities.
2. Developing a Future-Ready Public Service for Singapore and Singaporeans
Empower public officers to strengthen their career health across life stages to support career longevity.
Broaden officers’ skills and experiences through attachments beyond the public sector and Singapore, and strengthen the development of individual leaders and leadership teams.
Build a Singapore we are proud to call home – not just for our people, but with our people.
Ministry of Digital Development and Information
1. Seizing Opportunities for Growth
Support enterprises, including SMEs, in deploying AI to improve efficiency, while stepping up efforts to anchor more AI Centres of Excellence across sectors to deepen capabilities.
Engage the labour movement, professional bodies, trade associations and chambers to develop programmes to equip our workers with AI-related skills and grow a core of AI-fluent workers who can be pacesetters in their fields.
Support individuals and households in accessing digital tools and services; work with partners to promote inclusivity of digital services by design; transform our libraries and archives to encourage reading, learning and discovery through physical and digital resources.
2. Upholding Trust in Our Digital Spaces and Information Ecosystem
Tackle scams on multiple fronts, including by deploying technical solutions for detection and prevention; establishing the Online Safety Commission to support victims of online harms; studying interventions in other countries to strengthen age-appropriate access and promote healthier digital interactions especially for children and youth; and shaping positive norms that will help users to improve their digital well-being.
Support Public Service Media entities by ensuring their financial sustainability; strengthening their verification capabilities and improving the prominence of their products and ability to share Singapore’s perspectives internationally.
Strengthen Government communications across online and offline channels to deliver timely, trusted, and relevant content to citizens; and deepen engagement and foster trust by bringing people with diverse viewpoints together through REACH (Reaching Everyone for Active Citizenry @ Home)
Raise baseline cybersecurity standards nationally by promoting stronger cyber hygiene practices, and developing the local research and development ecosystem to meet growing demand for cybersecurity expertise.
3. Strengthening our Digital Infrastructure and Public Sector Capabilities
Invest in core digital infrastructure to ensure robust connectivity, while studying new areas such as 6G, non-terrestrial networks, and quantum to future-proof our networks.
Lead Whole-of-Government efforts to transform our digital systems and deliver better user-centric, secure, and resilient digital services, supported by plans to systematically improve Public Service digital capabilities, including through scaling up training for public officers.
Ministry of Finance
1. Sustaining our Fiscal Strength
Allocate resources judiciously and evaluate programmes rigorously to maintain sound and sustainable finances.
Maintain a fair and progressive system of taxes and transfers.
Continue to balance the budget over the medium term and steward our reserves responsibly.
Ensure government spending remains effective and delivers value for money.
2. Securing our Place in the World
Continue to invest in our defence and security to safeguard our way of life.
Deepen our cooperation with key partners, especially ASEAN, and broaden our relations with other countries.
Play an active role in regional and international fora to support a rules-based multilateral system.
3. Transforming our Economy
Grow a vibrant economy with good jobs for Singaporeans as our foremost priority.
Invest in our productive capacity to help businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to innovate and harness AI and other technologies, and support Singaporeans to reskill and upskill.
Invest longer-term in our infrastructure to enhance connectivity, support green energy transition, and build up climate resilience.
Ensure a stable and efficient tax, customs and regulatory environment.
4. Building a Strong and Cohesive Society
Continue to strengthen our social compact and provide assurance to Singaporeans.
Invest across all life stages and provide more opportunities for all Singaporeans, regardless of starting points.
Keep public housing and healthcare affordable and accessible, enable seniors to age well, and strengthen support for caregiving.
Enhance support for vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities and those with special needs.
Continue to support initiatives in the arts, sports and community to strengthen our bonds as one people.
Read other key initiatives and focus areas outlined in the President's Address (opens in new tab):