Delegation from Singapore examines Nordic welfare
With its high standard of living, educated workforce, and advanced infrastructure, Singapore is facing a political challenge in terms of large disparities in income and high costs.
The government officials came to learn more about how the five small Nordic countries deal with the globalised economy while continuing to provide generous welfare services and relatively high levels of employment.
They were especially interested in the Nordic social security systems and what can be done to reduce social inequalities in health and welfare.
“We take a very outward-looking approach in Singapore. We are aware of the success that Denmark and the entire Nordic region has had in terms of economic growth and education, but also in social issues such as home care. This is something we want to learn from. Of course, we have a totally different background in Asia than in Northern Europe, but I can see opportunities for exchanging knowledge,” says Felicia Shaw of Singapore’s Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.
New investments
During their visit to the Nordic Council of Ministers in Copenhagen, the delegation met the head of the Department of Knowledge and Welfare, Anders Geertsen. He explained that the populations of the five Nordic countries can apply for free healthcare and study in any of the five countries , all as a result of co-operation built on consensus, not common legislation.
They were also told about two new politically high-priority Nordic investments – co-operation in highly-specialised care, and the establishment of a medical network for rare conditions.
Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers Dagfinn Høybråten sees the visit from Singapore as a sign of the times.
“The Nordic Council of Ministers is seeing growing international interest in Nordic co-operation and the Nordic Model. The fact that 35 people from Singapore’s public administration chose to visit our secretariat in Denmark means that our region has a lot of positive things to offer other parts of the world. Similarly, it is valuable for us to learn more about other nations’ approaches to societal challenges such as education, healthcare, and social care,” says Dagfinn Høybråten.
