Yet Block 71 is only part of the solution. As one entrepreneur put it, an environment can only come alive with creativity because of the community. Block 71 can only elevate to the standard of its denizens.
The government too recognizes this, and with its foresight, recently launched a new program to develop entrepreneurial instincts from the secondary school level onwards. It’s a sensible and comprehensive program, and if it fails, it won’t be because of bad planning. It’ll be undone by bad execution.
Nonetheless, despite Singapore’s shortcomings, the country does appear to be moving in the right track. Entrepreneurship is more embraced than ever, and while the idea of an iron ricebowl is still attractive, Singaporeans now have wider berth to pursue their dreams with the support of their peers and family.
While Silicon Valley took decades to cement its position as the world’s top startup ecosystem, Singapore by comparison begun its journey six years ago, after a series of false starts.
Cracking the top 20 in such a short span of time is not a bad result.
シリコンバレーは世界一のスタートアップエコシステムという地位を固めるのに何十年もかかったが、それと比較すると、シンガポールは幾度もの悪い出だしを経験した後に、その旅路を6年前に始めたばかりだ。
そんな短期間でトップ20にランクインしたのは悪い結果ではない。