The UK Government Digital Service and GovTech Singapore are working together to further enhance the digitalisation of government public services, signing a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement in June.
The UK Government has many different roles in digitising the private sector through the DCMS while also focusing on digital public services.
Both countries are committed to driving digital transformation across private and public sector functions and are widely recognised as digital leaders, taking active roles to shape policies and standards within government spaces.
The MoU signing follows the UK and Singapore’s partnership on the Digital Economy Agreement (UKSDEA) which came into effect on 14 June and covered the digitised trade in services and goods across the economy, for example consolidating open and inclusive digital market, data-sharing, digital trading systems and financial services.
The long-standing partnership between the two agencies will now include collaborating on the design and delivery of digitalised government services over the next 3 years.
Tom Read, Chief Executive Officer and Director General of Government Digital Service UK commented on the latest venture to partner with GovTech Singapore, saying: “Over the last three years we have shared experience and expertise on a number of topics, from digital capability and the COVID-19 response, to digital ID, data security and our Government as a Platform strategy. GDS recognises the incredible value of peer-to-peer partnerships for sharing and progressing good practice in digital government”.
As well as the digitalisation of the public and private sector, accelerated post-pandemic, Governments need to comply with data security. The GDS supported a review into the level of data privacy and protection adhered to by Singapore’s government and local authorities, sharing best practices and experiences on safeguarding user data. The recommendations provided by the GDS were developed into learnings for Singapore’s Public Sector Data Security Review Committee.
Mr. Kok Ping Soon, Chief Executive of GovTech Singapore also said: “With economies around the world digitalising, it is imperative for Singapore to work with like-minded partners to push the boundaries of digital services for our citizens and businesses, and unlock greater benefits for the respective countries. The partnership between GovTech Singapore and the Government Digital Service will lock in the digitalisation gains that we have made respectively in the last three years, as we look forward to further improving the delivery of government services”.
