The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will be in force for three years, strengthens the long-standing connection between the two organizations and promotes cooperation in the creation and provision of digital government services.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on July 4, 2022, at 10 Whitechapel High Street in London. Mr. Kok Ping Soon, CEO of GovTech Singapore, and Mr. Tom Read, CEO and Director General of Government Digital Service (GDS) UK, represented the agencies at the signing of the MoU.
Providing services for the government online
Both the UK and Singapore are regarded as digital pioneers and actively participate in establishing global norms and conversations pertaining to the field of digital governance.
The two nations’ formalization of their cooperation and partnership is supported by their shared understanding of the value of offering digital government services and demonstrates their intention to secure the benefits of the rapid digitalization of the last three years.
The UK-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement (UKSDEA), which was signed and into effective on June 14, 2022, is the precedent for this MoU.
Singapore has made significant investments in Digital, Data, and Technology (DDaT) in recent years, adopting a holistic approach to the development of a digital society by making investments in their digital infrastructure, fostering private sector digital capability, and establishing aspirational digital government agendas.
The MoU will cover not only exchanging expertise and methods for creating digital services, but also looking at novel approaches to collaboration that could ultimately lead to the creation of government digital services that are more effective, efficient, and cost-effective.
Keeping up the collaboration with the digital government
Numerous continuing personalization-related initiatives between GDS and organizations from Singapore’s public sector have been taking place since the first MoU was signed in 2019.
Knowledge exchanges on life event design methodologies have been held by GDS and GovTech, with an emphasis on priority events, personalization, and the use of data to support this effort.
Through pilot projects, GovTech and UK GDS have begun to share knowledge and work toward mutual recognition of UK and Singaporean digital IDs.
GDS backed a review of Singapore’s public sector’s data security policies.
The Public Sector Data Security Review Committee (PSDSRC) in Singapore benefited from the GDS Information Assurance Unit’s experience and best practices on data security in developing recommendations on data security processes and activities.
national cloud goals of GDS and GovTech were discussed at a meeting in October 2020, with an emphasis on standards, security, and the kinds of data that can be stored in various environments.
Beyond an MoU
GDS participates in two multilateral working groups for the Digital Government Exchange, strengthened by our tight and harmonious collaboration (DGX).
International public sector leaders from nations that have made substantial advancements in digital governance attend DGX, an annual high-level conference hosted by the Singaporean government.
GDS and GovTech will continue to work together and cooperate, exchanging information and expertise to produce better outcomes for both countries in an effort to help one another do better at what they do.