A Nation of Nations

BY ADDING talent, skills and experience to academic qualifications as the bases on which new immigrants into Singapore could soon be assessed, the Government has broadened the definition of talented foreigners whom the country needs in order to sustain its vibrancy. Academic achievements do have their use: They are a rough measure of what an immigrant can hope to contribute to Singapore. But they are woefully inadequate in attracting entrepreneurial, artistic and other types of people who give a country its buzz. In fact, an immigration policy based heavily on paper qualifications does the opposite: It keeps out the people who have made it big in the university of life even if the have dropped out of the paper chase. The new immigration policy complements the package of measures encouraging Singaporeans to have more babies. Immigration is an essential part of the population strategy because, unlike babies who take many years to grow up, immigrants come ready-made to join the marathon of global economic competition.

There is no dearth of international lessons on the value of immigration in general. A recent report warns against complacency even in the United States, although it has built up a solid reputation as a beacon for global talent. Washington should not believe that it does not need to actively recruit foreign-born scientists and engineers because the US is their only possible destination, the report warns. In the growing competition for global talent, American immigration policies must actively woo foreign-born professionals who help the US retain its competitive edge in science and technology, which in turn underpins economic growth and national security. What has always been true of engineers and scientists applies today to a wider field of people. The US and Australia are among countries that are keen on attracting people with extraordinary and demonstrated ability in the arts. What is said of the US - that it is a nation of nations - is going to be asked increasingly of countries that want to succeed on many fronts. Singapore cannot afford not to be one of them. Its own history is a tale of how immigrants - with more drive than degrees - who wanted a better life for themselves and their children turned a city-state into a synonym for success. That story has to continue.

Will it? Personal safety, economic freedom and geographical location are among Singapore's attractions. But what matters ultimately to mobile talent is welcome, not just from the Government but from the people among whom the foreigners will settle in. If they are accepted as part of the Singapore family, they will find it easier to see Singapore as a family. This is important because, for the population strategy to be effective, Singapore needs not only to attract foreigners but also to encourage them to move towards permanent residence and then citizenship. They and their children should find citizenship a natural progression. It is true that, unlike in earlier decades, when immigrants were absorbed almost invisibly into a society with a booming economy, Singaporeans are facing challenging times now. But they are also realistic enough to know that the new arrivals will help the country to face up to the challenges because it is not the size of the population but the level of economic activity which determines employment, for example. Singapore needs a critical mass of people to replenish its global fortunes. Far from keeping talent out, the door for it must open wider.