Opening Address by SMS Tan Kiat How at Sustainable AI Data Centre Career Day

Mr Bill Chang, CEO Singtel Digital InfraCo & Nxera

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

1. Good morning. I am very excited to join all of you at today's career fair.

2. Data centres (DCs) are an important part of the enabling infrastructure for Singapore’s future digital economy. As Mr Chang articulately laid out just now, it is not about bricks and mortars, but really about what makes it tick – not just about AI machines, but people who make this work. Data centres are an important part of how we see Singapore’s digital economy, driven by AI and automation. The demand for DCs is strong, given the rapid digitalisation across industry sectors – almost every sector is digitalising at scale, especially with the increased use of AI.

3. At the same time, data centres have a sizeable physical footprint, and consume significant energy and water resources. This is a real trade-off we must make as a small country. As the need for data centres grows, we cannot simply build more of them – we need find innovative ways to make them more sustainable.

4. This is why last year, we launched the Green Data Centre Roadmap. This roadmap sets out how we intend to improve the energy efficiency of data centres and encourage the use of green energy. We have also recently refreshed the Green Mark for Data Centres 2024 (GMDC:2024) to raise sustainability standards. These initiatives are part of our broader national efforts to build a more sustainable digital infrastructure for Singapore's future.

5. I am heartened to see data centre operators responding positively to these initiatives. Take Nxera for example. As Mr Chang mentioned earlier, their upcoming Tuas facility will incorporate advanced cooling systems and energy-efficient technologies to reduce their carbon footprint.

6. We welcome such innovations from industry partners that demonstrate their commitment to sustainability. When companies like Nxera step forward to implement sustainable practices, it encourages others to do the same.

7. As DCs design and operations are transformed to be more sustainable and optimised with AI automation, the job roles within the DCs will also evolve. There will be many more new exciting job roles for everyone.

8. Take data centre specialists for example. These professionals ensure our facilities operate efficiently, while working alongside engineers and sustainability experts to implement innovative solutions in cooling and energy optimisation.

9. This is just one out of the more than 500 job openings available at today’s career fair. The openings range from Energy & Sustainability specialists, Mechanical Engineers and many more exciting roles. I encourage all of you to explore these diverse opportunities. There are job opportunities for fresh graduates as well as mid-careerists who are looking to switch into the data centre industry. These jobs are immediately available and hiring.

10. But getting a job is just the first step. What's equally important is how you grow in your career. I'm glad to hear that many companies here offer work-study programmes to help you develop meaningful careers.

    1. For instance, Nxera has partnered with the Institute of Technical Education and the Singapore Institute of Technology to offer work-study programmes, including diplomas and specialised degrees in Green Data Centres. These programmes allow students to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world projects, building up the relevant competencies for a career in this rapidly evolving sector.

    2. An example is Azizul Hakeem. After his Higher Nitec in Cyber & Network Security at ITE, Azizul joined Nxera's Data Centre Operations team as an intern. Through the Work-Study Diploma programme, he progressed to a Senior Engineering Officer in less than a year. Today, he plays a vital role in Nxera's operations team, where he manages critical shift operations and sensitive data centre systems. Azizul's journey shows that with determination and the right support, one can build a rewarding career in this sector.

11. These efforts are part of our larger national effort to open more pathways into tech career or tech-related job roles. Regardless of your training, background, or stage of career, we want to create pathways for you to have a career in tech-related sectors. This is how we are building an inclusive digital economy that creates opportunities for all Singaporeans.

12. There are anxieties among some who ask, “Will AI take over jobs?”, “What kind of jobs could there be in the industry for me when I graduate?”, or “Are there exciting job roles for me to transit into?” In my mind, AI will certainly transform and disrupt many industry sectors. That is without a doubt. But in Singapore, we have an ecosystem, partners available here to ensure that every one of our Singaporean workers, every one of our Singaporean fresh graduates have the best opportunities to seize new and exciting opportunities in a digital future.

13. By working closely with industry players and educational institutions, we have developed training programmes that are tightly aligned with industry needs. For example, through the TechSkills Accelerator for ITE and Polytechnics (TIP) Alliance, we have created structured pathways for students.

    1. Many have benefitted from the programmes - since 2022, over 1,000 good tech jobs have been committed for ITE and Polytechnic graduates, with more than 1,300 students completing year-long internships.

    2. Employment outcomes have also improved. For example, with Information and Digital Technologies (IDT) polytechnic fresh graduates, their median starting salary increased from $2,700 in 2022 to $2,900 in 2024. And we will continue to bring in industry partners, employers to create new, exciting pathways and better jobs up the value chain, so that our fresh graduates have better starting pay, have good career development and are able to seize work opportunities.

    3. On the demand side, I am very heartened that more than 200 companies have also joined the skills-based hiring movement, pledging to hire based on skills rather than just qualifications, and to create end-to-end pathways for our students and graduates - from internships during their studies, to apprenticeships for on-the-job training, and work-study opportunities. This shows the strong commitment from industry to develop our local talent pipeline.

14. For mid-career professionals looking to pivot into tech roles, the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) company-led training programme provides structured support for your career transition. To date, TeSA has placed more than 19,000 locals into good tech jobs. This aligns with our broader commitment to lifelong learning. In fact, today’s career fair is part of the SkillsFuture Festival, which features over 150 events island-wide to support Singaporeans in their skills upgrading journey.

15. Whether you are starting out in your career, or considering a switch, there are many opportunities in Singapore’s growing digital economy. I encourage you to take that first step. It may seem daunting at first, but we are all here to support you on this journey.

16. Take full advantage of today's career fair - speak with the industry partners, learn about the different pathways available, and explore how you can be part of this growing sector.

17. And I just want to reinforce what Mr Bill Chang said earlier – moving forward, automation and AI will make repetitive, manual tasks much easier. Lower value, low-end growth activities may be automated, the way AI replaces many of what we used to be do in person in the past. But with automation and AI enablement, there are many new opportunities available for us – higher value, better productivity, better wages and better growth opportunities.

18. But we need to have better human skills – critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, experience and an attitude of always continuous learning and upskilling ourselves, and there will always be rewarding careers for all of us.

19. By working together – as an industry, people-private partnership together with the IHLs, we can build a competitive and future-ready workforce, strengthen Singapore's digital economy, and ensure that we have multiple pathways so that all Singaporeans can have meaningful careers in our digital future.

20. I wish all of you a fruitful career fair ahead. Thank you.