Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong’s opening remarks at the launch of the Heart&Soul Experience

My Parliament colleagues,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning! Very good to see all of you here.

1. I am very happy to join you today for the launch of our flagship exhibition for SG60. Sixty years is not long for most countries. But for Singapore, it is a very significant milestone because of our difficult beginnings, and also all that we have been through together these last 60 years.

2. That is why even at the very start of this year – this SG60 year – we said that SG60 is not just a time for celebration. It is also a time for reflection: Reflecting our past, present and our future. I am glad that we have been able to put together this exhibition as a platform for doing so.

3. I would like to start by thanking Gene and the team. I see Beatrice and Michael here too. They are part of the content creative team that put together this SG60 exhibition. They are veterans, as all of you would know. They have done many shows before, including the SG50 show, and the Bicentennial exhibition. But the thing about experience is that once you have done a show, the more successful the show, the higher the demands and the expectations are for the next one. So they have a very tough job. But from all the reviews, I think they have certainly delivered, and we thank them for putting this together. Once again, thank you very much!

4. This exhibition captures the key moments of Singapore’s history. From the Japanese Occupation to the post-war years, the fight for independence, the anguish of separation, the difficult early years of independence, and all the challenges we have been through since then – from economic crises to the most recent COVID pandemic.

5. We hope all this will capture the courage and conviction that built today’s Singapore. It captures the spirit that forms the heart and soul of our country, and that is why we called this exhibition the Heart&Soul Experience. We hope visitors coming through it will get a sense of the spirit that built today’s Singapore.

6. Of course, the exhibition is not just about the past. It is also about the future. The future of Singapore is really made up of the hopes and dreams of every Singaporean. That is why we also encourage visitors, through this exhibition, to articulate and express their aspirations and wishes for Singapore. At the end of the exhibition, there will be an installation where you will see your dream for Singapore, alongside the dreams of your fellow Singaporeans.

7. We hope this constellation of dreams will inspire all of us to work together as one team, to turn our collective dreams into reality. So that even in this troubled and turbulent world, we can have confidence that we are able to chart our own course, and shape our own destiny, and we can build a better Singapore with the same heart and soul that got us here today.

8. The exhibition is open to the end of this year. We encourage Singaporeans to come visit with your family, with your friends. Experience Singapore's heart and soul, and leave the exhibition with renewed confidence that together, beyond SG60, we can look forward to a better Singapore. And we can look forward to this shining little red dot continuing to shine brightly, for many more generations to come.

9. Thank you very much and enjoy the show. Thank you!