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Singapore’s tenacity will help it trump new challenges

So Mr Donald Trump has been inaugurated as the United States’ 45th President (“‘From this moment on, it’s going to be America First’”; Jan 21).

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Manoraj Rajathurai

So Mr Donald Trump has been inaugurated as the United States’ 45th President (“‘From this moment on, it’s going to be America First’”; Jan 21).

Does it signal a new era or the beginning of the end of the world as we know it? How much is likely to change, for better or worse? For a start, he withdraws his country from the Trans-Pacific Partnership pact.

This must concern Singaporeans, tested always by circumstances outside our control. But for 51 years, we have adapted and grown to live with challenges thrown our way. In fact, we have turned them to our advantage and must do so again.

We are no longer a nascent nation but one that has matured considerably and thus has become stronger. There is little to stop our dynamism and ability to add to our layers when it comes to doing business.

We may have to reach out further afield and foster new relationships to ensure we do not lose out on opportunities in a challenging economy and increasingly competitive environment.

But being small and nimble, we should be able to react quickly and seize the opportunities that present themselves.

It may entail taking more chances, but we should be in a better position to do that with the exposure our people have had over the years. Many are much travelled and understand how the world works and what to expect.

Our existence has always been on a knife-edge, but our tenacity has always ensured our survival. It does not get any easier hereafter, but we have ingrained an ability to find ways to come through another day, year, et cetera.

Without the obstacles in our path, would we have excelled? Without the limitations we have had to work with, would we have risen?

That has always driven us to negotiate new ways of growing our economy and progressing to the next level. It is in our nature.

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