Chia Shang Rong is a Senior Associate, Semiconductors, at the Economic Development Board (EDB). He is a recipient of the EDB Scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He also holds a Master of Arts in International and Development Economics from Yale University.
The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) is dedicated to building a strong economy, vibrant business prospects, and good job opportunities for everyone in Singapore. EDB is responsible for strategies that strengthen Singapore’s position as a top global destination for business, innovation, and talent. The EDB Scholarship offers you a unique opportunity to study at the world’s top universities, gain global exposure, and have an exciting career. If you want to shape Singapore’s economic future and create lasting impact on Singapore and Singaporeans, join us at EDB and make that future a reality.
What made you decide to apply for the EDB Scholarship?
Given my interest in pursuing Economics as my discipline, I naturally gravitated towards a career with an economic agency.
While exploring the scholarships offered by different economic agencies, EDB stood out as a unique organization that collaborates with multinational companies, providing opportunities for client engagement work and offering a dynamic range of industries to work with. EDB’s work bridges the gap between government and business, offering the opportunity to gain perspectives and insights in both the public and private sectors.
Additionally, the prospect of gaining global exposure while being posted to one of EDB’s overseas offices greatly appealed to me.
How has the EDB Scholarship complemented your academic and professional trajectories?
When I was pursuing my BSc in Economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), I took up a module on International Political Economy, which featured industrial policies in East Asia in the second half of the 20th century. It covered how governments in East Asia played an instrumental role in planning and directing resources to strategic export-oriented growth sectors, which led to the ‘East Asian economic miracle’.
The module even featured EDB as a case study in actively fostering a conducive business environment, investing in infrastructure and skills developments to attract foreign direct investments. Having started my career in EDB now, it is insightful to see this in practice and to carry on the legacy of generations of EDB officers.
Chia Shang Rong
Tell us more about your role and some initiatives you have been working on
I work with the Semiconductors team to engage industry stakeholders and government agencies in formulating and implementing strategies to cultivate a thriving semiconductor ecosystem in Singapore.
My responsibilities include supporting companies across the semiconductor value chain to establish or expand their presence in Singapore. This involves working with companies to decarbonise their existing operations, fostering linkages between multinational corporations and local suppliers, and collaborating with our Institutes of Higher Learning to cultivate a talent pipeline tailored to industry demands.
Fundamentally, our work is underpinned by a singular mission: to foster sustainable economic growth, vibrant business, and good job opportunities for Singapore.
What would you consider to be a significant achievement in your career thus far?
A standout moment for me was attending the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony between Micron and Singapore’s five polytechnics. This MOU outlined a series of opportunities extended by Micron to polytechnic students, spanning scholarships (including for special educational needs students), internships, and even full-time employment opportunities for polytechnic graduates prior to National Service enlistment.
Observing 200 polytechnic students at the ceremony and absorbing insights into career prospects within the semiconductor industry, served as a poignant reminder of the profound impact of a career with the EDB: creating good and meaningful jobs through the opportunities arising from industry development.
What are some opportunities EDB Scholars can look forward to?
During my penultimate year of studies, I had the opportunity to intern with EDB’s Environmental Sustainability division as part of the EDB Scholarship. I worked on a project focusing on potential decarbonisation pathways for Singapore’s manufacturing industry during the summer break.
Through my project, I learnt about the constraints that we face, as well as the opportunities that the journey to net-zero presents in the medium to long-term. These include green hydrogen, carbon credits, green electricity imports etc. Armed with a more nuanced understanding of the path to net-zero emissions, I now apply this knowledge in my current role, by communicating Singapore’s plans to help semiconductor companies meet their decarbonisation goals more effectively.
What advice do you have for aspiring EDB Scholars?
As an EDB officer, you will have the opportunity to take on an impactful role by being at the forefront of driving innovation, fostering growth, and attracting investments that fuel Singapore’s economic growth. At the same time, you are given the space to grow yourself and your career, all within a supportive and collaborative environment.
If you want to create tangible impact and play an active role in shaping Singapore’s economy now and in the future, the EDB scholarship is for you.
