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The Singapore economy is consolidating its recovery from the 2008 global economic crisis. GDP grew 4.9% in the first half of 2011, while unemployment remains low at 2.1%. Despite some risks on the horizon, we project steady growth of 5-6% for 2011.
親愛的同胞，我國自從擺脫了2008年的全球經濟危機，經濟已恢復穩健的增長。今年上半年增長了百分之4.9，失業率也維持在百分之2.1的低水平。盡管前景存有一些風險，我們今年預料能取得介于百分之5到百分之6的增長率。
Our last five years were marked by uncertainty and rapid change. We enjoyed several very good years when our economy boomed, and wages went up. But we also experienced some very worrying moments, especially during the global economic crisis.
過去五年，我們的大環境起落不定，變化快速。我們經歷了幾個好年頭，經濟取得可觀增長，員工薪金也有上漲。但是我們也曾經歷困難時刻，尤其在全球經濟陷入危機的時候。
Amidst such unprecedented turbulence, the Government did its utmost to protect Singaporeans from the global crisis. We introduced the Jobs Credit to keep firms viable and save jobs. We formed the Economic Strategies Committee to identify long-term opportunities and map out a pathway for the future.
我們在應付那場前所未見的經濟風暴時，政府盡全力保護國人免受沖擊。我們推出了雇用補貼計劃，協助公司維持運作和保住工作。我們成立了經濟戰略委員會，尋找長遠的發展機會，以及規劃未來的發展道路。
This year, with the cost of living rising, we launched the Grow & Share package to help households cope. We continue to retrain workers to become more employable, and to support needy families through many assistance programmes.
自今年年初以來，我們的生活費上漲得快，政府因此推出“增長共享”配套，幫助新加坡家庭減輕生活負擔。我們也繼續重新培訓員工，以提高他們的受雇能力。我們還實施了多項援助貧困家庭的措施。
Overall, Government policies have worked. Our strong reserves saved up over many years gave us the confidence and the means to move decisively with our Resilience Package. Our growth strategies of upgrading education and skills, and breaking into higher-value sectors have created good new jobs for Singaporeans. Compared to five years ago, most households have seen incomes rise.
總的來說，政府的政策已經奏效。我們向來知道未雨綢繆的重要，積累了相當可觀的儲備金，因此能夠果斷地推出一項振興配套。我們積極提升國人的教育和技能水平，也進軍更高增值的經濟領域來推動經濟的增長，為國人創造新的和良好的就業機會，并且在過去五年逐漸為多數家庭帶來更高的收入。
But despite our best efforts, we could not shield Singaporeans fully from external shocks. In a rapidly changing situation, the Government had to address the most urgent problems first – stabilising the economy, saving jobs, helping those who were displaced by the crisis.
然而，雖然政府盡力為人民遮風擋雨，但還是無法完全抵擋外界風雨所帶來的沖擊。在關鍵時刻，政府的當務之急是穩定經濟、保住工作以及協助失去工作的工友。
Some Government policies did not keep pace, but we have been tackling the problems. We are building more HDB flats, to reduce waiting times and keep prices affordable. We are adding MRT lines and buses, to improve public transport service standards. We are moderating the inflow of foreign workers and immigrants, and making it clearer that Singaporeans come first. We are reviewing our social safety nets to better support Singaporeans in a more volatile environment. The results will not arrive overnight, but we should see improvements over the next few years.
一些政策沒跟上急速演變的局勢，但我們已經著手處理這些問題了。我們正在建造更多的政府組屋，以縮短購屋等候時間和維持合宜的價格水平。我們將增添地鐵線和巴士，以改善公共交通的服務水平。我們放慢了引進外國勞工和移民的速度，也更明確地讓新加坡公民享有優先待遇。我們的大環境越來越不穩定，為了確保人民得到應有的幫助，我們正在檢討社會安全網。這不是立竿見影的改變，我們在幾年內應能看到成績。
