
The name change may be small but is nonetheless significant. "The change reflects the Ministry’s focus on communication and information as its arts, heritage and national resilience functions will be moved to the new Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth," the ministry said in an email response to Campaign Asia-Pacific.
As part of the move, the new ministry will be responsible for the development of infocomm technology, the media and design sectors; the national and public libraries as well as Government's information and public communication policies.
Media and creative agencies contacted by Campaign declined to comment.
The ministry's website (MICA) states that one of its primary missions is to increase sustainable value-added growth of the information communication technology, media and design sectors while increasing economic value to other sectors.
The website adds that Singapore will be developed as an infocomm and media hub, attracting companies and talent within the industry to create new business opportunities.
In 2010, the website reported, the 'nominal value added of the media cluster' was approximately S$6,907 billion with 67,051 people employed.