The brief was this: Spot global trends, identify new growth engines, create the best jobs for Singapore.

Today, a slew of exciting careers stemming from five newly identified industries are in the offing as a result.

In an interview last week, EDB assistant managing director Kenneth Tan outlined the country's 'game plan for the future' for the first time. The five chosen industries for Singapore's future: clean energy, environment and water, natural resources, lifestyle and sports, and non-profit organisations.

Mr Tan, who heads EDB's new business unit - set up a year ago by EDB chairman Lim Siong Guan for the purpose of thinking up new growth areas - said the industries are the outcome of some major global trends.

The flow of people from rural to urban areas in developing nations, for example, has led to greater demand for sustainable technologies for the environment and water; while demand for natural resources from booming economies like China means a greater need for better extraction technologies.

'If Singapore can provide these technologies and solutions, we can export them globally and ensure we'll always have good jobs,' said Mr Tan.

While these industries have been widely publicised by the Government in recent months, others have been developing slowly but surely.

EDB is courting international organisations such as think-tanks and humanitarian foundations to get them to set up base in Singapore.

These organisations, such as the World Bank or the World Wildlife Fund, often have operations that match those of multinational companies in scale - and reports show that they have grown at four to five times the rate of for-profit companies in the last decade, said Mr Tan.

'These organisations offer good job prospects too. They're often recession- proof, and for some, these jobs are regarded as having more soul.

'We want to cater to a wide range of Singaporeans with different aspirations,' Mr Tan added. That is also why EDB intends to launch an 'arts belt' this year, which will put in place an entire precinct of private museums, art galleries and auction houses.

'For talent to come in, and to retain our own Singaporeans, we must offer a lifestyle environment that is second to none,' Mr Tan said.

The plan does not stop there. EDB's team of visionaries is constantly looking for new ideas for Singapore. It currently has other strategies, like looking into futuristic technology - such as robotics and nanotechnology - talent growth and building industry clusters.

So where does EDB's crystal- ball gazing team get its ideas?

EDB has a digital database called the Matrix, which records all reports written by EDB officers for the last four decades, said Mr Tan.

Interviews with companies, research reports and market surveys, as well as a host of literature relating to virtually any industry are at the disposal of EDB officers - who are also called 'rainmakers' because they 'make things happen', said Mr Tan. These officers are also posted overseas to roam the globe and act as business development officers for Singapore Inc.

So how successful will these industries be?

Mr Tan says failure is not an option.

CIMB-GK economist Song Seng Wun said that although the industries look like good wagers, how much they can contribute to Singapore's gross domestic product remains to be seen.

Traditional industries are still to likely dominate, he said. And the biggest challenge ahead will be competition from other countries, many of whom are eyeing similar industries.

'Whether we can get organised quickly and get things off the ground will make that crucial difference,' he added.

Job-hunter Yvonne Koh, 24, who will graduate in a few months, said she was glad to hear the range of new career options available.

'There's a perception that these jobs don't offer as good a career as those in traditional areas like engineering or banking. But hopefully this will change in the future,' she said.

jcheam@sph.com.sg