Low Yen Ling
Singapore
“I want to thank Member Cai Yinzhou for the clarification. As far as his historic district is concerned, I want to assure him that the new Place-making Project Office that comes under the Inter-agency Task Force does indeed not only serve Kampong Gelam, Little India, but also Chinatown.”
“A "we first" society needs an active citizenry working together to realise it. When corporates, community groups, and individuals come together, we will be able to create a harmonious, united and progressive home and society that belong to us.”
“I want to thank Member Mr Andre Low. In my earlier speech, I have also responded very succinctly. I want to assure him, as well as Mr Melvin Yong, I think you touch on very similar issues, and you probably heard from the political office holders speaking at the Ministry of Home Affairs COS about their tough stance against scams.”
“Finally, Government agencies, not just MTI, EDB and Enterprise Singapore, under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, will continue to create a pro-business, pro-people environment, building a business environment based on integrity.”
“— family business, as well as the other one on TACs. On family businesses, I want to assure him that earlier on, when we mentioned that we raised the support level for SMEs and non-SMEs and indeed, many of our multi-generational family businesses are in that category.”
“And since the Member asked, price obviously is an important indicator. Another example is if CCS observes the behaviour of the organisations and if we pick up signals that they are coordinating the behaviour to raise prices, to reduce quality, to reduce output, to reduce innovation, CCS will step in.”
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“I want to thank Member Cai Yinzhou for the clarification. As far as his historic district is concerned, I want to assure him that the new Place-making Project Office that comes under the Inter-agency Task Force does indeed not only serve Kampong Gelam, Little India, but also Chinatown. In fact, the team is not confined only to MCCY and NHB, but also work across the whole-of-Government, including the economic agencies under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, for example, Enterprise Singapore and STB, to come together to support the businesses in the historic districts to strengthen their capabilities in placemaking. One, to design to implement and to scale up the placemaking so that we can boost their vibrancy as well as to drive footfall to the three historic districts, including Chinatown, and we are working very closely with the Chinatown Business Association on that.”
“Thank you, Chairman. Very quickly, I just want to respond to the third clarification from Assoc Prof Kenneth Goh with regards to the 20% co-funding. Sir, to recap, the 80% co-funding is for the Sprout tier and the Scale tier. For the Sprout tier, it is $50,000 over two years, and for the Scale tier, it is $1 million over three years. Allow me to assure him that the 20% to be co-funded does not have to be done upfront. And the source of funding that he mentioned, whether is it donation or earned revenue, they are allowable. As for the tax rebate, it depends on which is the organisation that is leading the project and whether this organisation has an IPC status. On the last part of the question, he asked whether is there any fundraising support and so on. The Singapore Government Partnerships Office stands ready to support and work with the sector partners as well as applicants to realise their project. We will support them in boosting their capabilities in operations as well as fundraising. I am happy to also update him that after the evaluation of project, in fact, upon approval of the project, up to 40% of the grant will be dispersed. I think that goes some way to supporting them in realising the project.”
“A "we first" society needs an active citizenry working together to realise it. When corporates, community groups, and individuals come together, we will be able to create a harmonious, united and progressive home and society that belong to us. (In English): Chairman, let us aspire and work towards the "we first" society we hope for, where no Singaporean walks alone and where people of all races, backgrounds and creeds are joined together by our common hope and vision of a caring and cohesive Singapore. We see the seeds of what that "we first" spirit blossoming in the examples we shared today, from 90-year-old Mdm Periowsamy to the dedicated volunteers from Coface and our many Companies of Good. MCCY will continue to partner Singaporeans to create the conditions for this spirit to grow. Let us shape a "we first" Singapore, strong and resilient, and stronger together.”
“We often say, "First, the nation; then the home" – first "we"; then "me". The core tenet of prioritising "we" over "me" is the foundation upon which Singapore relies for survival and prosperity. To deepen our sense of "we first", we hope to adopt a three-pronged approach through "business", "community" and "individuals" to strengthen mutual care and build a "we first" society. First, the Government will continue to harness our heritage and culture to create more common spaces to strengthen social cohesion. NHB will establish a Placemaking Project Office to work with businesses, associations and individuals within the community to enliven our historic districts and strengthen Singaporeans' sense of identity. We will also add on to our existing three Heritage Activation Nodes with the introduction of two new Nodes in Telok Blangah and Tiong Bahru, which are both neighbourhoods rich in history and culture. The SG Partnerships Fund announced by Prime Minister Wong and Acting Minister Neo, will provide tiered funding for community initiatives of different stages and scale, under a clear framework. This five-year programme has a total budget of $50 million. From the "Seed" stage with an annual cap of $5,000, to the "Sprout" stage with up to $50,000 up to a period of two years, to the "Scale" stage with up to $1 million over three years, the Government hopes to encourage individuals and organisations to start small and share more creative good ideas with more people to unite the community through progressive support. Enterprises, companies and professional bodies can also establish initiatives through the "Corporate Volunteer Scheme" to encourage employees to give back to the community through volunteer service.”
“While time banking is a good idea to increase neighbourliness and foster mutual help, there may be practical implementation challenges. However, I want to assure her that there are community-led initiatives that have similar objectives to time banking. For example, Thye Hua Kwan's Moral Charities implemented a programme, supported by the DBS Foundation, where AAC participants take on short micro-tasks based on their abilities and schedules, and receive small allowances upon completion. I want to assure her that MCCY will be happy to support similar ground-up initiatives, including any time-banking pilots, under the just-announced SG Partnerships Fund. Chairman, while corporate and organised giving matter greatly, a "we first" society is also expressed through everyday acts of care. Volunteerism, therefore, is vital to growing active citizenry. Our island-wide network of 24 SG Cares Volunteer Centres works closely with communities to identify and address their needs. More than 720 volunteers from semiconductor manufacturer, Micron, partnered with the SG Cares Volunteer Centre in Sembawang to run Micron Kampong, which befriends seniors and brings them on outings and festive visits. This year, we aim to engage 36,000 volunteers to benefit 180,000 service users. 4.45 pm When corporates, community groups, and individuals choose to step forward, to connect, to care and to contribute, the foundations of active citizenry are built and the seeds for a "we first" society are sown. Chairman, allow me to speak in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Chairman, the foundation of Singapore's nation-building is the establishment of a harmonious and prosperous multiracial and multicultural society.”
“Second, we will help companies build capability and confidence to contribute and shape our society for the better. For instance, the partnership between the Singapore Business Federation and VolunteerInc. provides companies with training, guidance and connections to community organisations. Since the programme was launched in July last year, more than 100 companies have stepped forward to partner VolunteerInc. One of them is, Coface, a multinational trade credit insurance company, which launched a drive to develop adaptive floorball sessions for elderly persons. Last year, 52 Coface volunteers contributed 624 hours of their time over eight floorball sessions. And this very meaningful initiative saw the seniors gain confidence through adaptive floorball; form friendships not just amongst the elderly, and also with the Coface employees; and rediscover the joy of staying active. Over the next five years, we aim to mobilise 600 companies and 6,000 employees to participate in similar projects. Third, we will continue to nurture a culture of giving back. In 2025, under the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre's Company of Good initiative recognised 371 companies for their contributions. Then there is the Collective for a Stronger Society, launched two years ago, in 2024, and led by the Community Foundation of Singapore, which brings together Government agencies, donors and community partners to better support lower-income families. To date, Collective for a Stronger Society has raised approximately $16 million, translating generosity into meaningful support for families who need it most. Ms Elysa Chen asked whether the Government is considering alternative ways to encourage neighbourliness and mutual help, for example, through time-banking.”
“Ms Elysa Chen asked about ringfencing SG Partnerships Fund's funding to support youth- or parent-led initiatives, and if the fund should be increased to boost mutual support and neighbourliness. I want to respond to her and assure her that, currently, the SG Partnerships Fund is sized at $50 million over five years. We wish to ensure that it remains accessible to encourage a broad range of initiatives that leads to positive change for our communities, certainly including youths and certainly including parents. The SG Partnerships Fund also complements existing schemes, such as the NYC's Young ChangeMakers Grant and the National Youth Fund (NYF). I want to assure her that we will review the SG Partnerships Fund's impact on catalysing projects that support active citizenry, before we consider enlarging it. Applications will open from next month, April 2026, and more information will be released on the Singapore Government Partnerships Office's website. We welcome and we invite all Singaporeans to step forward and make a difference. Your ideas and efforts matter, and we can create a "we first" Singapore where no one walks alone. Chairman, a "we first" society is built when people, communities and businesses step forward to serve the collective good. Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim has asked how we can rally more to do so. First, we will incentivise and actively support corporate volunteerism. As Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced, the Corporate Volunteer Scheme will be extended for three more years. This allows companies to enjoy 250% tax deductions on qualifying expenditures when employees volunteer with IPCs, including employee's salaries and volunteering supplies.”
“We hope that this tier, with its simple application process, will motivate more individuals and ground-ups to come forward with their ideas, no matter how small, to address community needs or to better the lives of fellow Singaporeans. The next tier, the Sprout tier, aims to grow the circle of ground action by providing support for those with proven ideas to amplify their impact and outreach. It is also the next tier of funding that successful "graduates" of Seed tier recipients could apply to, to grow their project ideas. To qualify for the Sprout tier, individuals or ground-ups need to demonstrate track record in implementing projects of a similar nature or have conducted successful pilots of the proposed idea. This tier provides up to 80% funding, capped at $50,000, up to a period of two years. Finally, the Scale tier is for organisations that aim to deliver systemic or sector-wide social impact or to foster cross-sector partnerships with measurable outcomes. This can take the form of large-scale initiatives that grow civic participation or capacity. Similar to Sprout, applicants for this tier would need to demonstrate prior success in implementing projects of similar nature and that the proposed idea has achieved tangible results in pilots. Chairman, we recognise that implementing such programmes could require greater capacity from the organisations. Therefore, we will work with successful Scale applicants, to strengthen their capabilities to execute their projects more sustainably. The fund will provide up to 80% funding, capped at $1 million over three years. The fund will also cover capacity costs, such as manpower and training.”
“Chairman, besides strengthening our sense of community through heritage spaces, we will nurture the growth of a "we first" society by spurring active citizenry. We want to see everyone coming together to shape and take ownership of our shared future. To spark active citizenry, we set up the Singapore Government Partnerships Office two years ago in 2024. Last year, the Government received more than 1,600 partnership proposals addressing a wide range of community needs. Let me cite two quick examples. Project #JalanJalan. It is a youth-led performing arts ground-up with the mission to connect people through performances in public spaces. During SG60, they staged more than 20 performances across five locations. Another project is Skillseed, an established community builder that works with residents to uncover neighbourhood stories and to strengthen local leadership. Skillseed seeks to build trust, capability and ownership within the community. Both projects had different starting points, but they have the same spirit of contribution. Such citizen-driven initiatives have immense potential to spread their impact and outreach. That is where the new SG Partnerships Fund announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and just now by Acting Minister David Neo, will play a key role to spur and strengthen active citizenry. As requested by Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim, I will briefly share how the fund is tailored. It is tailored to empower different levels of ground-up ideas and activities through three tiers of support. First, the Seed tier aims to grow a democracy of deeds by supporting citizen-led ideas, even nascent ones, with accessible and low-barrier funding, up to a maximum of $5,000 for one year.”
“The Project Office will work closely with key district stakeholders, like the Kampong Gelam Association, Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association and Chinatown Business Association, to better understand their needs and empower them to enliven their precincts. In addition, the Project Office will provide seed funding, link groups to relevant agencies and build capabilities to design, implement and scale placemaking initiatives. Heritage businesses play an important role in enhancing the unique character of our historic districts and serve as community anchors. Assoc Prof Kenneth Goh asked whether more targeted succession planning support could be given to preserve heritage businesses and support their financial viability. We recognise that succession planning can be complex and deeply personal. Where heritage businesses are ready to pass down the reins, our agencies will certainly provide support. This includes business improvement initiatives, such as NHB's Organisation Transformation Grant. For example, Rumah Makan Minang, a third-generation family-run restaurant, tapped on this grant to strengthen its long-term sustainability by reviewing and restructuring roles within the family business. NHB will also be working with citizen volunteers to document heritage businesses and their contributions as part of the Little India Citizen Engagement Project. Interested members of the community can look out for NHB's call for citizen volunteers for the exercise, which will be announced by May this year. These efforts remind us that heritage endures not only because it is preserved by institutions, but because it is kept alive by people.”
“Building on this momentum, NHB will launch two new HANs in 2026. One will be in Telok Blangah, in partnership with Participate in Design. It will focus on uncovering hidden neighbourhood gems and stories. And the other HAN will be in Tiong Bahru, with Tiong Bahru Community Centre as our partner. It will celebrate public housing architecture, religious sites as well as heritage businesses. In addition, we will continue to steward our landmarks and historic districts carefully, so they remain meaningful to all Singaporeans and are sensitively integrated into the everyday lives of surrounding communities. Ms Joan Pereira asked for a whole-of-Government approach in assessing the future public use of 38 Oxley Road and to consult neighbouring residents throughout the decision-making process. As mentioned by Acting Minister David Neo in his previous Ministerial Statement, MCCY will certainly study possible options to make the site accessible to the public, so it can become part of our shared memory and a common space for all Singaporeans. The acquisition process for the site is ongoing. Once access is obtained, NHB will conduct a holistic study in consultation with the relevant agencies, to assess how the public education value of the site can be optimised. We will work with the Member, as well as the relevant Government agencies, to engage residents living nearby the site, and consider ideas and feedback to minimise any potential disamenities. To enhance and protect our historic districts, NHB will establish a Placemaking Project Office under the Interagency Task Force for Heritage Businesses, Traditional Trades and Cultural Life, which I co-chair with Senior Minister of State Faishal Ibrahim.”
“About half of their 20 staff members receive time off to volunteer regularly at a nursing home. Mr Chairman, the common thread that we shared earlier at the individual, business and community levels show ordinary Singaporeans and groups stepping forward to make a difference, a big impact on our society. This is the kind of "we first" spirit that MCCY seeks to spark, spur and strengthen. We will do so by, number one, creating common spaces through our heritage. We will bring people together, both physically and in spirit, to foster a stronger sense of community. And number two, by encouraging and enabling active citizenry to ensure that good ideas are turned into actions and no one is left behind. Chairman, when we speak about heritage as a common space, we are referring not only to our landmarks, but also to familiar places within our neighbourhoods – places that hold meaning, memory and shared experience among Singaporeans. Mr Foo Cexiang asked about MCCY's plan to allow more Singaporeans to play an active role in celebrating our neighbourhood heritage. Through the NHB's Heritage Activation Nodes (HANs), NHB partners residents and stakeholders to co-create programmes celebrating their neighbourhood. Since two years ago, in 2024, NHB has launched three HANs across Singapore that has drawn more than 30,000 visitors. They are in Katong-Joo Chiat, Clementi and Punggol. In Katong-Joo Chiat, there is a mural of a mama shop along Lorong Stangee, created by local artist Mr Alvin Mark Tan based on his childhood memories. This mural has inspired passers-by to contribute their stories and old photos of Joo Chiat. Across the three HANs, more than 360 volunteers have stepped forward to deepen our local community heritage.”
“Mr Chairman, I recently visited the Founders' Memorial's "Not Mere Spectators" exhibition. Since 1959, Singapore's diversity has been built and held together by our people's active participation. Throughout the years, Singaporeans stepped forward to care for one another and uphold our unity in diversity. One example is the People's Cultural Concerts. These were performances by the people, for the people, nurturing a sense of belonging, mutual respect and shared identity. Held in open spaces across Singapore, people came together to perform, watch and learn together. Several Pioneers in our arts scene, like Dr Uma Rajan and Mdm Som Said, performed at these concerts and became lifelong friends. Their experiences at these concerts left them with a deep conviction that multiculturalism must be lived and not just be spoken about. Both, in fact, went on to shape Singapore's cultural landscape. Our nation's early years and journey reflect the seeds and the foundation of the "we first" society that we seek to forge. We see this "we first" spirit at different levels of our society where Singaporeans care, share and uplift each other. At the individual level, we see it in volunteers, like Mdm Ratnam Periowsamy. She is 90 years old. At 90, she is the oldest volunteer at Care Corner's AAC in Toa Payoh East. She goes door-to-door to check on seniors living alone and organises activities for them. Her example shows us that you can contribute and care, regardless of age. At the community level, groups, like the Kampong Gelam Association, came together to develop the Kampong Gelam Place Plan to enhance the precinct's heritage and cultural importance. 4.30 pm At the business level, we see the "we first" spirit in companies like aAdvantage.”
“I want to thank Member Mr Andre Low. In my earlier speech, I have also responded very succinctly. I want to assure him, as well as Mr Melvin Yong, I think you touch on very similar issues, and you probably heard from the political office holders speaking at the Ministry of Home Affairs COS about their tough stance against scams. 3.15 pm You would have heard in my earlier speech, I shared that the Government convened an independent Consumer Protection Review Panel last year. They are on track to table their findings to us. We will take a very thorough look at some of that because some of the feedback from the focus group discussions actually cover the areas the Member talked about. I want to assure him that it is not just CCS, not just the MTI family, but we stand prepared to take a whole-of-Government view to enhance our consumer protection regime to do two things. One, to safeguard the emerging risk and also, to ensure that the enforcement agencies are given the necessary capacity and teeth to enforce.”
“— to meet the sixth cohort of — Thank you very much.”
“— they have been working very closely with Enterprise Singapore and JTC, and in one stroke, because of them onboarding digitalisation transformation and as well as AI, they have managed to increase their production capacity by not just double or triple, but six times. This is game-changing because they are able now to really increase their export capacity. On TACs, Enterprise Singapore and MTI will continue to work very closely with our range of TACs, including SBF, SCCCI, SMCCI, SICCI and so on. And we want to work with them to achieve three things, "ABC". One, to advocate and be a voice for their members' company in their sector; two, then also to work closely with Enterprise Singapore and the various economic agencies to build the capacity and the capabilities; three, to connect the member company within the sector and, in fact, to also facilitate inter-TAC collaboration. An example is in the last few years, we have launched a lot of programmes for TACs. A quick example is the TAC Fellowship Programme. This is a programme that is spearheaded by SBF. Just a month ago, I went to SBF —”
“— family business, as well as the other one on TACs. On family businesses, I want to assure him that earlier on, when we mentioned that we raised the support level for SMEs and non-SMEs and indeed, many of our multi-generational family businesses are in that category. A quick, quick example, Mr Chairman, three weeks ago, I graced the opening of Guang Xiang Tai's new factory opening —”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman, I will keep it very brief. I want to thank the Member Mr Edward Chia for his two-part question about the family —”
“Finally, Government agencies, not just MTI, EDB and Enterprise Singapore, under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, will continue to create a pro-business, pro-people environment, building a business environment based on integrity. We will integrate and simplify application processes so that SMEs, including micro enterprises, can obtain Government support more quickly and easily, enabling them to focus their energy on business innovation and future development.”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman. Please allow me to reply very succinctly to Mr Lee Hong Chuang, also in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I would like to thank Mr Lee Hong Chuang for his constructive question just now. When he was speaking in Chinese earlier, I was listening attentively. There was one sentence that I thought was very apt – that when enterprises do well, people have the greatest job security. I think this is a very important social environment in Singapore. MTI's English speeches earlier mentioned why we are vigorously launching the enterprise transformation package, which has three important components. The first important component is to help our SMEs, including micro enterprises, enhance productivity and cost efficiency. First, we will vigorously promote our enterprises' adoption of AI technology. Anyone who has visited China would have seen the technology Mr Lee mentioned; it is everywhere now. When we give speeches, Chinese, English or other languages are simultaneiously shown on the screen. So, we will definitely consider this constructive suggestion. We also encourage enterprises to adopt not only AI, but also automation and energy-saving solutions, as Minister Tan See Leng mentioned earlier. Second, I would like to make an appeal. MTI and Enterprise Singapore will definitely support our enterprises in developing not only the important local market, but also overseas markets. As I mentioned earlier, we will make two important adjustments: increasing our support intensity and expanding the scope of support to help our enterprises seize growth opportunities and expand their businesses.”
“On Mr Andre Low's suggestion to strengthen deterrence against egregious companies, we would like to assure you that the Government is monitoring this very closely and stands prepared to take on a whole-of-Government view to enhance our consumer protection regime to safeguard the emerging risks as well as the need to give our enforcement agencies more teeth. To ensure that our consumer protection regime is up to date, the Government convened an independent Consumer Protection Review Panel last year in March. The Panel will put forward recommendations to address key consumer concerns, including pressure sales tactics and emerging digital harms, such as undisclosed advertisements. The Panel will submit its findings to the Government later this year for a thorough review. Mr Chairman, the years ahead will be defined by the steps we take today. Through our efforts to raise productivity, support growth and internationalisation, as well as to foster a pro-enterprise environment, we are laying the groundwork for a more resilient, dynamic and competitive enterprise ecosystem. By working closely with our businesses and trade associations, we will build new capabilities that allow our businesses to respond decisively to uncertainty and to seize opportunities. With these foundations in place, we are confident that our enterprises will not only weather the uncertainty ahead, but continue to grow with strength, resilience and purpose to adapt, transform and succeed. [Applause.]”
“As Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong highlighted, businesses will need to adapt to shifting global trade flows, technological disruptions and in fact, tighter resource constraints amid steep changes in the global landscape. This may entail reinventing operating models, as Mr Edward Chia has mentioned earlier, for family and heritage businesses, managing generational transitions to safeguard their legacies. Businesses can reposition and transform by moving into higher value-added activities, optimising operations, offshoring where appropriate or pivoting towards more viable opportunities to redeploy resources more productively. The creation, the growth and the consolidation of businesses are all part of a very healthy, vibrant and dynamic enterprise ecosystem. We will journey with our companies every step of the way as they navigate transitions and be their support to help them adapt and emerge stronger. The ESR Committee will share more details in time to come. Chairman, our trusted business environment is underpinned by consumers' confidence in our businesses and market. I agree with Mr Melvin Yong and Mr Andre Low on the need for robust deterrence and enforcement against unfair trade practices. The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCS) has stepped up its enforcement efforts and secured undertakings from businesses to cease unfair practices. Where necessary, CCS has sought Court injunctions against egregious businesses. However, such actions require careful investigation and due legal process. I thank Mr Melvin Yong for his suggestions to enhance the efficiency of CCS' enforcement actions. MTI and CCS will certainly consider this, as part of the Government's regular review of the remedies under the CPFTA.”
“We have simplified multi-agency processes to shorten administrative timelines and to reduce back-and-forth with approving authorities. For example, companies required to undergo Quantitative Risk Assessments (QRA) are expected to save more than 40 days per application following the streamlining of processes by the relevant agencies. We will also continue to work with agencies to simplify internal processes across domains. One such area is the industrial lease assignments or the transfer of industrial land sites in the secondary market. Currently, all assignment applications are subject to JTC's comprehensive assessment of the buyer's business plan and economic contributions, regardless of the land area or the remaining tenure of the site. Moving forward, the assignment assessment process will be streamlined for small sites of up to 1.5 hectares, with short remaining lease tenure of no more than 15 years. The proposed uses must support manufacturing activities and there must also be sufficient infrastructure capacity at the sites. JTC will exempt these cases from the full assessment process and will only carry out requisite checks to ensure that assignees comply with prevailing policy and land use guidelines. The revised workflow could reduce the processing time for eligible assignment applications to within one month from the date of the full application. JTC will release more details on this initiative in the first half of this year. Even as we support firms in pursuing their growth ambition and simplify the processes, we must be prepared to proactively navigate transitions. Companies shared that with the ESR that understanding their business health and future options were vital in navigating transitions.”
“Businesses will always have the flexibility to embark on projects aligned to their specific needs. Enterprise Singapore will launch EDGE in the second half of 2026. And once launched, the enhancements to the MRA grant that I just mentioned earlier will come under EDGE. Mr Chairman, last year, the Government set up the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Pro-Enterprise Office (SME PEO). The SME PEO supports businesses by addressing regulatory feedback that spans multiple public agencies, as well as issues arising in new or emerging sectors where regulations may be unclear. Building on the work of the Alliance for Action on Business Competitiveness in 2024, we also announced three Statements of Commitments under the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Pro-Enterprise Rules Review, to enhance regulatory agility and to reduce compliance burden for businesses. The SME PEO has been working with agencies to implement these commitments. First, to publish clear service standards for regulatory applications, with a target of 30 working days where possible. I am pleased to share that agencies have published service standards for 93% of their business regulatory applications, with 80% of these applications processed within 30 working days. This helps make our processes more transparent and predictable for businesses. Second, to extend the validity of business licences to at least three years, and up to five years where we can. Today, 45% of all business licences have a validity period of at least three years. And in three years' time, by 2029, this will increase to 80%, with agencies actively reviewing their policies. Lastly, to streamline processes to reduce sequential approvals and repeated requests for information.”
“To help our businesses adopt such best practices, during the Food Services Forum held months ago, we launched three new initiatives to support the food sector to: one, optimise operations through the F&B Process Optimisation programme (POP); two, to strengthen their supply chains through the FoodX Programme, which then supports the F&B companies in centralising their food preparation; three, to accelerate the digital transformation. Besides all these sector-specific schemes, micro-SMEs looking to build their core capabilities and scale up can also tap on schemes, such as the EDG and Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG), for customised support. So, we encourage them to approach any of our 10 SME Centres for tailored advice and guidance. Mr Chairman, underpinning our efforts to help businesses enhance productivity and efficiency and grow is a pro-enterprise and trusted business environment. This is the focus of the third thrust of the Business Refresh Package. Beyond enhancing enterprise support, the Government will streamline grant processes to make it easier for our businesses to access the full suite of available measures. I am pleased to announce a new grant, EDGE, which will provide a single shopfront for Government grants, merging the MRA grant, PSG and EDG. We will simplify the grant application process by combining Enterprise Singapore's three flagship grants, and businesses will find it easier to navigate and apply for funding as they only need to submit a single application under the combined grant framework. The new EDGE grant will support up to $100,000 per year for eligible activities. Businesses that require more support for customised projects can certainly continue to apply to Enterprise Singapore.”
“Many of our heartland shops are small and micro enterprises, which, as Mr Gerald Giam has mentioned earlier, play a fundamental role in the local economy. The Government certainly recognise the unique challenges faced by firms of different sizes, including micro-SMEs. We have developed targeted assistance to address specific needs and support their long-term growth. 2.00 pm For example, enterprises in sectors with high concentrations of micro-SMEs, such as F&B and Personal Services, are benefiting from sector-specific support to tackle operational challenges, raise productivity and thereby, improving their top line and bottom line. We understand, many of the F&B establishment face structural cost pressures and capability gaps, as mentioned by some of the Members, including Ms Denise Phua, earlier. And this was also indicated in the recently launched Food Services Productivity Report commissioned by Enterprise Singapore and the Singapore Productivity Centre. This, in turn, leads to compressed margins and limited ability to scale sustainably. However, the same report also revealed that the top F&B performers were able to generate close to three times more sales per man-hour, compared to those at the bottom. When we look closely at it, the top performing F&B establishments observed five key practices: number one, generally, they embraced and adopted digitalisation and automation; number two, implemented strategic menu design; number three, streamlined workflows and space layouts; number four, outsourced labour-intensive preparation work; and number five, adopted effective workforce management. Mr Chairman, MTI and Enterprise Singapore will continue to do our utmost to enable and to equip our F&B establishments to gain these critical capabilities.”
“To help the companies seize overseas opportunities with greater speed and certainty, we will increase the expenditure cap for automatic DTDi-qualifying activities from $150,000 to $400,000 and make existing qualifying activities eligible for automatic deductions. Lastly, the Global Innovation Alliance will have a refreshed strategy which supports startups' market expansion across two tracks, "Launch" and "Grow". Startups new to the market will be supported through "Launch" programmes focused on market discovery and familiarisation, shorter market sprints and early customer and partner discovery. Startups and SMEs requiring more tailored support can tap on "Grow" pathways to access specialised partnerships to support expansion, deeper market penetration and accelerate technology maturation. Mr Chairman, no discussion of our enterprises will be complete without mentioning our heartland shops. Heartland shops intersect closely with the lives of everyday Singaporeans, contributing to the character and the vibrancy of our communities. Helping our heartland enterprises also entails enabling their adaptation and renewal for the future. Over the years, the Government has supported heartland enterprises in refreshing their product offerings, adopting novel concepts and creating experiences that draw footfall and in fact, increasingly, online orders as well, and also strengthening community ties. To encourage the rejuvenation of our heartland shops, we will enhance the support levels of our heartland schemes, the Enhanced Visual Merchandising Programme and the Heartland Enterprise Placemaking Grant, from 50% to 70%. We encourage our heartland shops to take this opportunity to refresh their stores and conceive exciting placemaking activities.”
“As global supply chains reconfigure and our domestic market matures, our enterprises are increasingly looking to seize opportunities beyond our shores. Our approach has always been to lower the barriers to entry, to strengthen access to markets and to provide calibrated support. However, like what Members have said, we recognise that expanding businesses overseas now comes with increased risks and uncertainty, like what Mr Mark Lee has mentioned. Mr Mark Lee and Mr Azhar Othman will be glad to hear that we are indeed stepping up our efforts to help our businesses as they embark on their internationalisation journeys. First, we will increase the support levels for grant schemes that help businesses venture abroad, from 50% to 70% for SMEs, and 30% to 50% for non-SMEs. This includes schemes like the Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) grant, the Business Adaptation Grant and the Global Innovation Alliance. Second, we will further enhance the MRA grant. Members will remember at MTI's COS debate last year, I announced an extension of the $100,000 grant cap to 31 March 2026. This year, in addition to extending the $100,000 grant cap, we will remove new markets criteria and will extend grant support to all local businesses, including both SMEs and non-SMEs. I think this is a point that Mr Shawn Loh will appreciate. This will not only support businesses in accessing new markets but also enable them to deepen their presence in existing markets. Next, we will enhance the Double Tax Deduction for Internationalisation (DTDi) scheme.”
“In 2024, we extended the Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS)-Green for two years and expanded the scope to cover companies adopting green solutions, in addition to green technology developers. We will extend the EFS-Green for another five years. This will facilitate continued access to financing for companies seeking to build green capabilities and capture new opportunities in the green economy. In addition, to help companies manage rising energy costs and reduce their environmental footprint, we will extend the Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG) for one year. This will provide continued support for investments in energy-efficient equipment. The second thrust of our package helps the businesses grow revenue by capturing opportunities at home and abroad. We will help our businesses seize opportunities from the shifting international business environment. I want to assure Mr Shawn Loh that we will continue to strengthen access to financing through schemes like the EFS. In fact, launched in 2019, the EFS has supported thousands of enterprises in securing financing for a wide range of business activities. We will enhance the EFS in two ways. To allow lenders greater flexibility in structuring loan facilities, we will remove the facility-level sub-caps of $20 million and $30 million per borrower group for the EFS-Trade Loan and the EFS-Fixed Assets Loan respectively, while retaining the overall cap of $50 million. This means that our enterprises can obtain loan facilities that best meet their needs, whether is it fulfilling their contracts, executing projects, or undertaking capital investments. In addition, we will permanently expand the scope of the EFS-Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) to support companies in securing financing for both domestic and overseas acquisitions.”
“Over the years, the Government has rolled out a range of schemes to support companies in capability building, productivity and efficiency improvements. Businesses that can do more with less and respond quickly to changes are best positioned to stay competitive. Structural changes brought about by AI and decarbonisation will mean that businesses have to adapt to stay relevant. But these changes also present opportunities for businesses to transform and to grow. I want to assure Mr Saktiandi Supaat, Mr Ng Shi Xuan and Ms Denise Phua that we will continue to enable and empower enterprises across all sectors to optimise production processes and to reduce business costs, especially through technology and automation. For example, enterprises with warehousing operations are increasingly adopting automated logistics solutions to enhance operational efficiency. They can tap on schemes, such as the Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) for funds, and advisory support from industry partners, like the Republic Polytechnic's Centre of Innovation for Supply Chain Management (COI-SCM). One quick example is the company Frosts Food & Beverage, which operates facilities totalling 75,000 square feet in Bedok and Tuas for the storage and distribution of food products. In partnership with COI-SCM, Frosts conceptualised and rolled out a four-way shuttle automated storage and retrieval system at its Bedok facility. This has led to manpower efficiency improvements of over 30% and approximately $100,000 in annual cost savings for the company. Beyond productivity improvements, we are continuing to help our enterprises move towards a low-carbon future. We have heard from Minister Tan See Leng earlier.”
“Mr Chairman, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong spoke about how Singapore is now entering a new phase in our economic journey. We are committed to empowering businesses to succeed and thrive in this new landscape. We will continue to nurture a dynamic and vibrant enterprise ecosystem, where enterprises confidently navigate change and succeed. Businesses today face increasing pressure to adapt in an uncertain world. We have gained keen insights from our engagements with SMEs and the trade associations and chambers (TACs), including the Singapore Business Federation about the challenges on the ground. Several Members have raised similar concerns, particularly in relation to our SMEs – Mr Saktiandi Supaat, Mr Mark Lee, Mr Lee Hong Chuang, Mr Shawn Loh, Ms Tin Pei Ling, Mr Ng Shi Xuan and Ms Denise Phua. I want to assure them that the Government is leaving no stone unturned to support and to journey alongside our enterprises as they adapt, transform and innovate to overcome the challenges faced. I am pleased to share that the Government has tailored a "Business Refresh Package" that comprises a suite of enhancements to existing schemes, to enable, equip and empower our enterprises at every step of their journey to stay resilient, grow and thrive by: one, enhancing their productivity and cost efficiency; two, growing their revenue and helping them capture fresh opportunities at home and abroad; and three, fostering a pro-enterprise and trusted business environment. We will also enable our businesses to proactively navigate transitions, while continuing to strengthen our consumer protection framework. Let me now elaborate on each thrust of the "Business Refresh Package". First, enhancing productivity and cost efficiency.”
“And since the Member asked, price obviously is an important indicator. Another example is if CCS observes the behaviour of the organisations and if we pick up signals that they are coordinating the behaviour to raise prices, to reduce quality, to reduce output, to reduce innovation, CCS will step in. I want to assure the Member that members of the public, including his residents, can certainly provide feedback – qualitative as well as quantitative – to CCS directly. And we will follow up accordingly and seriously. I wish that the Member will now pick up a pen and note this down. Let the Member's residents know to call us via the hotline – 1800 325 8282. And well, if the Member prefers the web-based approach, we have a very succinct FormSG, where you can just use your handphone and go to www.ccs.gov.sg. There is a module that says, "Contact Us". I check it regularly. There is a link that tells you that if you want to report any anti-competitive behaviour, it points you there. We welcome the Member's residents to give us the feedback and I assure him that we will follow up accordingly.”
“I want to thank the Member, Mr David Hoe, for his three comprehensive supplementary questions. And I will respond this way. I think it bears repeating, for commercial developments, the tenancy mix is primarily market driven and a result of commercial decisions that is made by mall owners, operators as well as tenants. And over time, many Members who serve on the ground, you have heartland malls and so on, and Members will realise, over time, the tenant mix in a heartland mall often reflects the consumer demand driven by the needs, driven by the preferences of the residents. Customer is king. We need to allow the market forces to be at work. And I think, generally, we will all agree that it is in the mall operators' interest to provide differentiated products and services. If the malls are within near proximity, it will be quite interesting to have the same brand shop operating in both malls, unless it is due to capacity issues. But I also want to assure the Member that allowing market forces to be at work does not mean CCS is hands-off. At the various platforms that we have shared, CCS has various levers, we have guidelines, very detailed guidelines. With regard to this, it is the CCS Guidelines on the Substantive Assessment of Mergers. We also have measures, and obviously we have law, the competition law or the Competition Act, to maintain a healthy competitive environment. CCS will assess the degree to which competition may be affected or is affected, based on facts, based on circumstances. Certainly, not based on hearsay, uncertainty, projections and so on. I want to assure the Member that, for example, if any transaction results in substantially less competition that compromises the consumer welfare, CCS will step in. We will step in.”
“Where errant trading practices present real risks to consumers and honest businesses, we must make sure that appropriate safeguards and enforcement actions are in place without burdening the businesses and consumers. Where regulations can be streamlined and requirements made efficient, we will certainly pursue these solutions. These key elements of balance, trust and partnership underpin the Government's approach to consumer protection and we will certainly continue to refine and strengthen our approach. I would like to thank both Members once again for their support of this Bill. Mr Speaker, I seek to move. 5.58 pm”
“For instance, CPSO has set up an Advisory Committee comprising industry experts, academics and Government representatives to provide objective and independent advice on whether certain household appliances should be added to or should be removed from the list of controlled goods. As both Mr Melvin Yong and Mr Yip Hon Weng have pointed out, consumer markets are constantly evolving and becoming more diverse, from digital goods and online marketplaces to groceries and daily essentials. The Government is certainly cognisant of these developments and is certainly working with the industry to closely monitoring all the developments. We have already started our work to actively consult the industries as part of a more fundamental review of our consumer protection regime. Just last month, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Gan Kim Yong, announced that the Government has convened a Consumer Protection Review Panel to review key consumer concerns in Singapore, such as prepayment losses, online commerce and also to assess the need to strengthen our enforcement powers and ability to deal with emerging trends. The Panel is co-chaired by Mr Melvin Yong and retired judicial commissioner Ms Foo Tuat Yien. The Panel will develop recommendations to drive consumer empowerment, raise industry standards and strengthen regulatory levers, where appropriate. The Panel held its kick-off meeting last week and we certainly look forward to receiving and studying the Panel's recommendations in time to come. Sir, to conclude, our goal is to create a system that works for consumers, that works for businesses and that works for the economy.”
“For example, our product safety regime adopts a risk-based approach where stricter regulations, including registration and testing, apply only to a defined list of higher-risk household appliances, such as refrigerators and cooking appliances. For most of general consumer goods, for example, sports equipment and furniture, we then take a more self-regulatory approach, requiring the products to adhere to applicable international as well as local safety standards. We also provide guidelines and resources to help businesses better understand and comply with our regulations. For example, CPSO and WMO send compliance advisories to our businesses, including SMEs, through the trade associations and also e-commerce platforms. Because when everyone understands the rules, it then creates a fairer marketplace where businesses can focus on what they do best and provide safe and high-quality products for our consumers. Consumer education is also critical in ensuring consumers are aware of product characteristics and are able to make informed decisions when purchasing and also using the products. For example, CPSO communicates educational information and safety tips via its website to educate and also alert the consumers of products that are at higher risk of safety breaches. Second, we proactively consult and also engage industry stakeholders, including SMEs, as well as other partners, when reviewing our regulations, to ensure that we incorporate the perspectives of the private sector and consider the latest developments.”
“All public officers in CPSO and WMO will move over accordingly to ensure continuity and enhance cross-sharing of expertise and there will be no impact to other officers in either Enterprise Singapore or CCCS. As there will be no change to the capabilities and processes of CPSO and WMO, industry stakeholders as well as the members of the public can continue to access the services and the resources that are provided by CPSO as well as WMO during the transfer. More details on the new contact touchpoints following the transfer will certainly be provided to involve stakeholders soon. These steps will set CCCS' ability to administer the product safety and legal metrology regimes from the get-go following the transfer. I will now address the two Members' questions on our broader approach towards consumer protection. As shared in my speech at the Ministry of Trade and Industry's Committee of Supply debate, in fact, just last month, the Government is certainly very mindful that for markets to function properly, consumers' trust in merchants and markets must be upheld. To do so, we must ensure that the regulatory system is fair and transparent to protect consumers while ensuring that the businesses can operate efficiently and are on the same level playing field. So, I fully agree with Mr Yip Hon Weng on the importance of maintaining this balance and I also agree with Mr Melvin Yong on the need to ensure that our regulations remain robust and effective. Let me elaborate. First, we believe that regulations should be clear, transparent and fit-for-purpose without creating excessive burden. We also take a practical approach to consumer protection regulations.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Members for their support and their constructive views on this Bill. Sir, to recap, this Bill seeks to consolidate and streamline our regulatory landscape on consumer protection by transferring the product safety and legal metrology functions from Enterprise Singapore to CCCS. This will enhance CCCS' oversight of consumer protection issues and relevant regulations and strengthen its ability to engage both consumers and businesses on consumer protection matters. I will, first, address the Members' specific questions about the transfer of functions, before addressing the broader points raised by both Members on our consumer protection regime. President of CASE, Mr Melvin Yong and Mr Yip Hon Weng asked about CCCS' ability to administer the product safety and legal metrology regimes following the transfer. I would like to assure them and the House that the transfer process has been thoroughly planned and will be executed in a seamless manner to ensure that the functions continue to be delivered efficiently. First, such enforcement functions are not new to CCCS. As I had shared earlier, during the start of the reading, CCCS has developed expertise as well as experience as a regulatory authority on unfair trading practices since 2018. Taking over these additional consumer protection functions on product safety and legal metrology is complementary and, in fact, synergistic to its existing functions. Second, Enterprise Singapore's CPSO and WMO – both their officers as well as the budgets – will be wholly transferred from Enterprise Singapore to CCCS.”
“Chairman, I want to thank the Member, Mr Henry Quek, for this clarification. Together with my fellow Parliamentarian, Minister of State Faisal Ibrahim, both of us had co-chaired two taskforce meetings on this inter-agency taskforce, involving not just the MND family, not just the MCCY, but also including the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and Enterprise Singapore. We have identified that there will be an initial group of probably 150 heritage businesses. Most of them are concentrated in the central area that will benefit from these concerted efforts to support and grow our heritage businesses, especially the heritage business in Singapore's historic precinct.”
“Chairman, I want to thank Ms Jean See for her clarification. I want to assure her that there is ongoing collaboration and discussion between MCCY as well as MOE. I recall that when I came back to MCCY for my second stint from July 2020, if you remember, it was during the COVID-19 pandemic, together with my NAC and NHB colleagues, we strengthened our collaboration and also synergised, and really strengthened the nexus between the Ministry and MOE. MOE, as we know, especially at the primary and secondary schools, have arts and culture instructors, music instructors, sports instructors. We were very happy to also rope in the National Instructors and Coaches Association. Even post COVID-19 pandemic, we have leveraged on that strong infrastructure between MCCY, NAC, NHB, as well as SportsSG and also MOE. Earlier on, I announced about AEP. Under the AEP, we have many arts and culture, and music instructors. And indeed, we do want to continue to leverage on this partnership to persuade the schools to also ensure that there is buy-in and they hoist on board the Tripartite Guidance and Advisory.”
“Minister Edwin Tong has asked me to help to relay this. Ms Hany Soh has talked about this last year as well and she will probably remember that during last year's COS, we said that more than 24 heritage trails have been launched. And in fact, during last year's COS, I also talked about the Heritage Activation Nodes (HAN). MCCY and NHB want to thank her for her interest. NHB has launched HAN since last year to engage communities in exploring and also celebrating heritage through collaborative projects. And the first two that we have launched since the announcement last year are: one, HAN@Katong-Joo Chiat, because it showcases Katong-Joo Chiat's very interesting multicultural heritage, especially Peranakan influences, traditional architecture, as well as food culture; the second one, launched at Dr Tan Wu Meng's ward, HAN@Clementi, in September 2024, engages the youths in uncovering hidden heritage gems through schools and also community collaboration. I am happy to update that NHB will launch the third HAN in Punggol next month. Over this project, we are happy to update Ms Hany Soh that more than 9,900 people have joined the HAN programme with more than 2,050 new heritage volunteers and 50 partners on board. And I want to assure her that NHB will continue to work with the communities, including her team, and potentially explore ways to commemorate community spaces, including Fuchun Community Club.”
“In fact, we have used these data and insights to develop programmes, including a programmes that has been announced during this COS. I want to reassure Ms Usha Chandradas that we will certainly continue to monitor jobs and skills data for the arts sector and share this with the stakeholders in the arts and culture ecosystem and work together to design our policies and programme accordingly.”
“Chairman, I want to thank Ms Usha Chandradas for the opportunity for me to respond to her question on the salary guidelines. Please allow me to explain that the nature of employment, as well as the wage structure in the arts versus the social service sector, are really quite different. For example, in the arts, work is highly differentiated and variable, and our arts and culture practitioners generally differentiate themselves through the uniqueness of the vision for the art piece or the performance, as well as the artistic practice. So, while the National Council of Social Service's salary guidelines for the social service sector set pay benchmarks for specific roles and responsibility in the social service sector, employment structure, in comparison, for the arts and cultural sector, differs quite greatly. But I also want to use this opportunity to assure the Member that MCCY publishes the Singapore Cultural Statistics annually. And there is a section on creative economy data which includes figures for the number of arts and culture companies and societies, employment numbers, and also wage numbers, value-added and operating receipts. We do not just work within the Ministry. We work very closely with the sector as well as the Department of Statistics and also the Ministry of Manpower. Allow me to also reassure Ms Usha Chandradas that NAC also conducts what we call the Arts and Culture Employment Survey, which surveys the arts workforce and organisation, and I am happy to share with her that the 2024 findings will be released later this year. These studies are important to MCCY and NAC because they inform our understanding of the complex factors and issues that influence the salaries and employment in the arts sector.”
“Through these activities and programmes, we hope to unite our people, encourage more people to join in our local arts and heritage, and contribute to the richness of our unique culture. (In English): Chairman, our arts and heritage scene has come a long way. Today, on any given day, Singaporeans can watch a performance in the heartlands, attend an arts exhibition, or walk into any one of our excellent museums. We aim to bring the arts and heritage to all Singaporeans and enable more Singaporeans to appreciate and contribute to the richness of our unique culture.”
“This year, ArtsEverywhere@CDC will present over 200 performances across various community neighbourhoods. Beyond increasing access to the arts, we will also promote the well-being of seniors through arts programmes. NAC is working with SingHealth Community Hospitals (SCH) and Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) to develop frameworks and provide resources to guide the design of arts programmes that promote well-being. We are piloting arts programmes in four Active Ageing Centres (AACs) and the Outram Community Hospital, which use different arts forms such as visual arts, storytelling, music, and dance to engage seniors. In the coming year, we will expand the pilots to more AACs, integrating arts into community activities to promote citizens' well-being. This year, MCCY will also pilot the SG Heritage Business Scheme to recognise exemplary heritage businesses, help citizens better appreciate long established local heritage businesses, products and services, take pride in their achievements and support the development of local heritage businesses. Businesses that have been in operation for at least 30 years, provide locally rooted trades, goods or services, and contribute significantly to the identity of a community or place can be designated as SG Heritage Businesses. These recognised businesses will receive brand campaign support and access to business support, such as consultancy service subsidies. We welcome community organisations and the public to actively submit nominations for SG Heritage Businesses, so that we can continue to support these businesses and acknowledge their contributions to our cultural heritage with our actions. The measures I have announced today aim to bring arts and heritage to all Singaporeans.”
“This year, MCCY will pilot the SG Heritage Business Scheme to recognise exemplary heritage businesses and help boost demand for such products. Businesses that have been operating for at least 30 years, providing locally rooted trades, goods, or services, and contribute significantly to the identity of community or place, can be designated as "SG Heritage Businesses". They will receive brand campaign support, as well as access to business support, such as consultancy services. So, I want to invite heritage business owners and members of the public to submit nominations for SG Heritage Businesses so that we can recognise, celebrate and support these businesses in our communities. Chairman, please allow me to say a few words in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Singapore's arts and heritage are pillars of our social cohesion. They bring us together, help us understand each other and give us a shared sense of belonging. As Singapore celebrates its 60th year of Independence this year, let us look forward to the next phase of nation and community building through arts and heritage, ensuring all citizens have access to arts while strengthening support for arts and heritage workers and businesses. The ArtsEverywhere@CDC programme, jointly launched by the National Arts Council (NAC), Community Development Councils (CDCs) and People's Association (PA), is a platform that provides Singaporeans with opportunities to experience arts and culture. From Heartbeat@Bedok to Kampung Admiralty, the initiative has attracted over 40,000 audience since its launch last year, featuring performances by various cultural groups, such as Chinese ensemble, Ding Yi. The Government will continue to fund this programme.”
“Ms Jean See asked about how MCCY will work with stakeholders to improve freelancers' mental health and well-being. I want to assure her that we are doing more in this area. In 2024, ARH conducted a series of peer-sharing sessions with arts collective CITRUS Practices, focusing on self-care tools as well as practices. Going forward, we will expand ARH initiatives to cover issues, such as improving working conditions for arts practitioners, legal issues including protecting intellectual property (IP), IP rights and developing well-being resources for mental resilience. In addition to developing individual talents, we also want to build up our arts companies. Like corporates in any sector, arts companies need business and management capabilities. This may be even more crucial in the arts sector, where economics are challenging. 5.00 pm We will introduce targeted support to develop a robust leadership pipeline in the arts sector. This is critical as most arts companies are micro-enterprises without dedicated human resource capabilities. NAC will pilot an Arts Management Leadership Programme for emerging and mid-career arts managers to undergo mentorship and coaching, milestone leadership programmes and industry attachments. In the next three years, we aim to equip a core of arts managers for leadership roles. Over time, we want to cultivate stronger leadership bench to catalyse further growth in the sector. Elevating our arts and heritage sector requires more than developing individual talents and supporting organisational capabilities. In particular, the Government can play a role to stimulate demand for heritage goods and services. Mr Henry Kwek asked how the Government will support our heritage businesses. We have set up an inter-agency task force on this issue.”
“We will allocate an additional $2 million per year for arts scholarships, allowing us to award more NAC Arts Scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate studies. This funding will also go towards a new NAC Creative Arts Scholarship for pre-tertiary and diploma studies offered by School of the Arts, Singapore (SOTA), the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) as well as LASALLE. Taken together, this will support around 40 more students to pursue higher arts education each year. Our arts practitioners will also receive support. We will help them upskill and stay ahead in today's fast-evolving landscape. Today, the arts sector is about 19,000 strong. They have diverse backgrounds, talents, capabilities and skills. Around the world, the creative sector has always led the wider economy in terms of project-based and freelance work. This is also true in Singapore. Many arts practitioners, including some of our most talented, are Self-Employed Persons (SEPs). They comprise about a third of the arts sector workforce. We will ensure that our arts workforce has the right capabilities to bring the sector forward. We will: number one, expand the resources available to our arts SEPs; number two, develop a robust leadership pipeline in the sector. NAC will expand its offerings through the Arts Resource Hub (ARH), which was set up in 2019 to help arts SEPs establish their careers. Currently, more than 3,400 arts SEPs subscribe to ARH. Subscribers enjoy free access to co-working spaces, preferential rental rates on performances and rehearsal spaces, as well as updates on ARH programmes. They also receive career and professional development support. In the next phase of ARH, NAC will work with our arts community to shape ARH offerings across artforms and career stages.”
“The Fund has supported more than 80 programmes, including batik painting, dance, ukulele sessions for more than 1,500 beneficiaries. NAC is currently collaborating with SingHealth Community Hospitals and the AIC to develop a framework and resources to guide the design of arts programmes that promote well-being. Chairman, MCCY is dedicated and committed to supporting our arts and heritage practitioners and helping them realise their full potential as Mr Fahmi Aliman and Mr Darryl David have suggested. In fact, this is what Creative Economy pillar of the Arts Plan 2.0 is all about. We will: one, expand our support for the next generation of Singaporean artists; two, ensure that our arts and culture workers have the right skillsets and capabilities; and three, support our arts and culture companies in growing their businesses to bring the sector to new heights. The Government has consistently supported the development of artistic talent in Singapore. In the past three years, NAC has invested over $5 million in talent development programmes, including scholarships, international residencies and the Young Artist Award (YAA). These initiatives have supported more than 400 local artists. These investments have added more talents to our pool of arts and culture practitioners. For example, Mr Adib Kosnan received the NAC scholarship in Year 2023 to pursue a Master of Arts in Arts Pedagogy and Practice at LASALLE College of the Arts (LASALLE). I met him in 2023 when he received his scholarship. Adib is an Associate Artist at a local theatre company, Checkpoint Theatre. MCCY and NAC will certainly enhance our arts scholarships this year.”
“For example, Minister Edwin Tong talked about the new SG Culture Pass, for example, focuses on helping our arts and culture groups increase their earned income. Chairman, we will continue to foster and encourage arts participation among our children and students. For instance, NAC and Ministry of Education (MOE) introduced the Artist-in-School Scheme and the Arts Education Programme (AEP) in MOE schools. NAC also worked with MOE to introduce Museum-Based Learning in primary schools and Performing Arts-Based Learning for lower secondary students. Our cultural institutions offer many programmes for children, such as the National Gallery of Singapore's Children's Biennale. In 2022, you will remember that we opened the Children's Museum, the first local museum dedicated to children aged 12 and younger. To help parents promote and participate in the arts with their children, NAC provides recommendation on family-friendly arts events and experiences on Catch.sg. As suggested by Ms Hany Soh, we will bring these benefits further upstream to include preschoolers. NAC will scale up the AEP in Government-supported preschools. Currently, more than 500 Government-supported preschools are on the board AEP. In 2025, NAC will scale up to 70% of Government-supported preschools, around 700 schools, and eventually reach 100% of the preschools by 2027. This means nearly 1,000 preschools and 44,000 students will have access to quality arts learning experiences. In addition, the arts is a powerful force to help elderly people and residents live well and age well. The Government has been investing in this area as well. For instance, NAC's WeCare Arts Fund supports Social Service Agencies providing arts programmes that strengthen the physical and the mental well-being of elderly people.”