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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“All new lease agreements, extensions or renewals of lease agreements, signed on or after this commencement date, will be covered by the Bill. Sir, the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us many valuable lessons. It has also shown that with unity, we can overcome adversity. This Bill was forged from the resilience and determination of tenants and landlords to turn their difficulties into opportunities for partnership and success. I trust that the industry will continue to uphold this exemplary spirit of cooperation between tenants and landlords in our journey ahead. As we strive to build on this firm foundation of partnership and trust, we seek to create a robust and thriving economy that continues to provide good jobs and a bright future for Singapore. Sir, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]”
“The Government thanks the efforts of the Fair Tenancy Pro Tem Committee and the current Committee and welcomes the FTIC in continuing the role of custodian of the Code under the Bill. We would also like to express our appreciation to the apex business chamber in Singapore, SBF, for agreeing to take on the role of secretariat to FTIC. Sir, let me now turn to the scope of the Bill. The Bill will apply to all leases of retail premises, or extensions and renewals of such lease, with a tenure of one year or more. Under the Bill, retail premises are those that are used primarily for the retail sale of goods or the supply of services. This includes businesses, such as eateries, restaurants, supermarkets, clinics, pet shops, walk-in bank branches, tuition centres, cinemas and gyms. In general, businesses in the shopping malls are also covered under the Bill, unless the premises are mainly used for backend office functions. On the other hand, premises used primarily for conducting administrative work in connection with the supply of services are not covered under the Bill. Likewise, industrial, office and residential spaces are excluded unless the space is tenanted to a shop supplying retail goods or services. For example, a mini-mart that operates in an office or industrial building will be covered under the Bill, while the rest of the building that is used as office spaces or for industrial activities will not be covered. We are greatly heartened that many major landlords have already adopted the Code since it was established two years ago. Together, they make up a sizeable proportion of all retail premises in Singapore. To provide additional time for other landlords to come on board, the Bill will take effect about six months from now, in early February 2024.”
“This keeps the Code from being overly restrictive and this will allow for the usual commercial negotiations and considerations. The Bill also requires tenants and landlords to make declarations of some of the deviations. The current Committee has made the process of submitting declarations an easy one via its website and this will continue to be the mode of submission after the Bill is passed. The Bill also offers a dispute resolution process to address complaints of non-compliance with the Code's leasing principles. So, if a landlord or tenant files a complaint of non-compliance, the parties will, first, be required to undergo mediation to resolve the dispute. However, if the mediation does not lead to an agreed outcome, the Bill provides for an adjudicator to be empowered to decide on the dispute. The adjudicator will be able to order the parties to vary the lease agreement or pay compensation, where applicable, for their non-compliant conduct. The adjudicator's determination will be enforceable as an order of the Court once permission from the Court is granted. I wish to assure the House that both the mediation and the adjudication processes will be kept low-cost and expedient. Lastly, the Bill formally establishes the FTIC as the body appointed by the Minister for Trade and Industry to, first, periodically review and, with the Minister's approval, modify the Code; second, to monitor and promote compliance by tenants and landlords with the Act and the Code; and third, to establish the process for submission of declarations of permitted deviations from the leasing principles that are set out in the Code.”
“For example, in the last few weeks, there was one landlord representative who recently shared with us that adopting the Code has made negotiations with tenants simpler and swifter, simply because both parties signing the agreement were Code-compliant. And this, in fact, has helped the landlord to establish good relationships with tenants and vice versa. Tenant representatives also shared that the Code has helped to level the playing field somewhat and enabled parties to find more common ground in lease negotiations. Sir, we are now ready to move forward with legislation for the Code. The Bill will: one, mandate compliance with the leasing principles in the Code; two, establish the Fair Tenancy Industry Committee and provide for its role, among other things, as custodian of the Code; and three establish an accessible and affordable dispute resolution process for parties to address matters of non-compliance. Sir, for the sake of clarity, throughout this debate, I will refer to the Fair Tenancy Industry Committee established under the Bill as the FTIC, and to the Fair Tenancy Industry Committee that was formed in May 2021 as the "current Committee." I wish to assure the House that industry consultations will not stop after the Bill is passed. We expect the Code to be a "living document" that continues to evolve based on the feedback and suggestions from the industry. As custodian of the Code, the FTIC will update the Code as necessary to ensure its continued relevance. Sir, I will now explain the key features of the Bill. First, the Bill requires all tenants and all landlords of retail premises to comply with the leasing principles that are set out in the Code. Deviations from selected leasing principles are permitted with mutual consent by tenants and landlords.”
“This innovative move and collaboration helped CapitaLand and their tenants to continue to generate revenue during the challenging circuit breaker period – generating revenue even as there were restrictions on dining in and other safe management measures. It is with this spirit of partnership between the tenants and the landlords that the Code was established. In the larger scheme of things, the Code not only benefits tenants and landlords but also supports a vibrant and healthy lifestyle sector and contributes to our tourism industry. Sir, the retail sector alone makes up more than 4% of our total workforce, hiring 160,000 people in Singapore, while the food services and accommodation sectors employ about 7% of the total workforce, employing more than 260,000 workers in Singapore. At this point, allow me to highlight how the Code is expected to benefit the industry. The Code provides tenants and landlords with greater clarity on industry norms for key terms in retail lease agreements. This makes the negotiation process more transparent for both parties and addresses tenants' concerns over imbalances in bargaining power. Since the Code's introduction on 1 June 2021, the Government has been a lead adopter, with all Government landlords voluntarily adopting the Code. In addition, nine major private sector landlords have also adopted the Code voluntarily since June 2021. These early movers have found the Code helpful for their lease negotiations. In my various engagements with many tenants and landlords, their overall feedback has been positive and constructive.”
“They sought to promote fair and balanced leasing negotiations by setting out a framework for industry norms on tenancy practices and terms, which are now spelt out in the Code. After the Code was launched, a Fair Tenancy Industry Committee was formed in May 2021 to act as custodian of the Code. We commend the industry and the leaders for their courage and tenacity in charting the path forward towards fair leasing practices. Sir, this is an unprecedented achievement and a laudable demonstration of the Singapore spirit and the determination to work as one for the future of our retail sector. Sir, it took months of painstaking collaboration between the tenants and the landlords to develop this Code, which underpins their growing symbiotic relationship. In fact, around the table, the stakeholders have shown tremendous maturity and resilience in their discussions as well as admirable willingness to give and take, as they worked towards achieving the common goal for the retail sector. This spirit of trust and strong partnership between tenants and landlords was forged in the early days of the pandemic. For example, when retailers had to pivot to e-commerce channels, if you remember, back in the circuit breaker days, to keep their businesses afloat, landlords, such as CapitaLand, stepped up by launching the eCapitaMall platform to help their tenants sell their products or services online. CapitaLand also provided marketing and promotional assistance to enhance the e-commerce capabilities of its traditional retailers on the e-mall.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the Minister for Trade and Industry, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Sir, when the Code of Conduct for the Leasing of Retail Premises in Singapore, or the Code, in short, was launched in March 2021, I reiterated the Government's support of the industry's recommendation to legislate compliance with this industry-developed Code. We recognise that the Code enables a fair and balanced lease negotiation process that will support the growth of retail businesses and strengthen the symbiotic relationship between tenants and landlords in the long run. This Bill will make the principles of the Code mandatory for the leasing of all retail premises in Singapore. This Code would not have been possible without the leadership, efforts and contributions of the trade associations and chambers (TACs) from the retail and property sectors. So, on behalf of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and on behalf of the Government, I want to say a big thank you to the various trade associations and industry groups that came together to develop this Code and chart a new and fair future for the leasing of retail premises. And these include the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS), SG Tenants United for Fairness (SGTUFF), Singapore Retail Association (SRA), Association of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (ASME), the Real Estate Developers' Association of Singapore (REDAS) and the REIT Association of Singapore (REITAS). Sir, during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders from these associations, along with the industry experts, came together amidst rising tensions between tenant and landlord communities to form the Fair Tenancy Pro Tem Committee.”
“] During this period, Singapore contributed to around 70% of Johor's total foreign direct investment (FDI) in the manufacturing sector, with about 3.97 billion ringgit in investments, most of which come from investments in the electric and electronics and medical equipment sectors. As I shared earlier, it is complementary so that we can anchor regional headquarters activities here, we can also anchor research and development (R&D) activities and supply chain management here, so that our Singaporean workers are well-placed to perform these functions, to help the companies manage, integrate, orchestrate their Pan-Asian operations. I want to assure the Member that the JS-SEZ will build on the foundation set by the various JMCIM workgroups to drive sustainable growth, develop human capital and improve infrastructure and connectivity. The meeting just took place two weeks ago. We will certainly provide the House with an update on the JS-SEZ during the 10th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders' Retreat scheduled for later this year.”
“As to Ms Foo's first supplementary question, I want to assure her that the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone sits under the auspices of what we call the Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia (JMCIM). JMCIM was set up 16 years ago in 2007. It was set up by both our Prime Ministers and it has been meeting every year. [Please refer to "Clarification by Minister of State for Trade and Industry", Official Report, 3 August 2023, Vol 95, Issue 110, Correction by Written Statement section.] The JMCIM held its 16th meeting recently, slightly more than two weeks ago, on 14 July in Singapore. This meeting was co-chaired by Singapore's Minister for National Development Desmond Lee and Malaysia's Minister of Economy Mohd Rafizi Ramli. It was agreed during the meeting between the two Ministers that Singapore and Malaysia would set up a task force to study the establishment of JS-SEZ to do a few things: one, to drive economic growth; two, to strengthen economic connectivity between Singapore and Johor; and three, to promote collaboration for the mutual benefit of both countries and our peoples. I would like to add that the JS-SEZ, if it comes about and is established, will build on the good growth of Johor and Singapore's significant investments in the region. Ms Foo asked about what lessons can be drawn. I have explained that the JS-SEZ will sit under the auspices of the JMCIM. And if I could use the data-points since the COVID-19 measures were lifted, from January to June 2022, Singapore was Johor's second largest foreign investor after Japan. [Please refer to "Clarification by Minister of State for Trade and Industry", Official Report, 3 August 2023, Vol 95, Issue 110, Correction by Written Statement section.”
“Speaker, I want to thank the Member Ms Foo Mee Har for her two supplementary questions. The second one is about our export competitiveness. Let me tackle that first. Ms Foo would agree that Singapore and Malaysia enjoy very strong bilateral ties. And when it comes to Singapore and Johor, this Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), the comparative advantages of both sides of the Causeway have attracted companies to set up complementary functions in Singapore and Johor to serve their regional and global operations as well as customers. I want to share with her and Members of the House that, in fact, the Singapore Economic Development Board, alongside our Malaysian counterparts, helped land some of these significant projects in Johor last year, after the COVID-19 measures were lifted. Allow me to quote one example, in the interest of time. For example, we worked with SPC Group to have a cold chain, halal-certified factory in Nusajaya Tech Park (NTP) to allow them to produce 100 items, such as bread, cakes and desserts, to supply to Paris Baguette outlets in Southeast Asian countries. I think we are quite familiar with this brand. This particular company hires more than 300 staff in Singapore. This is a good example to show how, by leveraging the comparative advantage on both sides of the Causeway, we are able to complement our collective value proposition. So, on the second supplementary question, we look forward to the prospects to strengthen the nexus with Johor to foster closer economic cooperation and the chance to explore areas of synergies to benefit both our countries and peoples.”
“The proposed Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone has the potential to strengthen the excellent economic relationship between Singapore and Johor. A special task force has been set up to study the broad areas of collaboration. We will provide an update on its progress at the 10th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat scheduled for later this year.”
“And there will also be, like I said in my answer to the Parliamentary Question (PQ) answer, tremendous opportunities for collaboration with the nearby new Science Centre. So, with plans for more than 10 kilometres of active lakeside seamlessly linked by a promenade and also boardwalk around Jurong Lake, I want to assure the Member that a string of attractions will be created around the lake, all set amidst a very lovely, immersive greenery experience for the visitors, workers as well as his residents.”
“And this is in line with Singapore's strategic objective for decentralisation, so that the residents staying in that part of Singapore will have access to very attractive job opportunities within close proximity. It will also serve as a model for sustainability that promotes a healthy living environment for residents, visitors, workers, and a thriving Jurong Lake District will boost a critical mass of high-quality office spaces, well-integrated with housing, transport – I highlighted the connectivity coming up – amenities, green spaces, the Jurong Lake Garden and other complementary use. I want to assure the Member that my STB and MTI colleagues are closely monitoring and working with various stakeholders about the potential of the tourism development project that we talked about. I also want to assure Mr Ang that the tourism development and the master development sale site aims to meet different but very complementary planning objectives for Jurong Lake District. For example, while the master development sale site will be developed mainly for office and residential uses with complementary amenities, such as retail shops, to serve the needs of the residents as well as the workers, the tourism site eventually, when launched and completed, will be developed primarily for attraction and leisure use – like the Member talked about earlier in his supplementary question – with ancillary hotel and retail uses that will serve both the residents and the visitors. I want to assure him that our STB colleagues are looking at the RFP and the tourism site sits next to the 90-hectare Jurong Lake Garden, which is our third national garden and the location capitalised on the beautiful views and the direct 300-metre long water frontage for Jurong Lake.”
“Sir, I want to thank the Member, Mr Ang Wei Neng, for his interest in the tourism development project. And I thank him for the two supplementary questions. But allow me to take a step back and recap what happened in 2008 because the Member will remember – and many Members would probably remember – the Jurong Lake District has, over the last 15 years, seen very significant progress since the release of the blueprint in 2008. For example, an established commercial core has built up around the Jurong East MRT interchange with developments, such as Jem, Westgate and Vision Exchange, complementing existing offices and amenities in the area. The Member asked about the high-speed rail. For us, we are very focused on pushing ahead with not just MTI but the whole-of-Government plans for the Jurong Lake District, for example, upcoming improvements in rail connectivity via the Jurong Region Line and the Cross Island Line (CRL). All these developments and transport connectivity will certainly enhance the accessibility and attractiveness of the Jurong Lake District as a major employment centre. Two weeks ago, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) launched a tender for the master development site at the Jurong Lake District and, indeed, the launch of the master development sale site will kickstart the next phase of development for the Jurong Lake District. And I want to assure the Member and the residents staying in the area that over the next 10 to 15 years, the plan is to develop the Jurong Lake District into the largest mixed use business district outside of the city centre, in line with the blueprint.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, a request for proposal for a new tourism development at a site in Jurong Lake District was launched in March 2022 and closed in October 2022. There were no submissions. The war in Ukraine, coupled with the overall slowdown in global economy, created an uncertain economic environment during that period, especially for the tourism sector. However, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) remains confident in the tourism potential of the site as it is adjacent to the new Science Centre and Jurong Lake Gardens. We are monitoring market sentiments and exploring other possibilities to harness this potential.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I want to thank Mr Melvin Yong for the supplementary question. I want to reassure him that this is mission critical for HDB and EMA. We want to make sure that every home in Singapore has an RCCB because it is a very important electrical safety device. For the number of HDB flats that were built before July 1985 that did not respond to HDB when they went knocking on the doors, HDB will certainly go back, one on one. We will also rope in the grassroots advisors accordingly and provide them the necessary assistance. If we identify a particular flat does not have RCCB, we will quickly mobilise and make sure the RCCB is installed quickly.”
“I want to assure the Member that EMA and HDB will be mounting a concerted public education effort, including sending the official letter in four languages – English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil – to these flats to reach out to them. In the letter, the helpline numbers are provided. If you would allow me, Mr Deputy Speaker, for example, for HDB dwellers, they can call the HDB branch service line at 1800 225 5432 for help. In addition, they can also call EMA's contact centre at 6835 8000. I hope I have reassured the Member. He also asked about the cost for the bigger flats. The cost of installation of a RCCB in the flat typically is about $500. We want to ensure the safety of the pre-1985 homes with this new requirement and we are mindful of the cost of the installation to protect the home owners. Which is why, earlier on, I mentioned that the cost of the RCCB installation for households from 1-room and 2-room flats will be fully paid for by the Government. Under the HDB RCCB Installation Assistance Programme, the Government is providing substantial subsidies up to 95% for households of bigger HDB flats. He asked for some numbers – let me quote from the letter. Those staying in 3-room flats will only need to pay 5% of the cost, which is about $25. Those staying in 4-room flats will pay 7.5%, which is about $37.50. Residents of 5-room and executive flats will pay between $50 and $62.50. Having said that, families who are facing difficult circumstances will receive help from HDB, EMA and from the grassroots leaders. I hope I have given him the reassurance.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I want to thank the Member Mr Saktiandi Supaat for asking the supplementary questions, for himself and also on behalf of Miss Cheryl Chan. I want to assure him and Members that EMA and HDB have launched concerted public education efforts to reach out to the residents staying in 1-room, 2-room, 3-room and bigger flats built before July 1985 to advise them about the RCCB requirement and also how to check if their RCCBs are working, and if they need any support or assistance to facilitate the installation of RCCB by home owners. Let me give a sensing of the numbers. I think I have made it quite clear in my answer and I want to assure Members that, after July 1985, all new homes would have had RCCBs installed on their premises, as required by EMA. This means, majority of homes in Singapore fulfil the requirement of having a RCCB. So, this exercise, as Mr Saktiandi Supaat had said, reaches out to the residents of pre-1985-built homes and some of them may not have any RCCB. What is the sizing? We have worked with HDB, and we understand that there are a total of 382,000 flats that were built before July 1985. Since May last year, they have been knocking on doors for these flats built before July 1985, per my sharing in the earlier answer to the Parliamentary Question. Just sharing the numbers for the 2-room flats built before July 1985 – there are about 6,000-plus flats. Out of these, HDB managed to visit more than 4,400 – so about 74%. Out of the 4,400, only 95, or 2%, did not have RCCB installed. HDB then facilitated the installation of RCCB.”
“For those living in 3-room or larger flats that were built before July 1985, the Government will subsidise up to 95% of the cost of RCCB installations. We encourage all home owners to ensure that their homes are equipped with an RCCB and that their circuit breakers are in good working condition. Home owners who require further assistance can reach out to EMA or HDB for help.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, the residual current circuit breaker (RCCB) is an electrical safety device that cuts off electricity supply immediately upon the detection of any leak, to guard against the risk of electric shock. Since July 1985, all new homes are required to have RCCBs installed. For residential premises built before 1985, most would have undergone renovations and have had an RCCB installed. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has notified all residents living in 1-room and 2-room flats built before July 1985 of this requirement and will be progressively notifying residents living in 3-room and larger flats built before July 1985. The Energy Market Authority (EMA) has separately also notified all private property home owners of this requirement. In their communications, both agencies have informed home owners how to assess if their RCCBs are in good working condition. In addition, the helpline numbers for home owners to call for assistance are included in their notification. For those living in 1-room and 2-room flats built before July 1985, HDB has conducted door-to-door inspections and also completed RCCB installations for inspected units without an RCCB. For the minority of residents who did not respond to the earlier round of inspections, HDB will arrange for follow-up inspections and RCCB installations. HDB will also work with grassroots leaders to provide further assistance to elderly residents on this matter when needed. Under HDB’s RCCB Installation Assistance Programme, the Government will fully subsidise the cost of RCCB installations for those living in 1-room and 2-room HDB flats built before July 1985.”
“So, I want to assure the Member that both Singapore and Shanghai are very committed to working closely together, leveraging the SSCCC platform to identify more opportunities to deepen our collaboration, generating economic spin-offs for our SMEs and Singaporeans.”
“Certainly, the SSCCC has encouraged and contributed to the growth of business ties, and opportunities between Singapore and Shanghai; and certainly, generating economic spin-offs for our SMEs. In the three areas that he asked about – and I touched on these in my original reply – allow me to share a little bit more insight. In financial services, for example, the SSCCC platform has improved market connectivity and business opportunities, as well as facilitated the expansion of Singapore and Shanghai's financial institutions in our respective market. A quick example, in 2021, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the first Singapore-China Securities Joint Venture company was set up, which then saw DBS underwriting and trading onshore securities products. Singapore is now home to Shanghai-headquartered firms, such as Guotai Junan Futures, Bank of China Investment Management and, more recently, Green Link Digital Bank. The Member asked about the new areas in the digital economy and the green economy. To grow our digital economy, the MOU between IMDA and Shanghai Municipal Economy and Informatization Commission will promote cross-border data flow, as well as paperless trade, which is a very significant milestone. In the area of green finance, where Singapore and Shanghai have very complementary interests, we will certainly continue to foster more opportunities for partnership. For example, I shared at the recent SSCCC platform which was held in Singapore that Singapore's Marketnode, a digital market infrastructure operator, is collaborating with Fudan University and China Chengxin Credit Rating Group to set up a green bond platform.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I want to thank the Member Mr Murali Pillai for asking the question on behalf of the Member Mr Desmond Choo. I think there are two parts to the question: how can SMEs and the people benefit from the SSCCC, as well as, I think, he asked for a bit more insight in three areas. Allow me to share some trade numbers. I want to assure the Member that Singapore and Shanghai share strong economic relations that have continued to grow despite the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, last year, in 2022, total trade between Singapore and Shanghai increased 8% year-on-year to RMB100 billion. Exports from Shanghai to Singapore increased by about 20% year-on-year to about RMB53 billion. In terms of investment, Singapore was Shanghai's largest foreign investor last year, while Shanghai is Singapore's second largest investment destination in the People's Republic of China (PRC) as of end 2021. Based on our interactions with the SMEs in Singapore, through the Ministry of Trade and Industry platform as well as the Enterprise Singapore platform, Singapore SMEs and companies see Shanghai as a very attractive investment destination and the key port of call – in fact, the first port of call – to expand their operations in PRC. As of end last year, there were more than 6,000 Singapore projects in Shanghai in sectors, such as real estate, financial services, manufacturing, lifestyle and the consumer sector. I want to assure the Member that since the SSCCC was set up four years ago, and out of the past four years, for three years we were mired in the COVID-19 pandemic. And despite that, we managed to facilitate the inking of 37 agreements.”
“Singapore companies such as RSP Architects Planners & Engineers (Pte) Ltd and Amtronic will be leveraging the SSCCC platform to explore green building projects in Shanghai. As key financial centres and logistics hubs, there are also opportunities for Singapore and Shanghai to further deepen cooperation in these sectors. In the area of financial services, Shanghai-headquartered UnionPay International is partnering with Singapore banks, such as DBS and OCBC Bank, to facilitate cross-border payments, which will allow their customers in Singapore to make UnionPay QR Code payments at over 40 million merchants globally. To enhance collaboration in the transport and logistics sector, the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Shanghai Maritime University are facilitating more talent and knowledge exchanges in areas such as maritime port management. These collaborations reflect the deepened bilateral relationship between Singapore and China towards an "all-rounded, high-quality and future-oriented partnership" announced during Prime Minister Lee's visit to China earlier last month.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, Singapore and Shanghai share strong and close relations. The Singapore-Shanghai Comprehensive Cooperation Council (SSCCC) plays an important and valuable role in fostering and deepening the ties and engagement between Singapore and Shanghai, as well as the broader Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region. Established in 2019, the SSCCC continues to enhance cooperation between Singapore and Shanghai. Thus far, 37 agreements have been signed to promote collaboration across the six areas of financial services, technology and innovation, urban governance, people-to-people exchanges, ease of doing business, and the Belt and Road Initiative. Notable partnerships include the establishment of the Singapore-China YRD Joint Innovation Call, which has received over 50 project applications from Singapore companies embarking on joint innovation projects with partners in Shanghai and the greater YRD region. Through the SSCCC, Singapore entities such as DBS, Raffles Hospital as well as home design and lifestyle brand Commune have expanded operations in Shanghai, while agencies like the Ministry of Health, Singapore Tourism Board as well as National Gallery Singapore have established closer collaboration and exchanges with their Chinese counterparts. Singapore and Shanghai continue to actively advance collaboration in new growth areas such as the digital economy and green development. For example, at the fourth SSCCC meeting held in Singapore last month, Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and the Shanghai Municipal Economy and Informatization Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore initiatives in digital connectivity, digital utilities and innovation.”
“More importantly, I think the point here is that Singapore does not compete on cost alone. Other factors that contribute to our city state's overall competitiveness include a stable political regime, strong rule of law, favourable policy towards foreign investment and trade, good digital and logistic connectivity, a skilled workforce as well as our technological infrastructure. But I want to reassure Mr Liang and all Members that the Government will certainly continue to monitor the market closely and, where needed, calibrate the supply of commercial properties to ensure the stability as well as the sustainability of rentals for business over the medium to long term.”
“Sir, I cited earlier that in the next three years, starting from this year, we will see about 530,000 square metres of commercial space being completed and this figure represents 40% higher, compared to the last three years combined. And to cater to companies in different sectors with different locational preferences, new office spaces will be distributed geographically across the island. I will cite some quick examples. In the Central Business District (CBD) area, for example, this year, we will see the completion of the IOI Central Boulevard and that will yield 139,000 square metres. In the city fringe, that includes the Keppel South Central project that will be completed sometime next year and yield about 57,000 square metres. Outside the CBD area, Punggol Digital District is expected to have an additional 39,000 square metres two years later in 2025. As other examples, next year, we will see completion of Labrador Tower, 75,000 square metres; next year as well, Paya Lebar Green, 36,000 square metres. Two years later, 2025, Shaw Towers Redevelopment, 44,000 square metres; and two years later as well, Solitaire on Cecil. So, I just want to give the Member assurance that we are seeing the completion of a combined gross floor area (GFA) of 530,000 square metres over the next three years. To the Member's second question about Singapore's overall competitiveness, he would have read some of the recent ranking reports, including the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Today, our city state continues to be one of the most competitive economies of the world and this is attested to by the recent EIU ranking which indicated that Singapore has retained the position of having the world's best business environment for 15 years. But we should not rest on our laurels.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I want to thank the Member Mr Liang Eng Hwa for his three supplementary questions. If I heard correctly, there are two parts to the first one. I also wish him a speedy recovery after his ankle operation. I want to thank him and assure him that the Government keeps a close eye on the cost of doing business and the impact on the economy as well as the impact on Singapore's attractiveness as a business location. To the first part of his first supplementary question, that is, to moderate the commercial rental prices, Mr Liang and Members will know that the Government has, in the past, implemented various supply-side measures, for example, calibrating sufficient supply to meet longer-term demand through the Government Land Sales (GLS) programme. I will give Members a quick example. Just a few months ago, in December last year, the Government announced a mixed-use site at Jurong Lake District that is potentially yielding about 150,000 square metres of commercial space and that will be released via the confirmed list in June 2023. In addition, a 30-year lease commercial site in Punggol, potentially yielding about 8,400 square metres of office space as well as a mixed-use site in Woodlands, about 78,000 square metres of commercial space were also made available on the reserve list via the first half of 2023 GLS. I cite all these examples to share and give assurance to the Member that these sites can be triggered by the developers to cater for additional commercial space demands. So, that is one. And, of course, another important data to look at is the vacancy rate and I cited the figures of 11% to 13%. If I hear correctly, the second part of the Member's first question is about whether I can give some breakdown to the 530,000 square metres.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, globally, inflation has stayed elevated and the cost of doing business, which includes rental prices, has also increased. The rental index of office spaces in Singapore has increased by an average of about 1.35% per annum in the last three years. While rental for office spaces is higher than the pre-pandemic level, it remains below historical peaks in 2008 and 2015. In the same period, the vacancy rate for office spaces has remained stable at around 11% to 13%. Between 2023 and 2025, more than 530,000 square metres of office space is expected to be completed. This is about 40% higher, compared to the past three years combined, and can help to cater to the demand and moderate rent increases over time. Rental continues to comprise a modest proportion of overall business costs for most sectors in Singapore. The Government will continue to monitor the market. We are committed to ensuring Singapore’s competitiveness and attractiveness as a business destination.”
“So, we will support the arts sector in developing that area, for example, in order to do so, NAC will look at training and capability development for marketing and data analytics, because it is important for us to know our audience and to also know what our audience want to read and enjoy and view. This can be also organised in collaboration with training providers and industry partners. NAC will also cultivate partnerships with other creatives in the adjacent sectors that I talked about earlier, to create new arts experiences in a hybrid form and even through gamification. The third one is technology and innovation. Earlier on in my speech, I talked about the beta version of the one-stop portal for us and I hope all the Members and your residents will try this portal when we roll this out. We will expand possibilities to create and present art through technology. And again, that is helping our practitioners reach more audiences. These include one, art making using digital tools, online art businesses, audience development through the metaverse that I talked about, and place-making. We will also encourage the use of digital spaces to expand possibilities for presentation and incorporating arts into the everyday lives of Singaporeans so that we can enjoy arts and for arts to remain accessible in our space and precincts where we live, work and play.”
“Mr Chairman, I want to thank the Member, Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, for his clarification. Minister Edwin Tong had earlier briefly outlines some key differences in the next iteration of our SG Plan, the difference between the 2023 vis a vis the 2018. Broadly speaking: number one, there is greater focus on a creative economy; two, greater audience centricity; and the third is the emphasis on technology and innovation. Very quickly, allow me to elaborate to Members. Firstly, in the area of creative economy, we will over the next five years, work very closely with the sector and the adjacent sector to encourage cross-pollination between the arts sector and the adjacent creative sectors like media, design and so on, to drive more employment and also career progression opportunities for our artists and practitioners. We will also work closely with the arts community to help develop competencies needed to tap on all these opportunities, such as IP management skills, thT was briefly touched on by Minister Edwin Tong earlier as well. The next one, audience centricity, is very important because in the last three years, we have seen how technology really helped the works of our arts and culture scene to travel beyond Singapore. Other than enjoying a musical performance now, if it is also curated like a production, the audience in other areas in the regional countries and global market can also enjoy it. That is why, in the next five years, we will also focus on greater audience centricity, helping our artists and practitioners and arts organisations to reach audiences in a wider scope.”
“Mr Chairman, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Chairman, I would like to thank Ms Tin Pei Ling for her two questions. I agree with her that arts and culture are a valuable asset that can bring people together. All of us would remember that during the COVID-19 pandemic, various creative artistic expressions form a positive energy that supports us as we unite to overcome the pandemic. Building on this foundation, MCCY will partner Singaporeans and arts and cultural practitioners based on the upgraded Our SG Arts Plan and Our SG Heritage Plan 2.0 to shape a more resilient, inclusive and forward looking future. Her second question is about digitalisation. MCCY will continue to invest in our arts and cultural practitioners in two ways as they are important in developing our creative economy. Firstly, we will ramp up efforts to professionalise the arts sector. Secondly, we will look to strengthening support for arts self-employed practitioners. I agree with Ms Tin Pei Ling's two speeches just now. Arts come from life. We hope that arts can be closer to everyday life. Hence, we will cooperate with different institutions to provide arts practitioners more space for artistic creation, so that arts can be showcased in everyday life. Preserving our heritage and innovation in arts requires continuous efforts of the individual, society and the Government.”
“This framework, which will be launched later this year, will be accompanied by roadshows to guide practitioners on the recommended skillsets. NAC will also be collaborating with our Institutes of Higher Learning and continuing education and training centres to strengthen career pathways in the arts and culture sector. This includes embedding digital skills as part of the students’ Pre-Employment Training (PET), and curating resources to support the organisational processes and transformation of our arts groups. Secondly, we will boost our support for arts SEPs, many of whom were affected by the pandemic. The Arts Resource Hub (ARH), which was formed in 2019 to support the SEP community, has since gained over 2,500 subscribers and held close to 76 talks and workshops. It currently oversees three co-working and performance spaces. NAC is currently reviewing the ARH to better support the needs of SEPs. It will embark on a series of deep dive sessions with various arts SEPs to gain insights and their feedback on the development of the ARH and aim to enhance the hub progressively this year. This follows my meeting last month with a group of more than 30 arts SEPs during which we discussed how we can better support them and co-create solutions together. Chairman, I would like to extend my gratitude to every one who came forward to share their hopes for our arts and culture. Together, we have carved a vision of an inclusive, accessible and vibrant arts and heritage sector that will anchor and inspire Singaporeans for years to come. MCCY is committed to partner our practitioners and Singaporeans to realise this collective vision for a distinctive, connected and creative Singapore.”
“I am glad to announce that NAC will establish the Alliance for Action for Project Arts Metaverse this year to partner and co-create digital solutions with our stakeholders for this new world of possibilities. NAC will leverage the Metaverse to showcase Singapore as a distinctive city for the arts. As more opportunities in the metaverse are unlocked, there is new potential for audience development, for monetisation and for the growth of innovative technologies for the arts. In addition, NHB will partner the private sector to explore the development of new digital strategies for the heritage sector. This will include ways to digitally preserve and document our heritage assets, and how to augment visitor experiences at the museums through Virtual Reality experiences, 3D displays and artificial intelligence. We are looking forward to harnessing technology to create new experiences and enhance our appreciation of arts and culture. Apart from leveraging new platforms, MCCY will deepen investments in our people. I agree with Ms Tin Pei Ling and Mr Sitoh Yih Pin that we must develop the capabilities of our workforce and the resources needed for a thriving creative economy. Allow me to quickly outline our strategy. Firstly, we will not let up on our efforts to professionalise the arts sector and support the growth and development of our practitioners in their career pathways. Since last year, NAC has been working closely with the sector on the competencies needed for the arts practitioners to grow in their career. I am glad to share that NAC is developing Competency Frameworks to help practitioners hone their skills, starting with one for those in arts education, technical theatre and production.”
“I am happy to share that renovations of the five double-storied units will start soon with the target for completion by year 2024 – that is, next year. Let me now turn to innovation efforts to transform our heritage platforms and services. The pandemic has spurred digital innovations which have brought new opportunities and wider audiences to the sector. As part of Our SG Arts and Heritage Plans, NAC and NHB will introduce various digital initiatives to transform the way we enjoy and learn about our arts and heritage. Later this month, NAC will launch a beta version of a one-stop digital platform for audiences to discover, to share and to book arts and culture events. This platform will also help cultivate and deepen interest in the arts amongst Singaporeans. As a start, it will feature arts and culture events in the museums under NHB, the National Gallery Singapore and Esplanade, and offer users personalised recommendations. More features will be rolled out progressively over the year. Further, we will work closely with our practitioners as well as private stakeholders to further drive the adoption of digital technologies and solutions across the arts and heritage sector. For example, NAC will work with UOB on the UOBNAC Acceleration Programme for the Arts, which seeks to help artists and organisations build on their business and financial competencies. NAC will continue to organise the next edition of "Arts Matters" this year, which aims to facilitate interdisciplinary and cross-sector learning with technology and commercial partners, such as Branded. As technology continues to permeate our lives and artistic expressions, the rise of the metaverse will open up new doors of opportunities for our arts and culture sector.”
“At the community level, we will work with Singaporeans from all walks of life to co-create more heritage touchpoints, like holding festivals and organising cultural programmes. In particular, we hope to have more youths join us, like volunteer Mr Ng Wee Liang, who helped to document heritage businesses as part of NHB’s Kampong Gelam Citizen Engagement Project. To grow our heritage industry, we will share our rich Singapore story with a wider regional and global audience through a range of initiatives, like forming new platforms to showcase our traditional crafts and highlighting our culture and heritage overseas. We will also continue to strengthen the sustainability of our heritage sector through the ongoing Organisation Transformation Grant (OTG), which encourages heritage businesses to adopt innovative projects. As part of Our SG Arts and Heritage Plans, we will continue to bring arts and heritage closer to fellow Singaporeans and in our everyday environment. We will work with citizens and agencies to introduce public artworks and co-develop heritage programmes. Mr Sitoh Yih Pin and Mr Darryl David had asked about our plans to update our arts spaces to better support our practitioners. We remain committed to developing user-centric and inclusive arts spaces, particularly for emerging arts groups and practitioners. Last year I shared about NAC and Singapore Land Authority (SLA)'s plans to refurbish and pilot arts and culture sandboxes at Kampong Java. After NAC's focus group discussions with key stakeholders, it was agreed that Kampong Java should be a sandbox and multidisciplinary venue for artists to experience and incubate works of different art forms. It should also remain an accessible and affordable space for artists.”
“0 this year and build upon the progress we have achieved so far. Let me recap the key milestones. Today, our Hawker Culture is inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the ICH of Humanity. We have established The Stewards of ICH Awards to recognise excellent practitioners. Besides three new community galleries, we also piloted the Street Corner Heritage Galleries in Balestier, Kampong Gelam, Little India and Chinatown. In recent years, the Padang, Fort Siloso and three Singapore River bridges were gazetted as National Monuments to preserve locations of significant history. Looking ahead, I am happy to announce that our Heritage Plan for year 2023 to 2027 will focus on enhancing our Singapore legacy in four key areas – identity, community, industry and innovation. Under identity, we will find new ways to reflect the many layers of our Singapore story and its connections with the rest of the world. Apart from efforts, in the area of archaeology, we will encourage content-based and object contributions from the public and offer more opportunities for Singaporeans to co-create exhibitions. In addition, we will expand the National Collection to cover the realm of design, as mentioned by Minister Edwin Tong. Moving forward, NHB will work with other agencies, including Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and National Library Board (NLB), to collect works of contemporary Singaporean designers and architects and, potentially, from the region. We can all look forward to an upcoming exhibition on the works of Andrew Gn. He is one of Singapore's most prolific fashion designers – at the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) later this year.”
“NAC, National Heritage Board (NHB) and our cultural institutions currently offer a wide range of arts and heritage events and programmes for families with young children. These include National Gallery Singapore (NGS)'s Children's Biennale, NHB's Children's Season, as well as initiatives via NAC’s arts and culture nodes. NAC's funding towards major art companies also supports outreach efforts to children, such as the Singapore Repertory Theatre's division called The Little Company. We encourage parents to enrich their family life by supporting and by participating in all these initiatives. We will also deepen our collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MOE) on the Museum-Based Learning and Arts Education Programme, to provide our students with hands-on experiences as they learn about Singapore's arts and heritage. Secondly, we will further enhance access to the arts. We aim to develop Singapore into a distinctive city with accessible spaces and precincts for our people to enjoy the arts where they live, work and play. To this end, NAC has embarked on a study to map out existing arts infrastructure in Singapore. This ongoing effort will bring Government agencies and private stakeholders together to grow vibrant precincts. NAC, too, will aim to grow a flourishing and globally-connected creative economy for the arts, as mentioned by Minister Edwin Tong, through new business models, development pathways and internationalisation opportunities. It will also continue to support local arts practitioners so that they can reach international audiences and gain recognition overseas. I will elaborate on some of these initiatives later in my speech. Mr Chairman, our Singapore heritage is a unique one that we are proud of. We will launch Our SG Heritage Plan 2.”
“To grow our audiences, we supported and delivered a range of programmes like Arts in Your Neighbourhood and Silver Arts, which brought arts experience to neighbourhoods and older Singaporeans, as mentioned passionately by many Members earlier during their speeches. We also launched initiatives like the Arts x Tech Lab in 2021. This has fostered, especially during COVID-19, vibrant collaboration between the arts and tech sectors for innovative experimentation, and also deepened the arts industry’s digital capabilities in art-making and presentation of arts. Five years on, our arts master plan is being refreshed to respond to the challenges of a post-COVID-19 environment. We will better leverage technology and the use of data to catalyse new possibilities for our practitioners, for our arts organisations and fellow Singaporeans. We will widen our base of partners as MCCY works closely with the arts and culture sector to shape a bright and exciting arts and culture scene. Let me elaborate on what the updated master plan will seek to do. Firstly, NAC will aim to develop a connected society through the arts. We envision the arts linking our society across all key aspects of our life. Mr Raj Joshua Thomas asked about our plans to develop spaces for communities to connect with one another. I want to assure him we will expand touchpoints for the arts by offering more arts activities in parks, in community and lifestyle spaces which are readily accessible. To complement this, NAC will support research efforts to grow evidence on the social impact of the arts. Ms Hany Soh spoke about the importance of creating opportunities for our young to learn and pursue their passion for the arts, and we agree with her.”
“Mr Chairman, our arts and heritage are central to our Singapore identity and bring us together as one people. The resumption of various physical events and large-scale gatherings will allow MCCY to make further strides towards shaping a bold and resilient arts and culture sector. We seek to achieve this in close partnership with the arts community and fellow Singaporeans. In the past year, I have engaged with our practitioners and fellow Singaporeans to hear and learn more about their aspirations for Singapore's arts and heritage scene. One of the common themes to emerge is the wish for an inclusive and forward-looking landscape where our arts and culture can continue to grow and flourish. Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, Mr Xie Yao Quan, Ms Tin Pei Ling and Mr Raj Joshua Thomas – they have all asked about our plans for the arts and heritage sector moving forward. Let me begin by sharing about the next iteration of Our SG Arts Plan and Our SG Heritage Plan. 2.15 pm Our SG Arts Plan, which was first launched in year 2018, has since inspired Singaporeans from all walks of life, connected communities and reflected our unique Singapore identity to the rest of the world. We launched the Sustain the Arts Fund, in short called stART, to encourage giving to small arts organisations. The fund has benefited 22 small art organisations just in the last financial year, including Reverberance, which is a Chinese wind-percussion ensemble that seeks to inspire the community through traditional arts. The stART Fund also supported Legend: The Beginnings (传说之 人之初), which brought the art of Chinese orchestra to our audiences by retelling Chinese folklore through an immersive experience that combines music with story narration and animation.”
“I want to thank the Member for his two supplementary questions. The NPF is available for the Ministries and agencies to tap into to spearhead productivity enhancement projects and CET that will benefit the TACs and the sector. In a way, the TACs and the companies are tapping on the funding as well. For the second question, as our companies and workers benefit from a wide range of schemes, in addition to the NPF, the various schemes are also subject to scrutiny. I want to assure him that within the NPF, we regularly monitor the progress of the project that is funded by NPF to ensure they meet project level targets. For example, the hotel productivity plan I shared. And that is just one initiative. We will monitor how they have met the targets and the KPIs, item by item, such as number of firms or individuals who benefited from the projects. I also want to assure him that MTI economists also conduct regular studies to examine the individual impact of key schemes under NPF.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. The plan was completed in March 2022, just last year, with a $1.36 million of grant disbursed for a duration of 2016 to 2022. Amongst the eight initiatives under the hotel productivity plan, one of them is to proliferate shared services at the group level. STB has exceeded the KPI in this initiative. I will not bore you with the details but I will highlight how it has done so. It embarked on more than 40 projects at group level to encourage our hotels to develop centralised systems in areas like IT, HR, property management, customer management, and also to adopt shared services such as group level branding and marketing. And in so doing, to raise the productivity such that we can create better well-paying jobs for Singaporeans.”
“To the Member's last question to make available more information, this is certainly done across all ITMs, sharing about how we are working together with the TACs, companies in the sector and trade unions. The various trade unions are very involved in working with the TACs and the sector agencies to curate these jobs and also to implement the productivity drive. Let me share this, if Mr Speaker could indulge me. I talked about hotels. Let me cite the example of Tranche 2 of the hotel productivity plan —”
“I want to assure the Member that the productivity projects that are funded by the NPF complements the wide range of schemes and projects, not just in MTI but, like I said, across the Ministries and agencies in improving productivity of all sectors of the economy. I gave the number for the disbursement over the last five years. At this juncture, let me share one number, for a sense of our overall progress in productivity improvements. Our labour productivity growth rate was 2.6% per annum in the last five years, prior to COVID-19. This is consistent with the target growth rate of 2% to 3% set in 2010 when the NPF was set up. The Member also asked about TACs. The work of the ITM is such that the sector agency cannot create policies in isolation. We have to work with the TACs because they play a very important role, advocating for the sector, bridging the communication with the sector and connecting the sector together, being a voice for the sector. The TACs are very involved. In my reply to the Parliamentary Question (PQ), you would have heard me using the example of the hotels. STB works closely with SHA to bring that about. That is really how we get buy-in to level up the productivity across the sector, sector by sector and in fact, sub-sector by sub-sector. Whether it is the hotel, retail, food services or construction sectors, and so on. The Member also asked whether companies can apply for NPF funding. The companies that are interested can certainly approach the sector agencies or even the TACs that might be involved. I want to share with him that the funds from the NPF are used to support meritorious productivity and CET schemes. Each of the project will have different criteria to meet, whether it is the vertical sectoral-specific ones or the horizontal ones.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, Sir. I want to thank the Member Mr Leon Perera for his three questions. Allow me to take a step back to recap. Mr Leon Perera and Members would remember that the NPF was set up in 2010 to support programmes relating to productivity enhancement as well as Continuing Education and Training (CET). It came about because of the Economic Strategies Committee (ESC). It was part of the wider push for productivity growth arising from the ESC recommendations. The NPF has been set up since 2010, so it has been about 13 years. The NPF, especially since the formation of the Future Economy Council, also supports the work of the 23 Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs). The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) Committee of Supply (COS) on Tuesday has highlighted the work of the ITMs. The ITMs are not just under the purview of MTI and our nine economic agencies. Some of the other agencies and Ministries are involved. For example, for the build environment, the Building Construction Authority (BCA) is very involved in spearheading the built environment ITM. The NPF supports the work of the Future Economy Council that drives the growth and the transformation of Singapore's economy for the future. You would remember that for the ITMs, there are a few pillars. Productivity is one important pillar. Innovation, internationalisation, creating good jobs for Singaporeans today and tomorrow. So, the establishment and the top-up for the NPF highlights the Singapore Government's strong commitment towards productivity enhancement and CET.”
“The HIC developed initiatives like the Hotel Technology Directory to connect industry players with technology solution providers as they sought to transform their business processes. This has helped spur the adoption of solutions such as the self-check-in technology that is integrated with STB’s E-Visitor Authentication system, robotics and RFID tracking.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, over the past five years, the National Productivity Fund (NPF) has disbursed over $1 billion across 47 projects relating to productivity improvements and continuing education and training (CET). About half was spent on productivity improvement projects and the other half was spent on CET programmes. Some of the larger projects funded by the NPF include sector-specific schemes like the Construction Productivity and Capability Fund, as well as schemes that support enterprise and workforce transformation like the Inclusive Growth Programme and the SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit scheme. Projects supported by NPF complement our wider range of schemes and projects in driving productivity improvements. In identifying areas for productivity improvement, sector agencies take into account feedback from the industry, best practices from Singapore and globally, as well as relevant benchmarking studies. For example, to identify suitable interventions for greater productivity in the retail and food services sectors, productivity benchmarking studies were commissioned on industry performance and efficiency in areas such as labour and space, in Singapore and overseas. The design and implementation of projects are done in close collaboration and/or consultation with trade associations (TACs) and the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i). Working with the relevant TACs helps ensure that initiatives are designed to meet the needs of the industry. For example, the Hotel Innovation Committee (HIC), in an effort led by the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) and supported by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), steered the sector to adopt technology solutions to raise productivity.”
“The scheme was only launched five months ago and since then, we have been working with the TACs, specifically Restaurant Association of Singapore, Singapore Retailers Association and Singapore Business Federation, and other TACs like Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and so on, to raise awareness of this scheme. And now we are focused on following up on the interest that has been surfaced by the companies. I want to assure the Member that MTI will certainly continue to work closely with our industry partners including TACs and the companies in these three sectors to explore and develop cost competitive and secure solutions that will meet both our long-term energy needs and low emission targets. 10.58 am”
“Mr Speaker, I want to thank the Member Ms Mariam Jaafar for her questions. I want to reassure her and the Members that in MTI and all our economic agencies, in particular Enterprise Singapore, are very focused on helping SMEs on their sustainability journey. And to that end, we have also elaborated during the MTI COS debate yesterday that we have rolled out several schemes and measures that include supporting our SMEs in making the green transformation at a systems level. For example, from acquiring expertise and skills to new technology and capabilities. My colleague Minister of State Alvin Tan talked about the Enterprise Sustainability Programme – that is an important programme to help SMEs integrate sustainability into their business processes, products and services. We also know that because of the elevated energy price, there are some sectors that are particularly more affected. For example, the food services, the food manufacturing as well as the retail sectors. This is why we have curated the EEG and when we launched it on 1 September, we are focusing on the SMEs in these three sectors. Because based on our feedback and based on our dialogue with the companies as well as with the trade association and chambers (TACs) representing the sector, these are the sectors which have been significantly affected by higher electricity prices in terms of the impact on their overall business cost. So, the EEG supports the firms in these three sectors in improving the energy efficiency and alleviating increasing business costs, due to increased energy prices.”
“Mr Speaker, since the launch of the Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG) on 1 September 2022, Enterprise Singapore has received more than 1,000 applications. The majority of applicants are from micro-SMEs with annual revenue of less than $1 million and more than half are from the food services sector. In addition to the EEG, businesses can also tap on other energy efficiency schemes, like what I mentioned during the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) Committee of Supply (COS) debate yesterday, including the National Environment Agency’s (NEA) Energy Efficiency Fund, the Economic Development Board’s (EDB) Resource Efficiency Grant for Emissions and the Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) Green Mark Incentive Scheme for Existing Buildings 2.0. Businesses can also refer to the GoBusiness website for more information on available resources.”