Category: Economy

In response to sweeping import tariffs imposed by Washington, Singapore unveils a multi-agency task force aimed at safeguarding jobs, supporting businesses, and reinforcing trade resilience.In a decisive move to counter the economic impact of the United States’ blanket import tariffs, Singapore will form a national task force to assist businesses and protect workers from the …

Analysts advise caution as sweeping tariff measures by the US continue to shake investor confidence and cloud global economic outlookAnalysts are urging investors to remain cautious as the fallout from sweeping tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump continues to disrupt financial markets worldwide. Uncertainty remains high, and volatility is expected to endure as investors …

As Singapore’s Next Generation Prepares for the Workforce, Young Voices Call for ChangeWith Singapore’s 2025 General Election on the horizon, many young Singaporeans are looking beyond politics to the broader concerns shaping their future. Among them is Stefanie Foo, a 23-year-old final-year student at Singapore Management University (SMU), who is preparing for her first-ever vote …

Singaporeans Divided Over the Impact of Rising Car Ownership CostsAs Singapore’s General Election 2025 approaches, discussions around key voter concerns are heating up. One issue that has sparked debate is the rising cost of Certificates of Entitlement (COEs), a mandatory document for car ownership in the city-state.A Reddit user recently voiced frustration over what he …

After years of tightening control, Beijing’s new outreach to private entrepreneurs faces skepticism—can confidence be rebuilt after so much damage?In early 2019, President Xi Jinping gathered officials in Beijing to address pressing economic risks, including "black swans" and "grey rhinos"—unpredictable events and foreseeable threats. Among these threats were China’s mounting local government debts, struggling banks, …

New MAS measures ban credit and leverage for crypto purchases, reinforcing consumer protection.In a parliamentary address on 5 March, Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Culture, Community and Youth, Alvin Tan, urged Singaporeans to steer clear of cryptocurrency investments, citing their speculative and volatile nature. As a board member of the Monetary Authority …

Why Singapore’s Budget Is About Building Resilience, Not Just HandoutsBudget 2025 arrives amid significant global economic uncertainties, including trade tensions between the United States, China, and the European Union. Domestically, rising living expenses and evolving workforce demands are pressing concerns for policymakers. Against this backdrop, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong introduced measures to …

Record-breaking tourism spending in 2024, with continued growth forecasted for 2025.Singapore’s tourism industry is set to hit a new milestone in 2024, with spending anticipated to reach between S$27.5 billion and S$29 billion, the upper range of the Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) forecast. By September 2024, the city-state had already garnered S$22.4 billion in tourism …

A New Visa Initiative Could Attract Foreign Skilled Workers and Support the Growth of the JS-SEZMaybank has pointed out that the introduction of an SEZ visa could play a crucial role in alleviating the labour shortages faced by businesses in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). According to the bank’s latest report, titled “Johor-Singapore SEZ: …

The Singaporean leader calls for urgent reforms in education and training to address the impending employment crisis.Speaking at the Economic Forum in Davos on January 22, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam highlighted a looming global employment crisis, where 1.2 billion workers will enter the job market over the next decade, competing for just 400 million available jobs. …