Budget 2021: Singapore to invest in on-arrival and biosafety systems to maintain position as key aviation hub

Nisha Ramchandani

Published Tue, Feb 16, 2021 · 03:26 PM

Singapore Budget 2021

Singapore will restore Changi Airport's connectivity and invest in on-arrival testing and biosafety systems, in an effort to secure the nation's position as a key aviation hub and maintain the airport's position as a safe, well-connected and trusted airport.

In his Budget speech on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat highlighted that Singapore must deepen its position as Global-Asia node.

This will require restoring the Republic's physical connectivity as well as transforming the aviation sector for recovery. At the same time, Singapore will expand its digital connectivity and deepen its capacity to collaborate and innovate, working together with its partners around the world.

He said: "Airports will be differentiated by their capabilities in securing public health and enabling safe travel. They will need digitalised systems and the ability to effectively re-route people and goods."

GovTech, for instance, is working with Temasek-founded technology start up Affinidi on a software which can quickly verify the authenticity of digital Covid-19 test result certificates and vaccination records.