Positioning Singapore to catch the next economic sunrise

WITH the theme of "Charting Our New Way Forward Together", Finance Minister Lawrence Wong's Budget 2022 is both pivotal and forward-looking. This is the Budget that will not only take Singapore out of the pandemic with confidence, but also one that we hope will set the country on course for the future in a world marked by constant fast-paced changes and uncertainties.

We do expect that in this future, sustainability will underpin business and living, with Singapore potentially taking the lead regionally in green initiatives and financing to cut down on carbon emissions. Amid ongoing uncertainties on the global front, including how the new international tax rules will take shape, Singapore will also have to be at the forefront of these developments to seize new opportunities.

Emerging from the pandemic, Budget 2022 lays out the steps that Singapore should be taking in the medium to long term. Three priorities mentioned in the Budget speech are worth highlighting: (1) Driving an environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda for Singapore; (2) Strengthening Singapore's value proposition as a regional hub of choice for businesses; and (3) Upskilling our workforce and attracting talent for a digital-led world across industries.