economy-policy https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/ THE BUSINESS TIMES - Find latest business and financial news including analysis and opinion on top business stories, stock markets in Singapore, Asia-Pacific and global market news and more at The Business Times. en-US https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/favicon.ico economy-policy https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/ 32 32 STB launches tenders for pop-up booths, provides funding to rejuvenate Orchard Road https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/stb-launches-tenders-pop-booths-provides-funding-rejuvenate-orchard-road Fri, 08 May 2026 02:30:00 +0000 Elysia Tan Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/stb-launches-tenders-pop-booths-provides-funding-rejuvenate-orchard-road The moves are part of ongoing plans to transform the precinct, which will enhance its street-level appeal Singapore’s 2025 tourism receipts reach record S$32.8 billion; Mice contributes S$2.3 billion https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/singapores-2025-tourism-receipts-reach-record-s32-8-billion-mice-contributes-s2-3-billion Fri, 08 May 2026 01:40:56 +0000 Elysia Tan Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/singapores-2025-tourism-receipts-reach-record-s32-8-billion-mice-contributes-s2-3-billion The Tourism Development Fund will receive a S$740 million boost MAS to ‘harmonise’ securities laws to facilitate dual listings under new Bill https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/mas-harmonise-securities-laws-facilitate-dual-listings-under-new-bill Thu, 07 May 2026 08:48:46 +0000 Benjamin Cher Singapore Companies & Markets Economy & Policy /singapore/mas-harmonise-securities-laws-facilitate-dual-listings-under-new-bill The proposed legislation will ‘position Singapore to capture future opportunities’: Chee Hong Tat No subsidies for solar panel installation as costs have come down: Gan Siow Huang https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/no-subsidies-solar-panel-installation-costs-have-come-down-gan-siow-huang Thu, 07 May 2026 06:06:49 +0000 Koh Kim Xuan Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/no-subsidies-solar-panel-installation-costs-have-come-down-gan-siow-huang Private building owners are already showing ‘much higher interest’ in such technology No one currency ‘unduly affects’ Singdollar’s stability: Alvin Tan https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/no-one-currency-unduly-affects-singdollars-stability-alvin-tan Thu, 07 May 2026 05:19:11 +0000 Elysia Tan Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/no-one-currency-unduly-affects-singdollars-stability-alvin-tan The S$NEER’s appreciation dampens the effect on imported inflation in Singapore Companies that replace workers with AI risk losing competitive edge, relying on vendors: Jasmin Lau https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/companies-replace-workers-ai-risk-losing-competitive-edge-relying-vendors-jasmin-lau Wed, 06 May 2026 11:09:53 +0000 Tessa Oh Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/companies-replace-workers-ai-risk-losing-competitive-edge-relying-vendors-jasmin-lau Investing in employees, such as by training them, facilitating their access to frontier AI tools are in firms’ long-term interest, she notes Singapore’s AI transition need not pit workers against businesses, says Tan See Leng https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/singapores-ai-transition-need-not-pit-workers-against-businesses-says-tan-see-leng Wed, 06 May 2026 10:57:50 +0000 Tessa Oh Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/singapores-ai-transition-need-not-pit-workers-against-businesses-says-tan-see-leng MPs call for AI adoption to be linked to job redesign and worker outcomes; government vows no worker will be left behind MOH addressing rising healthcare costs, but cannot control commercial insurance decisions: Rahayu Mahzam https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/moh-addressing-rising-healthcare-costs-cannot-control-commercial-insurance-decisions-rahayu-mahzam Wed, 06 May 2026 05:55:44 +0000 Elysia Tan Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/moh-addressing-rising-healthcare-costs-cannot-control-commercial-insurance-decisions-rahayu-mahzam It is exploring setting benchmarks in cost components other than doctor’s fees AI transition must safeguard and empower workers, support firms: Ng Chee Meng  https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/economy-policy/ai-transition-must-safeguard-and-empower-workers-support-firms-ng-chee-meng Tue, 05 May 2026 13:05:44 +0000 Low Youjin Economy & Policy Singapore /singapore/economy-policy/ai-transition-must-safeguard-and-empower-workers-support-firms-ng-chee-meng AI can raise productivity, unlock new possibilities and strengthen country’s competitiveness if used well, says labour chief New Skills and Workforce Development Agency to be established in Q3 to support workers across life stages https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/economy-policy/new-skills-and-workforce-development-agency-be-established-q3-support-workers-across-life-stages Tue, 05 May 2026 12:31:49 +0000 Low Youjin Economy & Policy Singapore /singapore/economy-policy/new-skills-and-workforce-development-agency-be-established-q3-support-workers-across-life-stages It will also help employers navigate workforce transformation and strengthen the jobs and training ecosystem No need to raise penalties for late retrenchment notices given high compliance rates: Tan See Leng https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/no-need-raise-penalties-late-retrenchment-notices-given-high-compliance-rates-tan-see-leng Tue, 05 May 2026 07:33:16 +0000 Koh Kim Xuan Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/no-need-raise-penalties-late-retrenchment-notices-given-high-compliance-rates-tan-see-leng He notes that most late submissions were due to administrative oversights MAS, bank CEOs convene over AI cyberthreats; boards told to own risks, not leave to IT teams https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/mas-bank-ceos-convene-over-ai-cyberthreats-boards-told-own-risks-not-leave-it-teams Tue, 05 May 2026 05:02:33 +0000 Tessa Oh Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/mas-bank-ceos-convene-over-ai-cyberthreats-boards-told-own-risks-not-leave-it-teams Cyber Security Agency of Singapore also issues letter urging critical information infrastructure owners to commission a board-level review Singapore retail sales grow 4.8% in March, but cool from Chinese New Year-driven February surge https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/singapore-retail-sales-grow-4-8-march-cool-chinese-new-year-driven-february-surge Tue, 05 May 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Tessa Oh Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/singapore-retail-sales-grow-4-8-march-cool-chinese-new-year-driven-february-surge On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, retail sales rise 3.7% in March Singapore and New Zealand sign essential supplies trade deal, will cooperate in AI and green economy https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/singapore-and-new-zealand-sign-essential-supplies-trade-deal-will-cooperate-ai-and-green-economy Mon, 04 May 2026 01:00:22 +0000 Elysia Tan Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/singapore-and-new-zealand-sign-essential-supplies-trade-deal-will-cooperate-ai-and-green-economy Leaders also discuss collaboration in defence and healthcare New Zealand PM Luxon in Singapore for first Annual Leaders’ Meeting, supply chain pact signing https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/economy-policy/new-zealand-pm-luxon-singapore-first-annual-leaders-meeting-supply-chain-pact-signing Sun, 03 May 2026 08:19:06 +0000 Tessa Oh Economy & Policy Singapore /singapore/economy-policy/new-zealand-pm-luxon-singapore-first-annual-leaders-meeting-supply-chain-pact-signing The visit follows bilateral relations being upgraded to the highest level in October 2025