SGSME logo
SINGAPORE BUDGET 2025
·
SUBSCRIBERS

Budget 2025: Enhancements to internationalisation and M&A schemes will help local enterprises compete on a global scale

Observers say the schemes that support these go hand in hand, whereby companies can pursue inorganic growth to expand overseas

Paige Lim
Published Tue, Feb 18, 2025 · 09:05 PM
    • A new Enterprise Compute Initiative was also announced to help businesses partner major cloud service providers and access AI tools and computing power.
    • A new Enterprise Compute Initiative was also announced to help businesses partner major cloud service providers and access AI tools and computing power. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
    • Extensions to the enhanced grant cap for Market Readiness Assistance grant; Double Tax Deduction for Internationalisation scheme; Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) scheme
    • Maximum loan quantum under the Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS) - Trade Loan raised to S$10 million; EFS - M&A Loan extended beyond equity acquisitions to support targeted asset acquisitions
    • New S$150 million Enterprise Compute Initiative to help businesses leverage artificial intelligence

    AMID trade disruptions and increasing global competition, enhancements to schemes related to internationalisation and mergers and acquisitions (M&As) will help enterprises scale up and remain globally competitive, say industry observers.

    To help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) expand into new markets, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong announced in his Budget speech on Tuesday (Feb 18) that the enhanced S$100,000 cap per new market under the Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) grant will be extended to Mar 31, 2026.

    The grant helps companies defray the costs of overseas market promotion, business development and market set-up.

    Copyright SPH Media. All rights reserved.