Will Singapore’s tech-focused budget backfire?

Other SMEs might be left behind.

Singapore’s recently-released Budget 2016 featured a big spike in tech spending, with the government committing up to $450 million to support a new national robotics programme. At Singapore Business Review’s (SBR) 2016 Budget Breakfast Briefing, experts weighed in on whether other sectors run the risk of being left behind as Singapore splurges on tech-oriented sectors.

“I don’t think the government is cherry-picking sectors,” said Chia Seng Chye, Partner, Tax Services, Ernst & Young Solutions LLP. Chia noted that automation across all sectors has long been a key focus of government policy, and the increased tech spending in this year’s Budget is an extension of this trend.

Shanker Iyer, Chairman of Iyer Practice Advisers, said that he does not think that other sectors will get left behind with the increased focused on tech-oriented sectors. “Technology is impacting everyday life. With the technology that is rapidly evolving, this is certainly a key area that we can develop. Companies in all sectors rely on technology to boost growth and productivity,” he said.

“Technology is changing the way we live, work and communicate. If you look at the tax schemes for innovation, clearly tech is on the forefront,” said Lee Tiong Heng, Tax Partner, Deloitte Singapore. ”We can build up tech in other industries and sectors,” Lee added.

The people you want to reach are already in this room.

Every quarter, SBR lands on the desks of the founders, CFOs, and directors running Asia's most consequential companies. Every day, they open our newsletter and read our website. It's a room that took twenty years to build — and it's the one most of our partners are trying to get into.

The good news is that the door is open. We work with companies on thought leadership articles, sponsored content, industry summits across Southeast Asia, regional awards programmes, podcasts, and media placements in print and digital. The shape of the right partnership depends on what you're trying to do, which is why we'd rather start with a conversation than send a rate card.

If you have something this room should know about, tell us. We'll tell you honestly whether we can help, and how.

No rate cards until we understand the brief. It's a better use of everyone's time.

Book a meeting

| Or download the media kit (PDF)

240,000 senior readers quarterly in print Top 1,700 Singapore companies reached

7 markets across Southeast Asia