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Up to $400,000 of business spending on each qualifying activity qualifies for a maximum tax deduction of $1,600,000 or $272,000 of tax savings per activity.

The spectre of inflation – possibly reaching 4% this year – and an economy bouncing along very nicely meant that there was no need to pump prime anything.

To achieve 30% increase in productivity, companies need to devise competitive and cost effective health care, financial security, work/life balance, and other benefit programs.

47% of Singaporeans are uncertain about their financial capability to retire.

The proposed increase in foreign worker levies shows how the government wants to do away with the reliance on foreign workers and push productivity growth.

One of measures the government will provide for SMEs is the 20% corporate income tax rebate.

Average levy per foreign worker will be further raised by $60 for the Manufacturing sector and $180 for the Services sector.

Employer CPF contribution rate will be raised by 0.5 percentage points.

Singapore businesses will be allowed to deduct 400% of their expenditures from their taxable income.

Real estate investment volume in Singapore accounted for 31% of Asia's total volume for the last quarter of 2010.

Singapore’s total trade rose by 21 per cent in 2010 after a decline of 19 per cent in 2009.

The IR-tourism sector, healthy FDI and generous FY2011 budget may push the economic growth on the higher end of the official 4 to 6 % forecast.

But its not all good news, with 41% of companies having no plans to hire and 6% planning to fire staff this quarter.

The better-than-expected y-o-y growth was led by electronics and pharmaceuticals.

Financial services will be the main driver for growth in 2011.

Singapore economy is facing a tighter labour market and inflationary concerns that may prompt further monetary tightening.