SG Budget Conversations 2026
Singapore’s Budget 2026 tackles some of the biggest issues on everyone’s mind, from cost of living pressures and jobs to business competitiveness and the future of work. Find out from across a range of expert perspectives why the latest announcements matter, and how it all affects you.
Episodes
Budget 2026 includes measures aimed at helping Singapore companies venture overseas, as policymakers encourage businesses to look beyond the domestic market for their next phase of growth. But in an uncertain global environment, how much appetite is there for regional expansion and are firms truly ready to take that step?
Ryan Huang moderates a panel with Shawn Huang, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Finance & Manpower, Lee S...
Budget 2026 continues Singapore’s push to uplift wages and strengthen the local workforce, including raising the Local Qualifying Salary from S$1,600 to S$1,800 and tightening salary thresholds for Employment Pass and S Pass holders. The move reflects a broader effort to upgrade jobs and lift incomes while keeping Singapore competitive as a global business hub.
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Artificial intelligence sits at the heart of Budget 2026, with new AI missions aimed at accelerating adoption across Singapore’s economy the establishment of a new National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Council chaired by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to drive the nation’s AI agenda.
But translating ambition into real change raises practical questions. How can policymake...
It has been about a month since Budget 2026 was delivered and the Committee of Supply debates have wrapped up. But beyond the headline measures, what are the early signals emerging for businesses, workers and the broader economy?
Ryan Huang moderates a panel with Shawn Huang, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Finance & Manpower, Lee Sze Yeng, Managing Partner, KPMG in Singapore, Ang Yuit, President at ASME, and Max Loh,...
Is Singapore’s property market quietly shifting after Budget 2026?
In this episode of Money and Me, hosted by Michelle Martin, we break down what new policies on foreign work passes, AI investment and housing demand could mean for buyers and investors.
Michelle speaks with Christine Sun, Chief Researcher and Strategist at Realion Group (OrangeTee & ETC), about whether the absence of new cooling measures signals conf...
Budget 2026 continues to expand support for families through measures such as Child LifeSG credits and enhanced preschool and student-care subsidies, continuing efforts to ease the financial burden of raising children. But some argue that while these schemes reduce upfront costs, they may not address the longer-term income and career penalties associated with caregiving.
So, are current family policies targeting the right con...
Budget 2026 has added nuance to Singapore’s sustainability journey. While the country remains committed to its long-term net-zero ambitions, the tone around carbon pricing appears more measured, reflecting a global environment where climate momentum has become less uniform and economic pressures more pronounced.
Beyond the carbon tax, the Government continues to push ahead with solar expansion, regional electricity imports an...
In Budget 2026, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong highlighted the Government’s push to support an ageing population, introducing measures aimed at helping seniors live with dignity, security, and peace of mind. These include a one-time CPF top-up of up to $1,500 for those with lower retirement savings and higher CPF contribution rates for older workers starting next year.
But beyond the policy announcements, are these measures eno...
“If there’s a time to invest in AI and advanced manufacturing, it’s now.”
That was the message from Lennon Tan, President of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, as Singapore’s Budget 2026 placed AI firmly in focus with plans for a National AI Council and a dedicated mission for advanced manufacturing.
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Under Budget 2026, Singapore will raise the qualifying salaries for Employment Pass and S Pass holders from 2027, alongside lifting the local qualifying salary and adjusting selected work permit levies. The changes are phased in, but they form part of a continued calibration of the foreign workforce framework. So, how might firms adjust their workforce mix? And what should businesses be reviewing now as the changes take effect from...
Budget 2026 is putting mid-career workers front and centre, with a range of measures designed to support reskilling, career transitions, and staying competitive in an AI-driven economy.
From enhanced SkillsFuture programmes and expanded training allowances to new AI initiatives and a merger of workforce agencies for more seamless career support, there’s a lot for workers to navigate.
On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong spea...
Budget 2026 sets aside $50 million for a new SG Partnerships Fund to back ground-up community projects as part of a broader push to strengthen social bonds and build what Prime Minister Lawrence Wong calls a “we first” society. Corporate volunteer and donation tax incentives have also been extended to 2029, signalling a continued effort to encourage businesses to play a larger role in social impact.
But will funding and...
Artificial intelligence featured prominently in Singapore’s Budget 2026, with expanded support measures and new initiatives aimed at embedding AI across the economy. But announcements are only one part of the story.
The bigger question is: are Singapore SMEs ready to move beyond pilots to meaningful adoption? In this Budget-special edition of Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks with Kelvin Koh, Co-Chair, Singapore Enterp...
What does Budget 2026 really mean for Singaporean youths? For young adults stepping into the workforce? For couples thinking about starting a family?
Was this Budget a hit or did it miss the mark? And are the support measures enough to ease the pressures young Singaporeans are feeling today?
On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Keith Yap, Founder and Host of The Front Row Podcast, to find out more.
From Singapore’s AI ambitions to China’s EV and bubble tea giants - where is the smartest risk-reward right now?
Singapore’s Budget 2026 signals an accelerated AI roadmap just as Chinese growth names like BYD, XPeng, Pop Mart and Guming Holdings capture investor attention, hosted by Michelle Martin.
We unpack Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s innovation-led strategy and what it could mean for Singapore equities...
Budget 2026 sets out a mix of adjustments and incentives that may shape the operating environment for Singapore’s small and medium-sized enterprises going forward. From changes to foreign manpower qualifying salaries to measures aimed at supporting internationalisation and business transformation, the signals are clear but the impact may not be uniform across sectors.
So how should SMEs interpret this year’s Budget? Whe...
AI is now at the heart of Singapore’s economic strategy. From supercharging adoption to building talent pipelines and reshaping how businesses operate, what does this mean for you, your job, and your company’s future? Are businesses ready, and will workers keep up?
On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Kwek SoCheer, Partner, Digital Solutions at PwC, to unpack how Budget 2026’s AI push will shape busines...
The Singapore market pulled back today following Budget 2026 announcements, even as the government unveiled measures to boost existing equities, startups and new listings.
The Straits Times Index (STI) crossed the 5,000-point barrier before the statement was delivered yesterday, buoyed by a strong 43.5 per cent net profit increase for Singtel.
The momentum did not hold, though. In the first hour of trading today, the STI fell...
One of the changes in Budget 2026 is the halving of the maximum Preferential Additional Registration Fee (PARF) rebate for early deregistration of cars - from $60,000 to $30,000. But on the surface, this looks technical.
On Viewpoint, Lynlee Foo speaks to Lee Nian Tjoe, Senior Transport Correspondent at The Straits Times to find out how this change could reshape behaviour in meaningful ways for car owners and the second-hand market...
Can your child’s $10,000 today really turn into $86,000 - and what does Budget 2026 have to do with it?
Michelle Martin unpacks the latest Budget goodies - from CDC vouchers and CPF top-ups to corporate tax rebates - and what they mean for families, seniors and businesses.
Daniel Sim, Founder of Golden Goose Properties, breaks down the new voluntary CPF investment scheme and whether those in their late 40s should even cons...
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