Debated in Parliament on 7 Jan 2025.
Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry whether the Government has conducted an assessment of the potential impact on retail businesses in Singapore with the commencement of the Singapore-Johor Bahru Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link in 2026.
My response today also addresses the matters raised in the question by Mr Desmond Choo, which has been scheduled for tomorrow's Sitting. I would like to seek the Member's consideration to withdraw his question if he agrees. [Please refer to "Impact of Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link on Singapore's Retail, Manufacturing and Commercial Rental Sectors and Job Market", Official Report, 8 January 2025, Vol 95, Issue 149, Oral Answers to Questions section.]
The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link Project will improve our connectivity with Johor and grow the overall market for businesses on both sides of the border. At the same time, we recognise local retailers' concerns. Competition will exist whether with retailers in Johor, or even online. Through Enterprise Singapore's grants and assistance schemes, we will continue to help our local retailers build new capabilities and offerings to capture overseas demand, including through online retail.
The Government has also been helping our heartland shops rejuvenate their businesses and we will continue to do so. Enterprise Singapore provides support through initiatives, such as our Heartland Visual Merchandising Programme and our Heartland Enterprise Placemaking Grant. Heartland entrepreneurs may also approach the Heartland Enterprise Centre Singapore for business advisory services and upgrading support. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) also undertakes regular upgrading works, including in HDB towns in the north, to improve the shopping environment of selected Neighbourhood Centres (NCs) to strengthen their appeal to Singaporean shoppers. Five NCs in Woodlands were recently upgraded, with more to come.
The Government also launched the Community Development Council (CDC) Voucher scheme, to provide support to Singaporean households and heartland enterprises. Overall, since the launch of the CDC Voucher scheme in December 2021, $907 million has been spent at participating heartland enterprises and hawker stalls. The sixth tranche of CDC vouchers was recently launched on 3 January 2025, which will benefit 1.33 million households, 23,000 heartland enterprises and hawker stalls and eight supermarket chains.
PAPERCUTS