Dear readers, the Singapore Budget 2025 has come and gone.
The main initiatives of the Budget are to help Singaporeans cope with the high cost of living and we have the new tranches of the much beloved CDC vouchers, as part of the initiatives to help Singaporeans.
As for efforts to boost the Singapore stock markets, there are two key initiatives which are announced outside Budget 2025. These are tax incentives to attract corporate and fund manager listings in Singapore, and a $5 billion MAS scheme through which MAS will partner with selected fund managers to invest in Singapore stocks. Do not miss my earlier post on what I thought of these initiatives.
I have suggested that to help boost our local bourse, the government can consider bringing back the Special Discounted Scheme (SDS) where local investors can invest in a selected Singapore stock at a discount, just as what was done for Singtel shares in 1993. Find out which Singapore stock that I suggest we can have for the proposed SDS scheme here.
Something new from the Budget this year is the implementation of a SG Culture Pass which provides credits to Singaporeans to encourage Singaporeans to attend local performances, exhibitions and experiences.
The idea behind the SG Culture Pass is similar to the ActiveSG pass where Singaporeans receive credit to attend ActiveSG facilities like gyms and programmes.
I was thinking why not extend the idea for ActiveSG and SG Culture Pass to Singapore’s investment front too? Will it be possible for a SG Invest Pass where Singaporeans above the age of 21 can receive a one-off $1,000 cash credit to invest in Singapore stocks, on the condition that the investment must be made prudently? This way, we can help to revigorate the Singapore stocks markets and at the same time, help to kickstart the consideration of the possibility of investment as another route to wealth creation and preservation for Singaporeans who have not started their investment journeys?