Singapore will invest close to S$100m in the research and development of municipal and industrial water technologies, as well as a new used water treatment research facility. Announcing the funding, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said that in a world facing climate change and growing uncertainty, water is a matter of resilience. Mr Gan was speaking at the opening of the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW). Of the fresh funds under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2030 programme, S$85m will go towards municipal water solutions – including water treatment and desalination. Another S$12m will go towards supporting research into industrial water solutions for the wafer fabrication and data centre sectors. Rachel Teng files a report on firms in these sectors that have already put in place solutions to reduce their water footprint. Eugene Chow also files a report on the newly completed Tengah Service Reservoir. And at the plenary session of the SIWW, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Grace Fu, called for Singapore to find less resource-intensive ways to generate water.
Singapore to invest close to S$100m in municipal and industrial solution
Unlike GDP — which can be propped up by mass immigration, spending and tax-driven capital inflows — the TFR reflects how ordinary Singaporeans truly feel about their economic prospects. It’s a harder number to spin.
“What will make you need to raise GST? Profligate spending and irresponsible, unsustainable plans. That is what will hurt and require you to raise taxes and GST.” – PM Lee in GE2015
And then;
“Irresponsible not to raise GST as spending needs rise sharply: PM Lee Aug 21, 2022
Not true that the GST increase hurts the poor’: Lawrence Wong 2 Mar 2022
GST hike impacts on prices is “once off” and not permanent.: Lawrence Wong 28 Feb 2024
More responsible’ to proceed with GST increase amid uncertain inflation outlook: Lawrence Wong [Ref: CNA 14 Oct 2022]
Deferring upcoming GST hike will only ‘store up more problems’ for the future’: Lawrence Wong [Ref: BT Aug 3, 2023]
TurboCharging the Inflation” and “Poor Marksmanship – referring to the huge tax surpluses accumulated from the GST Hikes: Pritam Singh [Ref: CNA 26 Feb 2025].