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Japan Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Singapore envoy eyes stronger cyber and digital links with Japan
Cybersecurity and digitalization are among five key areas where Japan and Singapore plan to take relations to fresh highs next year as the partners look to step up cooperation on emerging technologies such as quantum computing, according to the city-state's envoy to Tokyo. 'When it comes to cybersecurity, there are so many different areas that you can look at,' Ambassador Ong Eng Chuan said in an interview with The Japan Times ahead of the two countries' 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026. 'While today is artificial intelligence, tomorrow we're looking at the possibility of quantum technology, taking it a step further,' he said, noting that post-quantum cryptography — the development cryptographic systems designed to be secure against both quantum and classical computers — 'is going to create a whole new set of challenges and opportunities.' Ong said Singapore hopes to 'collaborate closely' with Japan in this area 'because the country is already developing that technical capability. He pointed to the work being done by Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, which is working with Intel on a next-general silicon quantum computer. The ambassador said Japan and Singapore plan to use the 2026 anniversary 'as a benchmark to upgrade our relationship,' noting that the partners also aim to deepen collaboration in the areas of trade and the economy, sustainability and climate change, defense and security and people-to-people exchanges. One important and overlooked area of cooperation is how Singapore, which has a Ministry of Digital Development and Information, is often seen as a model for Tokyo's transition to a digital economy, especially as Japan continues to lag behind others, ranking 31st in an international comparison of digital competitiveness conducted last year. Singapore, which ranked No. 1 in the same survey, has been working for at least a decade to become a "smart nation" by leveraging technology to improve different areas such as government, infrastructure and the economy. That drive is supported by a large contingent of government IT engineers, compared with that of Japan — a country of over 120 million people as opposed to Singapore's 6 million. This includes digitalizing government services, with Singaporeans now using apps such as SingPass or LifeSG that enable them to not only have a digital ID card but also interact with the government electronically and access services such as applying for passports, birth certificates and driver licenses from anywhere. Japan, which has sent teams to examine Singapore's approach, is believed to have taken inspiration from the city-state when it began integrating its health insurance card into the My Number Card last year. 'Japan is a very advanced country when it comes to technology, but it's more in terms of the implementation that I think we can share a little bit of our experience,' Ong said. 'So maybe once there is more collaboration in that area, more examples of successes in Singapore, people may be more open to see the conveniences that such technologies can bring to their lives,' he added. 'And I think once that happens, Japan will be an even more efficient country.'
New Paper
14-05-2025
- Business
- New Paper
Every Singaporean household can claim $500 CDC vouchers from May 13
Every Singaporean household can claim $500 worth of CDC vouchers from May 13 to help with daily expenses. Half - or $250 worth - of the vouchers can be used at participating supermarkets, and the other half at participating hawker stalls and heartland merchants. The vouchers, which can be claimed online at will be valid till Dec 31, 2025. This latest and seventh tranche of vouchers comes on the heels of the $300 worth of CDC vouchers disbursed in January, which are also valid till Dec 31, 2025. CDC vouchers were introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic to show appreciation to Singaporeans for their solidarity during those difficult times, and to support businesses. The scheme was continued post-pandemic to help cushion the impact of rising prices on Singaporeans. Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong had announced during his Budget 2025 statement on Feb 18 that all Singaporean households would receive an additional $800 in CDC vouchers in two tranches: $500 in May 2025 and $300 in January 2026. Launching the latest voucher scheme at Nee Soon South Community Club on May 13, PM Wong said the vouchers are part of a comprehensive package of support measures in the Budget. Besides the vouchers, help is available in the form of LifeSG credits and Edusave top-ups for children, and U-Save rebates. There will also be SG60 vouchers in July, which amount to $600 for every adult Singaporean, and $800 for those aged 60 and above. A typical family of four with two young children can receive around $5,000 in support this financial year, said PM Wong. "But we understand and we hear the concerns that Singaporeans have and continue to have about cost-of-living pressures," he said. "It's not unique to Singapore, because a similar situation is seen and felt in countries everywhere around the world." He added: "In Singapore, inflation has already started coming down. In fact, it has come down faster than most other places. But prices remain high, and people do feel the impact." The overall economic situation may worsen with rising trade barriers and global slowdown, he said, adding that the Government is committed to helping Singaporeans tackle these challenges. PM Wong noted that with each round of vouchers, the scheme has become better with more partners on board. As more heartland merchants come on board the digital voucher scheme, he is glad to see that they are also adopting e-payment systems. Participating hawkers, heartland merchants and supermarkets may benefit from a total possible spending of about $665 million by households for this May tranche of vouchers. There are eight participating supermarkets with about 400 outlets islandwide. They are Ang Mo Supermarket, Cold Storage, Giant Singapore, Hao Mart, FairPrice, Prime Supermarket, Sheng Siong and U Stars Supermarket. Residents can locate nearby participating heartland merchants, hawker stalls and supermarkets by visiting Participating hawker stalls and heartland merchants can also be identified by the teal CDC voucher decal, while participating supermarkets can be identified by the yellow CDC voucher decal. The launch was hosted by the five mayors - Ms Low Yen Ling, who is also chairman of the mayors' committee, Ms Denise Phua, Mr Desmond Choo, Mr Alex Yam and Mr Mohd Fahmi Aliman. As at May 12, about 97.3 per cent of Singaporean households have claimed the previous tranche of CDC vouchers disbursed in January 2025. More than $324 million, or 83.4 per cent of these claimed vouchers in 2025, has been spent at participating hawker stalls, heartland merchants and supermarkets. Overall, more than $1.92 billion has been spent since the launch of the digital CDC voucher scheme in December 2021. A total of $1.06 billion has been spent at hawker stalls and heartland merchants, while more than $857 million has been spent at supermarkets. How to claim your CDC vouchers From May 13, Singaporean households can visit and log in with Singpass to claim the digital vouchers. In line with sustainability efforts, notification letters will not be issued for this seventh tranche of the CDC voucher scheme. Once claimed, an SMS from " will be sent to the registered mobile number, containing a unique voucher link. This link can be shared among household members. The SMS links for the CDC vouchers for May 2025 is different from the link for the CDC vouchers issued in January 2025. For those who may face difficulties with the digital process, help will be available at community centres or community clubs (CCs) and SG Digital Community Hubs. Priority queues will be in place at CCs for seniors and people with disabilities. More support will also be provided for residents without smartphones or those who need help setting up Singpass accounts or resetting passwords. In the first week of the launch, more than 200 volunteers from institutions such as ITE College Central, Nanyang Polytechnic and Hwa Chong Institution will be deployed at selected CCs, assisting residents alongside CDC ambassadors. For the first time, staff volunteers from public agencies will also be joining in to lend support. In addition, SG Digital Office (SDO) digital ambassadors and Silver Infocomm wellness ambassadors will be present at CCs from May 13 to 26 to help residents claim their digital vouchers. SDO will conduct learning journeys at these locations to equip residents with knowledge on how to use their vouchers. Beyond this period, Singaporeans can continue to pick up digital skills for daily living, including redeeming CDC vouchers, from SDO's digital ambassadors at 36 SG Digital Community Hubs and more than 200 roving counters islandwide. To claim CDC vouchers, individuals do not need to disclose their bank login details, transfer money or install mobile applications from unofficial app stores. Those who receive suspicious messages related to or CDC vouchers can contact People's Association on 6225-5322. To check if something is a scam, call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline on 1799. More details on the CDC voucher scheme for May 2025 can be found at
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Every Singaporean household can claim $500 CDC vouchers from May 13
SINGAPORE – Every Singaporean household can claim $500 worth of CDC vouchers from May 13 to help with daily expenses. Half – or $250 worth – of the vouchers can be used at participating supermarkets, and the other half at participating hawker stalls and heartland merchants. The vouchers, which can be claimed online at will be valid till Dec 31, 2025. About 500,000 – or close to 38 per cent – of the 1.33 million Singaporean households have claimed their CDC vouchers by about 9.30pm on May 13. This latest and seventh tranche of vouchers comes on the heels of the $300 worth of CDC vouchers disbursed in January, which are also valid till Dec 31, 2025. CDC vouchers were introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic to show appreciation to Singaporeans for their solidarity during those difficult times, and to support businesses. The scheme was continued post-pandemic to help cushion the impact of rising prices on Singaporeans. Overall, some $1.92 billion has been spent since the digital CDC vouchers were launched in December 2021. A total of $1.06 billion has been spent at hawker stalls and heartland merchants, while more than $857 million has been spent at supermarkets. PM Wong had announced during his Budget 2025 statement on Feb 18 that all Singaporean households would receive an additional $800 in CDC vouchers in two tranches: $500 in May 2025 and $300 in January 2026. Launching the latest round of vouchers at Nee Soon South Community Club on May 13, PM Wong said the vouchers are part of a comprehensive package of support measures in the Budget. Besides the vouchers, help is available in the form of LifeSG credits and Edusave top-ups for children, and U-Save rebates. There will also be SG60 vouchers in July, which amount to $600 for every adult Singaporean, and $800 for those aged 60 and above. These expire on Dec 31, 2026. A typical family of four with two young children can receive around $5,000 in support this financial year, said PM Wong. 'But we understand and we hear the concerns that Singaporeans have and continue to have about cost-of-living pressures,' he said. 'It is not unique to Singapore, because a similar situation is seen and felt in countries everywhere around the world.' He added: 'In Singapore, inflation has already started coming down. In fact, it has come down faster than in most other places. But prices remain high, and people do feel the impact.' The overall economic situation is also adding to anxieties with much uncertainty and a global slowdown, he said, adding that the Government is committed to helping Singaporeans tackle these challenges. PM Wong noted that with each round of vouchers, the scheme has become better with more partners on board. He is glad to see that as more heartland merchants come on board the digital voucher scheme, they are also adopting e-payment systems. Participating hawkers, heartland merchants and supermarkets may benefit from a total possible spending of about $665 million by households for this May tranche of vouchers. There are eight participating supermarkets, with about 400 outlets islandwide. They are Ang Mo Supermarket, Cold Storage, Giant Singapore, Hao Mart, FairPrice, Prime Supermarket, Sheng Siong and U Stars Supermarket. Residents can locate nearby participating heartland merchants, hawker stalls and supermarkets by visiting Participating hawker stalls and heartland merchants can be identified by the teal CDC voucher decal, while participating supermarkets will have the yellow CDC voucher decal. The launch was hosted by the five mayors – Ms Low Yen Ling, who is also chairman of the mayors' committee, Ms Denise Phua, Mr Desmond Choo, Mr Alex Yam and Mr Mohd Fahmi Aliman. As at May 12, about 97.3 per cent of 1.33 million Singaporean households have claimed the previous tranche of CDC vouchers disbursed in January 2025. About $324 million, or 83.4 per cent of the vouchers, has been spent at participating hawker stalls, heartland merchants and supermarkets. Most of it – 92 per cent – was spent on food and grocery items. Giving an update on the usage of the sixth tranche of the scheme, Ms Low said about $166 million, or 51.9 per cent of the claimed vouchers, was spent at supermarkets. The remaining sum of about $154 million, or 48.1 per cent, was spent at heartland shops and hawker stalls. Of the amount spent in heartland shops and hawker stalls, more than $108 million – or 70 per cent – was spent at food and beverage outlets and hawker stalls or on food items. Another $21 million went to minimarts in the heartland, and $25 million was spent on other trades. Speaking to the media at the event, Ms Low said: 'The CDC voucher scheme has really become the key pillar of immediate support for Singaporean families to defray their daily expenses. 'And it is also something that our heartland shops and hawkers really look forward to because it really catalyses the demand for their products and services.' She added that more than 23,000 heartland shops and hawkers are on the scheme now, with new merchants for upcoming voucher launches. She said 10 coffee shop chain operators have introduced community budget meals to stretch Singapore's food budget. Over the last 18 months, more heartland shops and hawkers have also initiated CDC voucher discounts and promotion deals to help Singaporeans. Major supermarkets are introducing promotions for the use of CDC vouchers too. FairPrice Group (FPG) will give a $6 return voucher for every $60 worth of CDC supermarket vouchers spent in a single transaction at any FairPrice store from May 13 to 19. Customers are not required to spend a minimum amount when using their $6 return vouchers, and can use multiple return vouchers in a single transaction. The return vouchers will be valid for use from the day after they are issued, until June 15. FPG chief executive Vipul Chawla said: 'Singaporeans have shown incredible strength and spirit in the last few months of global uncertainty, and as the nation's largest retailer, we want to recognise the hard work they put in every day to lead more fulfilling lives. 'This third wave of FairPrice return vouchers is our way of helping to make every day a little better for all in Singapore, by keeping daily essentials within reach.' Customers at Giant, Cold Storage, CS Fresh and Jasons Deli will also get a $6 return voucher when they spend a minimum of $60 with their CDC vouchers in a single receipt from May 13 to 19. The return voucher may be redeemed a day after the date of issue till May 27, with no minimum spend. SINGAPORE – Major supermarkets are introducing promotions for the use of the latest $500 CDC vouchers launched on May 13. Singaporean households can visit and log in with Singpass to claim the digital vouchers. Notification letters will not be issued for this latest tranche of vouchers, in line with sustainability efforts. Once claimed, an SMS from ' will be sent to the registered mobile number, containing a unique voucher link. This link can be shared among household members. The SMS links for the CDC vouchers for May 2025 is different from the links for the CDC vouchers issued in January 2025. For those who may face difficulties with the digital process, help will be available at community centres or community clubs (CCs) and SG Digital Community Hubs. Priority queues will be in place at CCs for seniors and people with disabilities. More support will also be provided for residents without smartphones or those who need help setting up Singpass accounts or resetting passwords. In the first week of the launch, more than 200 volunteers from institutions such as ITE College Central, Nanyang Polytechnic and Hwa Chong Institution will be deployed at selected CCs, assisting residents alongside CDC ambassadors. For the first time, staff volunteers from public agencies will be lending support. SG Digital Office (SDO) digital ambassadors and Silver Infocomm wellness ambassadors will also be at CCs from May 13 to 26 to help residents claim their digital vouchers. SDO will conduct learning journeys at these locations to equip residents with knowledge on how to use their vouchers. Beyond this period, Singaporeans can continue to pick up digital skills for daily living, including redeeming CDC vouchers, from SDO's digital ambassadors at 36 SG Digital Community Hubs and more than 200 roving counters islandwide. To claim CDC vouchers, individuals do not need to disclose their bank login details, transfer money or install mobile applications from unofficial app stores. Those who receive suspicious messages related to or CDC vouchers can contact People's Association on 6225-5322. To check if something is a scam, call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline on 1799. More details on the CDC voucher scheme for May 2025 can be found at Chin Soo Fang is senior correspondent at The Straits Times covering topics such as community, politics, social issues, consumer, culture and heritage. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
Business Times
13-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Government will provide help for as long as needed: PM Wong at launch of latest tranche of CDC vouchers
[SINGAPORE] CDC vouchers are not a one-off exercise to help Singaporeans cope with cost-of-living issues, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who gave the assurance that the government would provide help for as long as needed. 'Some Singaporeans say – all this is very good... but they ask, is this just one-time and is this only a temporary assistance,' noted PM Wong, who was speaking on Tuesday (May 13) at the launch of the seventh tranche of the CDC voucher scheme at Nee Soon South Community Club. 'I assure all of you that this is not a one-off exercise, and the government will provide the help for as long as it is needed.' All Singaporean households will each receive S$500 in CDC vouchers from May 13 to help them with their daily expenses. PM Wong noted that the vouchers are part of a comprehensive package of support measures that were announced in Budget 2025, with another S$300 in CDC vouchers to be issued in January 2026. Help in other forms includes LifeSG credits, Edusave top-ups for children and U-Save rebates. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Singaporeans will also be given one-off SG60 vouchers to celebrate Singapore's 60th year of independence. Those aged 21 to 59 will receive S$600, while those aged 60 and above will receive S$800. Beyond providing rebates and vouchers, PM Wong said: 'We have been and we will continue to review, update and strengthen our social system across different areas, be it housing, healthcare, education or retirement. 'All these updates, changes, improvements to policies will help to provide Singaporeans with greater assurance through every life stage.' He also addressed the sustainability of the voucher programme, and why the goods and services tax (GST) had to be increased. PM Wong said that maintaining fiscal responsibility has always been the government's approach. 'We want to make sure that when we spend more, we are doing it for the benefit of Singaporeans, but the spending is sustainable over the medium to longer term,' he pointed out. He noted that the decision to increase taxes earlier in the decade was made to cover a funding gap in public finances, where Singapore's finance expenditure was going to increase but revenues were not sufficient to cover the spending. The GST was raised from 7 to 9 per cent over two years, in 2023 and 2024. 'It was a difficult decision to make, it was certainly not popular, but it was the right thing to do, and it was a responsible thing to do,' PM Wong said. 'Because we did that, today, we are in a healthy and sound fiscal position, and we have the resources we need to protect Singaporeans, to shield you from cost-of-living increases. 'We have the resources to steer Singapore through the economic storms that we see coming ahead of us. That is precisely what good and responsible government is, and we will continue with this.' He also praised the efforts of Singaporeans that include donating their CDC vouchers and implementing community initiatives like S$1 deals. He noted that merchants, hawkers and supermarkets have come up with special SG60 deals to help Singaporeans make the most of their vouchers. 'All of you did your part, including fellow Singaporeans, stepping forward to look out for one another and lifting one another up. Thank you all for your contributions,' he said. This is the spirit that will take Singapore forward for the next 60 years and beyond, he added. He also called on Singaporeans to 'close ranks' now that the 2025 General Election has concluded. The GST increase was a focal point of criticism by many opposition parties before and during the polls, with several calling for a rollback to 7 per cent or less to alleviate cost-of-living pressures. 'Let us stand together as one united people, because it's only by doing so that we can solve our problems, tackle our challenges and fulfil our aspirations together,' said PM Wong. 'Let us find new solutions to take Singapore forward and let us secure a brighter future for ourselves, for our families, and for Singapore.' THE STRAITS TIMES
Business Times
13-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Govt will provide help for as long as needed: PM Wong at launch of latest tranche of CDC vouchers
[SINGAPORE] CDC vouchers are not a one-off exercise to help Singaporeans cope with cost-of-living issues, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who gave the assurance that the Government would provide help for as long as needed. 'Some Singaporeans say – all this is very good... but they ask, is this just one-time and is this only a temporary assistance,' said PM Wong, who was speaking on Tuesday (May 13) at the launch of the seventh tranche of the CDC voucher scheme at Nee Soon South Community Club. 'I assure all of you that this is not a one-off exercise, and the Government will provide the help for as long as it is needed.' All Singaporean households will each receive S$500 in CDC vouchers from May 13 to help them with their daily expenses. PM Wong noted that the vouchers are part of a comprehensive package of support measures that were announced in Budget 2025, with another S$300 in CDC vouchers to be issued in January 2026. Help in other forms includes LifeSG credits, Edusave top-ups for children and U-Save rebates. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Singaporeans will also be given one-off SG60 vouchers to celebrate Singapore's 60th year of independence. Those aged 21 to 59 will receive S$600, while those aged 60 and above will receive S$800. Beyond providing rebates and vouchers, PM Wong said: 'We have been and we will continue to review, update and strengthen our social system across different areas, be it housing, healthcare, education or retirement. 'All these updates, changes, improvements to policies will help to provide Singaporeans with greater assurance through every life stage.' He also addressed the sustainability of the voucher programme, and why the goods and services tax (GST) had to be increased. PM Wong said maintaining fiscal responsibility has always been the Government's approach. 'We want to make sure that when we spend more, we are doing it for the benefit of Singaporeans, but the spending is sustainable over the medium to longer term,' he said. He noted that the decision to increase taxes earlier in the decade was made to cover a funding gap in public finances, where Singapore's finance expenditure was going to increase but revenues were not sufficient to cover the spending. The GST was raised from 7 per cent to 9 per cent over two years, in 2023 and 2024. 'It was a difficult decision to make, it was certainly not popular, but it was the right thing to do, and it was a responsible thing to do,' PM Wong said. 'Because we did that, today, we are in a healthy and sound fiscal position, and we have the resources we need to protect Singaporeans, to shield you from cost-of-living increases. 'We have the resources to steer Singapore through the economic storms that we see coming ahead of us. That is precisely what good and responsible government is, and we will continue with this.' He also praised the efforts of Singaporeans that include donating their CDC vouchers and implementing community initiatives like S$1 deals. He noted that merchants, hawkers and supermarkets have come up with special SG60 deals to help Singaporeans make the most of their vouchers. 'All of you did your part, including fellow Singaporeans, stepping forward to look out for one another and lifting one another up. Thank you all for your contributions,' he said. This is the spirit that will take Singapore forward for the next 60 years and beyond, he added. He also called on Singaporeans to 'close ranks' now that the 2025 General Election has concluded. The GST increase was a focal point of criticism by many opposition parties before and during the polls, with several calling for a rollback to 7 per cent or less to alleviate cost-of-living pressures. 'Let us stand together as one united people, because it's only by doing so that we can solve our problems, tackle our challenges and fulfil our aspirations together,' said PM Wong. 'Let us find new solutions to take Singapore forward and let us secure a brighter future for ourselves, for our families, and for Singapore.' THE STRAITS TIMES
