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As a CEO in Singapore, Isabelle navigates a high-stakes ecosystem of corporate governance, talent development, and international trade incentives. This hub consolidates the essential national-level frameworks that support business operations, executive compliance, and strategic growth in the city-state.
Accessing government grants and tax incentives is critical for maintaining a competitive edge in the global market.
Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) national · Enterprise Singapore
Who qualifies Singapore-registered companies with at least 30% local shareholding.
What you get Funding of up to 50% of qualifying project costs for upgrading, innovation, or internationalization.
What it actually costs you Requires a detailed project proposal, audited financials, and a 3-6 month approval wait.
Common gotcha Projects must be started only after the grant application is submitted; retroactive claims are rejected.
Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) national · Enterprise Singapore
Who qualifies SMEs registered and operating in Singapore.
What you get Funding support of up to 50% for pre-approved IT solutions and equipment.
What it actually costs you Must purchase from pre-approved vendors; requires BizFile and ACRA records.
Common gotcha Only specific pre-approved packages qualify; custom software development is excluded.
Tax Deduction for R&D national · Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS)
Who qualifies Companies conducting qualifying R&D activities in Singapore.
What you get Up to 250% tax deduction on qualifying R&D expenditure.
What it actually costs you Requires rigorous documentation of R&D activities and technical staff time logs.
Common gotcha Routine software updates or market research do not qualify as R&D.
Double Tax Deduction for Internationalization (DTDi) national · Enterprise Singapore
Who qualifies Singapore companies looking to expand overseas.
What you get 200% tax deduction on eligible expenses for market expansion activities.
What it actually costs you Requires receipts and proof of overseas business development activities.
Common gotcha Expenses must be incurred for the purpose of internationalization, not domestic growth.
Venture Debt Programme national · Enterprise Singapore
Who qualifies High-growth startups with innovative business models.
What you get Government risk-sharing of up to 50% on venture debt loans.
What it actually costs you Requires a bank loan application; the bank assesses the credit risk.
Common gotcha This is a loan, not a grant; interest must be serviced regularly.
Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant national · Enterprise Singapore
Who qualifies SMEs with annual turnover under $100 million.
What you get Up to 50% funding for overseas market setup and business matching.
What it actually costs you Requires a clear plan for entry into a specific foreign market.
Common gotcha Capped at $100,000 per company per new market. Navigating work passes and workforce development is the most complex operational hurdle for a CEO.
Employment Pass (EP) national · Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Who qualifies Foreign professionals with a minimum salary of $5,000 (varies by age).
What you get Legal right to work and reside in Singapore as a professional.
What it actually costs you Requires COMPASS framework assessment, job advertising on MyCareersFuture, and $225 processing fee.
Common gotcha COMPASS points are mandatory; failure to meet the score results in automatic rejection.
SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC) national · SkillsFuture Singapore
Who qualifies Employers who have contributed to the Skills Development Levy.
What you get One-off $10,000 credit to offset up to 90% of out-of-pocket training costs.
What it actually costs you Must be registered for the scheme; credit is automatically applied to claims.
Common gotcha Credit expires if not used within the stipulated timeframe.
SkillsFuture Training Subsidy national · SkillsFuture Singapore
Who qualifies All Singaporean employees.
What you get Up to 90% subsidy on course fees for approved training programmes.
What it actually costs you Requires company to pay the net fee after subsidy.
Common gotcha Course must be listed on the SkillsFuture portal to qualify.
Work Pass Exempt Activities Notification national · Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Who qualifies Foreigners visiting for short-term business meetings or seminars.
What you get Legal exemption from needing a work pass for up to 90 days.
What it actually costs you Must file a notification with MOM before arrival.
Common gotcha Only applies to specific activities; performing 'work' without a pass is a criminal offence.
S Pass national · Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Who qualifies Mid-skilled foreign staff with a minimum salary of $3,150.
What you get Legal right to employ mid-skilled foreign workers.
What it actually costs you Subject to quota and levy requirements.
Common gotcha Quota is strictly enforced based on the company's total workforce composition.
Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) national · Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Who qualifies All employees in Singapore.
What you get Statutory insurance coverage for work-related injuries.
What it actually costs you Mandatory insurance premiums paid by the employer.
Common gotcha Failure to maintain WICA insurance is a serious legal liability for CEOs. Singapore's regulatory environment is transparent but strict; compliance is non-negotiable.
ACRA BizFile+ Portal national · Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)
Who qualifies All registered business entities in Singapore.
What you get Central portal for annual filings, business registration, and corporate changes.
What it actually costs you Annual filing fees and potential penalties for late filing.
Common gotcha Director's duties are personal; late filings lead to summons.
Corporate Income Tax (CIT) Filing national · Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS)
Who qualifies All companies operating in Singapore.
What you get Standardized tax assessment and filing process.
What it actually costs you Requires audited or unaudited financial statements.
Common gotcha The ECI (Estimated Chargeable Income) must be filed within 3 months of financial year-end.
Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) Compliance national · Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC)
Who qualifies Any organization handling personal data.
What you get Framework for legal data management.
What it actually costs you Internal audit time and potential DPO (Data Protection Officer) appointment.
Common gotcha Fines for data breaches can reach 10% of annual turnover.
Goods and Services Tax (GST) Registration national · Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS)
Who qualifies Companies with taxable turnover exceeding $1 million.
What you get Ability to charge and claim GST.
What it actually costs you Requires quarterly GST filings.
Common gotcha Voluntary registration is possible but locks you into a 2-year commitment.
Central Provident Fund (CPF) Contribution national · CPF Board
Who qualifies Singaporean and Permanent Resident employees.
What you get Statutory retirement and healthcare savings scheme.
What it actually costs you Employer contribution portion (up to 17% of salary).
Common gotcha Late payment attracts interest penalties and potential prosecution.
InvoiceNow (Peppol) national · IMDA
Who qualifies All businesses.
What you get Nationwide e-invoicing network for faster payments.
What it actually costs you Requires adoption of a compatible accounting software.
Common gotcha Not all clients are on the network yet.
Singapore is a global hub; these schemes facilitate seamless import/export and customs compliance.
TradeNet national · Singapore Customs
Who qualifies Companies involved in import/export.
What you get Single-window portal for all trade declarations.
What it actually costs you Requires a customs account and permit fees.
Common gotcha Incorrect HS codes lead to cargo delays and fines.
FTA Utilization Support national · Enterprise Singapore
Who qualifies Exporters to countries with Singapore FTAs.
What you get Preferential tariff rates for goods exported.
What it actually costs you Requires Certificate of Origin documentation.
Common gotcha Rules of Origin are complex; ensure your product meets the local content threshold.
Customs Permit Exemption national · Singapore Customs
Who qualifies Companies moving specific low-risk goods.
What you get Elimination of permit filing for certain transactions.
What it actually costs you Requires pre-approval and internal audit logs.
Common gotcha Exemption does not mean zero record-keeping; audits are frequent.
Trade Loan Scheme national · Enterprise Singapore
Who qualifies Companies with trade financing needs.
What you get Government risk-sharing on trade loans.
What it actually costs you Requires bank assessment of trade volume.
Common gotcha Only for trade-related activities, not general working capital.
ATA Carnet national · Singapore International Chamber of Commerce
Who qualifies Companies temporarily exporting goods for trade shows.
What you get Duty-free and tax-free temporary admission of goods.
What it actually costs you Application fee and security deposit.
Common gotcha Goods must be re-exported within the time limit or duties apply.
Secure Trade Partnership (STP) national · Singapore Customs
Who qualifies Companies with high-volume, secure supply chains.
What you get Faster customs clearance and priority processing.
What it actually costs you Rigorous security audit of your supply chain.
Common gotcha Requires significant investment in security infrastructure. 1states & territories — open one to see what it offers.
Singapore新加坡 Singapore offers a highly structured, competitive business environment where CEOs leverage government grants for innovation, talent acquisition, and international expansion.
Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) state · Enterprise Singapore
Who qualifies Singapore-registered companies with at least 30% local shareholding.
What you get Up to 50% funding for qualifying project costs like consultancy, hardware, and software.
What it actually costs you Requires a detailed project proposal, audited financial statements, and a minimum 6-month project timeline.
Common gotcha You must apply before starting the project; retroactive claims are strictly rejected.
Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant state · Enterprise Singapore
Who qualifies SMEs with global HQ in Singapore and annual turnover under S$100 million.
What you get Up to 70% support for overseas market setup, business matching, and IP protection.
What it actually costs you Requires proof of overseas business expansion plans and valid ACRA business profile.
Common gotcha Limited to one application per new market per company.
Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) state · Enterprise Singapore
Who qualifies Businesses registered and operating in Singapore with at least 30% local shareholding.
What you get Up to 50% funding for pre-approved IT solutions and equipment.
What it actually costs you Must use pre-approved vendors; requires BizFile and recent financial records.
Common gotcha The solution must be used in Singapore to qualify.
Research Incentive Scheme for Companies (RISC) state · Economic Development Board (EDB)
Who qualifies Companies conducting significant R&D activities in Singapore.
What you get Grants to offset operational costs of R&D centers.
What it actually costs you Extensive reporting on R&D outcomes and headcount requirements.
Common gotcha Requires a long-term commitment to Singapore as an R&D hub.
SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC) state · SkillsFuture Singapore
Who qualifies Employers who have contributed at least S$750 in Skills Development Levy over a specific period.
What you get One-off S$10,000 credit to cover up to 90% of out-of-pocket expenses for training.
What it actually costs you Requires CPF registration and active levy payments.
Common gotcha Credit expires after a set period; check your portal dashboard for the expiry date.
Career Conversion Programme (CCP) state · Workforce Singapore (WSG)
Who qualifies Companies hiring mid-career switchers for new roles.
What you get Salary support of up to 90% for up to 6 months during the training period.
What it actually costs you Must provide a structured training plan and mentor for the new hire.
Common gotcha The hire cannot be an existing employee; must be a new placement.
Tech.Pass state · Economic Development Board (EDB)
Who qualifies High-caliber tech entrepreneurs and experts with significant global experience.
What you get A flexible visa allowing the holder to start and operate multiple businesses in Singapore.
What it actually costs you High salary threshold and proven track record in tech leadership.
Common gotcha Strict renewal criteria based on business performance and contribution to the ecosystem.
One honest app. Real lives, real businesses. Free for what people need, paid only for what runs a business — on our own model, our own metal.
Where we run
Bangalore + Czechia
Our own metal · GDPR · DPDPA
