Advertisement
Singapore markets closed

  • Straits Times Index

    3,176.51
    -11.15 (-0.35%)
     

  • Nikkei

    37,068.35
    -1,011.35 (-2.66%)
     

  • Hang Seng

    16,224.14
    -161.73 (-0.99%)
     

  • FTSE 100

    7,895.85
    +18.80 (+0.24%)
     

  • Bitcoin USD

    64,123.71
    +585.75 (+0.92%)
     

  • CMC Crypto 200

    1,381.17
    +68.55 (+5.23%)
     

  • S&P 500

    4,967.23
    -43.89 (-0.88%)
     

  • Dow

    37,986.40
    +211.02 (+0.56%)
     

  • Nasdaq

    15,282.01
    -319.49 (-2.05%)
     

  • Gold

    2,403.00
    +5.00 (+0.21%)
     

  • Crude Oil

    83.25
    +0.52 (+0.63%)
     

  • 10-Yr Bond

    4.6150
    -0.0320 (-0.69%)
     

  • FTSE Bursa Malaysia

    1,547.57
    +2.81 (+0.18%)
     

  • Jakarta Composite Index

    7,087.32
    -79.50 (-1.11%)
     

  • PSE Index

    6,443.00
    -80.19 (-1.23%)
     

Singapore’s DPM rolls out subsidy of ICT costs, extends PIC scheme

Elaine Huang

The three new initiatives launched to subsidise ICT costs for local businesses will cost US$395M. PIC scheme has been extended till 2018

In today’s Budget speech in Parliament, Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam announced that the government is launching three initiatives to subsidise information and communications (ICT) costs for local businesses until 2018.

The initiatives will cost S$500 million (US$395 million).

He also said that the government’s Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) scheme, which was introduced in 2010, will be extended until 2018. The scheme reimburses companies with tax deductions or cash grants when costs are made in line with productivity. It was supposed to expire this year, but it seems its popularity with startups in the city-state has warranted the extension, which will cost S$3.6 billion (US$2.8 billion).

ADVERTISEMENT

According to The Straits Times, Shanmugaratnam added that the current cap of S$400,000 (US$316,000) on the eligible expenditure small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make, will be increased to S$600,000 (US$473,000) in 2015 when the PIC scheme is assessed.

The extension of PIC does reveal the government’s support for innovation within the country. However, Clement Wong, Founder and CEO, Bemyguest, told e27 that IRAS, which handles the scheme, should improve it by hiring someone with knowledge when it comes to processing tech-related claims. He explained, “Many startups rely on PIC to survive. Delays in pay-outs can be detrimental.”

Wong added that the Singaporean travel startup claims about one fifth of its expenditure from the PIC scheme, and lamented, “Our submission last march is still being processed.”

Three initiatives to cut ICT costs

  • SMEs will be able to receive up to 70 per cent subsidy for costs of ICT products and services

  • 80 per cent of qualifying costs for companies to take up technologies new to the country will be subsidised. The amount will be limited to S$1 million (US$790,000) for each company taking part in the scheme

  • Remember Wireless@SG, the government’s initiative to bring free WiFi to all public areas? SMEs will be able to receive support in implementing the service at their work offices, and enjoy a subsidy in fibre broadband plans of more than 100 Mbps

Read Also: Singapore startup government funding chart

The post Singapore’s DPM rolls out subsidy of ICT costs, extends PIC scheme appeared first on E27.