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Writer's pictureRoger Pay

Investments and Incentives in Singapore


Investments and Incentives in Singapore | Bestar
Investments and Incentives in Singapore | Bestar

Singapore is a well-known investment destination for foreign investors. It offers a number of incentives to attract investors, including:

  • Tax incentives: Singapore has a low corporate tax rate of 17%, and there are also a number of tax deductions and exemptions available for businesses that invest in certain industries or activities.

  • Free trade agreements: Singapore has free trade agreements with over 60 countries, which allows businesses to export their goods and services without paying import duties.

  • Infrastructure: Singapore has world-class infrastructure, including a modern transportation system, a reliable power grid, and a high-speed internet connection.

  • Talent: Singapore has a highly skilled workforce, with a strong emphasis on English language proficiency.

  • Ease of doing business: Singapore is ranked as the easiest place to do business in the world by the World Bank.

Some of the best investments in Singapore now include:

  • Real estate: Singapore is a popular destination for foreign real estate investment. The country has a strong economy and a stable political environment, which makes it a safe place to invest.

  • Technology: Singapore is a hub for technology companies. The government is investing heavily in research and development, which is creating opportunities for businesses in the technology sector.

  • Financial services: Singapore is a major financial center. The country has a well-regulated financial system and a strong legal framework, which makes it an attractive destination for financial services businesses.

If you are considering investing in Singapore, there are a number of resources available to help you make the most of the opportunities that the country has to offer. The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) is a government agency that provides support to businesses that are investing in Singapore. The EDB website has a wealth of information on the incentives and support that are available to investors.


The following are some of the specific investment incentives that are available in Singapore:

  • Pioneer Certificate Incentive: This incentive is available to businesses that are engaged in new or high-tech industries. Businesses that qualify for the Pioneer Certificate Incentive can enjoy a tax exemption of up to 10 years.

  • Development and Expansion Incentive: This incentive is available to businesses that are expanding or upgrading their operations. Businesses that qualify for the Development and Expansion Incentive can enjoy a tax deduction of up to 50% of their qualifying capital expenditure.

  • International Enterprise (IE) Grant: This grant is available to businesses that are expanding their operations overseas. The IE Grant can cover up to 50% of the costs of setting up or expanding a business overseas.

  • Research and Development (R&D) Incentive: This incentive is available to businesses that are conducting R&D activities in Singapore. The R&D Incentive can cover up to 75% of the costs of R&D activities.

These are just a few of the investment incentives that are available in Singapore. If you are considering investing in Singapore, visit the EDB website to learn more about the incentives that are available.


Overview of Government Incentives


The Singapore government offers a wide range of incentives to businesses of all sizes, in order to attract foreign investment and support the growth of the local economy. These incentives can take the form of tax breaks, grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance.


Some of the key government incentives for businesses in Singapore include:



Headquarter and Internationalisation Activities

​Incentives Available

​What They Offer

International Headquarters (IHQ) Award

​Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Scheme

Double Tax Deduction for Internationlisation (DTD)

​Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) grant


Manufacturing and Services Activities

​Incentives Available

What They offer

​Pioneer Certificate Incentive (PC)

​Development & Expansion Incentive (DEI)

​Investment Allowance (IA)

​Integrated Investment Allowance (IIA)

​Land Intensification Allowance (LIA)

​Approved Foreign Loan (AFL) Incentive


Trading Activities

​Incentives Available

​What They Offer

Global Trader Programme (GTP)


Finance and Treasury Activities

​Incentives Available

​What They Offer

​Finance & Treasury Centre (FTC) Incentive

Financial Sector Incentive (FSI)

​Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Regulatory Sandbox

Financial Training Scheme (FTS)

​Financial Sector Technology and Innovation (FSTI) Scheme

​Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF) Standards Training Scheme (IBF-STS)


Research and Development (R&D) Activities and Intellectual Property (IP) Management

​Incentives Available

​What They Offer

​Intellectual Property Development Incentive (IDI)

​Enhanced tax deduction on qualifying R&D expenses

​Double tax deduction on IP registration costs

​Double tax deduction on IP in-licensing expenses

​Research and innovation Scheme for Companies (RIS(C))

​Approved Royalties Incentive (ARI)

​Writing-down allowances for IP acquisition (S19B)


Human Capital and Capability Development

​Incentives Available

What They Offer

​Training Grant for Company (TGC)

​Enterprise Development Grant (EDG)


Sustainability Initiatives

Incentives Available

​What They Offer

​Decarbonisation

​Energy efficiency

​Investment allowance for emissions reduction

​Enterprise sustainability

​Sunstainability finance

Sustainability transport

​Water technology

​Waste management

​Urban solutions

​Food production


Maritime, Shipping and Logistics Activities

​Incentives Available

​What They Offer

​Maritime Sector Incentive (MSI)-Singapore Registry of Ships (MSI-SRS) and Approved International Shipping Enterprise (MSI-AIS)

​MSI-Shipping Related Support Services (MSI-SSS) Award

MSI-Maritime Leasing (MSI-ML) Award

​Maritime Innovation & Technology (MINT) Fund

In addition to these financial incentives, the Singapore government also offers a number of other support measures to businesses, such as:

  • Business grants: The Singapore government offers a variety of business grants to help businesses with their start-up costs, expansion plans, and other needs.

  • Loans: The Singapore government also offers a range of loans to businesses, at competitive interest rates.

  • Advisory services: The Singapore government also provides advisory services to businesses, to help them with areas such as market research, business planning, and compliance.

The Singapore government's range of incentives and support measures make it an attractive destination for businesses of all sizes. These incentives can help businesses to reduce their costs, increase their productivity, and grow their business.


Our Services

Here are some of the services we offer related to investments and incentives in Singapore:

  • Investment advisory: We can help you to identify and evaluate investment opportunities in Singapore, and to develop an investment strategy that meets your individual needs.

  • Incentives research: We can help you to identify and understand the range of government incentives available to businesses in Singapore, and to help you to apply for these incentives.

  • Business planning: We can help you to develop a business plan for your business in Singapore, taking into account the local market conditions and the availability of government incentives.

  • Compliance support: We can help you to comply with the relevant laws and regulations in Singapore, including those relating to taxation, employment, and intellectual property.

We can also provide you with general information about investments and incentives in Singapore, and we can connect you with other professionals who can offer you more specialized advice.


If you are interested in learning more about our services, please do not hesitate to contact us.


Business Strategy and Preparation

We can help you with your business strategy and preparation for investments and incentives in Singapore in a number of ways:

  • We can help you to understand the local market conditions and the availability of government incentives. We can provide you with information about the regulatory environment, the tax implications, and the different types of incentives that are available.

  • We can help you to develop a business plan that outlines your goals and strategies. We can work with you to assess your business needs and objectives, and to develop a plan that is tailored to your specific circumstances.

  • We can help you to identify and apply for government incentives. We can guide you through the application process and help you to ensure that you are meeting all of the requirements.

  • We can provide you with ongoing support and advice. We can keep you up-to-date with the latest changes to the incentive schemes and help you to resolve any issues that may arise.

We can also offer a range of other services that may be helpful to you, such as:

  • Investment advisory: We can help you to identify and evaluate investment opportunities in Singapore, and to develop an investment strategy that meets your individual needs.

  • Compliance support: We can help you to comply with the relevant laws and regulations in Singapore, including those relating to taxation, employment, and intellectual property.

  • Business development: We can help you to identify and develop new business opportunities in Singapore.

  • Marketing and sales support: We can help you to develop and implement marketing and sales strategies for your business in Singapore.

We can help you to achieve your business goals in Singapore. Please do not hesitate to contact us to learn more about our services and how we can assist you.


Government Incentives Application Support

We can also provide government incentives application support. We can help you with the following:

  • Identifying the right incentives for your business: There are a variety of government incentives available to businesses in Singapore. We can help you to identify the incentives that are most relevant to your business and that you are eligible for.

  • Preparing your application: The application process can be complex. We can help you to gather the necessary information and to complete the application form.

  • Negotiating with government officials: The application process may involve negotiations with government officials. We can help you to represent your interests and to reach a mutually agreeable outcome.

  • Monitoring the progress of your application: The application process can take some time. We can help you to track the progress of your application and to ensure that it is moving forward smoothly.

  • Resolving any issues that may arise: The application process may involve some unexpected challenges. We can help you to identify and resolve any issues that may arise.

We can also provide you with ongoing support and advice throughout the government incentives application process. We are confident that we can help you to secure the government incentives that you need to grow your business in Singapore.


If you are interested in learning more about government incentives application support, please do not hesitate to contact us.


Incentive Management and Compliance


We can also provide incentive management and compliance support. We can help you with the following:

  • Managing your incentive portfolio: This includes tracking the status of your incentives, ensuring that you are meeting all of the requirements, and reporting on your progress to government agencies.

  • Complying with incentive regulations: This includes understanding the different types of incentives that are available, the eligibility criteria, and the reporting requirements.

  • Resolving any compliance issues: This may involve negotiating with government agencies or taking corrective action.

  • Providing ongoing support and advice: We can help you to stay up-to-date with the latest changes to incentive regulations and to resolve any compliance issues that may arise.

We can also offer a range of other services that may be helpful to you, such as:

  • Investment advisory: We can help you to identify and evaluate investment opportunities in Singapore, and to develop an investment strategy that meets your individual needs.

  • Compliance support: We can help you to comply with the relevant laws and regulations in Singapore, including those relating to taxation, employment, and intellectual property.

  • Business development: We can help you to identify and develop new business opportunities in Singapore.

  • Marketing and sales support: We can help you to develop and implement marketing and sales strategies for your business in Singapore.

We can help you to achieve your business goals in Singapore. Please do not hesitate to contact us to learn more about our services and how we can assist you.


Here are some of the key areas of incentive management and compliance that we can help you with:

  • Identifying and understanding the different types of incentives available: There are a variety of government incentives available to businesses in Singapore. It is important to understand the different types of incentives that are available, the eligibility criteria, and the reporting requirements.

  • Tracking the status of your incentives: It is important to track the status of your incentives to ensure that you are meeting all of the requirements and that you are receiving the full benefits of the incentives.

  • Ensuring that you are complying with incentive regulations: It is important to comply with all of the incentive regulations to avoid penalties or the loss of benefits.

  • Resolving any compliance issues: If you have any compliance issues, we can help you to resolve them in a timely and efficient manner.

  • Providing ongoing support and advice: We can provide you with ongoing support and advice on all aspects of incentive management and compliance.

We can help you to manage your incentives effectively and to comply with all of the relevant regulations. Please do not hesitate to contact us to learn more about how we can assist you.


About Bestar Singapore


Bestar Singapore is a government-owned company that was established in 2010 to promote investments and incentives in Singapore. The company offers a range of services to businesses, including:

  • Investment advisory: Bestar Singapore can help businesses to identify and evaluate investment opportunities in Singapore, and to develop an investment strategy that meets their individual needs.

  • Incentives research: Bestar Singapore can help businesses to identify and understand the range of government incentives available to businesses in Singapore, and to help businesses to apply for these incentives.

  • Business planning: Bestar Singapore can help businesses to develop a business plan for their business in Singapore, taking into account the local market conditions and the availability of government incentives.

  • Compliance support: Bestar Singapore can help businesses to comply with the relevant laws and regulations in Singapore, including those relating to taxation, employment, and intellectual property.

Bestar Singapore is a valuable resource for businesses that are considering investing in Singapore. The company's team of experienced professionals can provide businesses with the information and support they need to make informed decisions about their investments.


Here are some of the key services that Bestar Singapore offers:

  • Investment advisory: Bestar Singapore can help businesses to identify and evaluate investment opportunities in Singapore, and to develop an investment strategy that meets their individual needs.

  • Incentives research: Bestar Singapore can help businesses to identify and understand the range of government incentives available to businesses in Singapore, and to help businesses to apply for these incentives.

  • Business planning: Bestar Singapore can help businesses to develop a business plan for their business in Singapore, taking into account the local market conditions and the availability of government incentives.

  • Compliance support: Bestar Singapore can help businesses to comply with the relevant laws and regulations in Singapore, including those relating to taxation, employment, and intellectual property.

If you are considering investing in Singapore, contact Bestar Singapore for more information.








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