Connect with us

Media OutReach

KPMG and SID Unveil Budget 2025 Recommendations to Build a Ready, Refreshed, and Resilient Singapore, Driving Value Creation and Global Leadership

Published

on

  • Foster Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) adoption by Singapore enterprises through national frameworks, grants, and a hub to align with global sustainability standards.
  • Accelerate innovation through increased funding for the development of sustainable technologies and the adoption of artificial intelligence.
  • Strengthen workforce capabilities with targeted professional growth programmes, leadership benchmarks, and micro-credentialling to prepare talent for global challenges.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 January 2025 – KPMG in Singapore and the Singapore Institute of Directors (SID) are pleased to announce the release of our joint Budget 2025 Proposal, titled “Designing Singapore’s future together: Ready, refreshed and resilient for tomorrow.” The Proposal charts strategic recommendations to position Singapore as a global leader in value creation, emphasising the nation’s ability to attract talent, investments, and innovation while leveraging the capital markets to generate a cascading impact across the economy. Transformational changes initiated within the capital markets will enable Singapore enterprises to align with these shifts, fostering their growth and driving Singapore’s collaborative, long-term ambitions.

A key component of this vision is enhancing corporate governance standards to build investor confidence, positioning enterprises as global benchmarks for integrity and transparency. By nurturing trust and accountability across the business ecosystem – from multinational corporations to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) – Singapore can lay the foundation for inclusive, sustained growth. In addition, we recommend stimulating greater organic innovation through research and development, supported by incentives and green financing, to further drive this transformation.

Our Budget 2025 Proposal also introduces recommendations designed to create a “fast pass” approach for businesses, providing quick assistance, ready-to-use templates, and a swift start for those eager to embark on complex and long journeys in areas like sustainability and technology. This approach aims to accelerate their transformation through well-structured support systems facilitated by the government, enabling companies to adopt innovative solutions and sustainable practices more effectively, while elevating Singapore’s global reputation as a hub for value creation.

The Proposal focuses on these key areas of value creation:

  • Advancing ESG Priorities – Empowering Singapore enterprises to adopt sustainable practices through national frameworks, targeted grants, and reporting guidance. A dedicated industry hub will offer crucial support, ensuring businesses can align with international ESG standards and contribute to Singapore’s sustainability transition.
  • Driving Innovation – Harnessing blended finance and green financing initiatives to support businesses, particularly those in “hard to abate” industries, in their decarbonisation efforts. These grants and incentives help mitigate investment risks, encouraging the participation of a more diverse spectrum of funding stakeholders and cultivating a robust ecosystem of financing options. Furthermore, leveraging carbon tax revenues and enhanced government subsidies can complement these efforts, spurring further research and development efforts in sustainable technologies and accelerating the creation of commercially viable carbon reduction solutions.
  • Enhancing Talent Development – Strengthening workforce capabilities through leadership benchmarks and targeted professional growth initiatives, such as micro-credentialling, while aligning with the Forward Singapore agenda. By focusing on building globally and regionally capable talent, these measures ensure Singapore’s workforce is prepared to meet evolving challenges and further solidify the nation’s position as a talent hub in the region.
  • Supporting International Growth – Singapore can reinforce its position as a global hub by introducing strategic measures to enable businesses to excel internationally while addressing emerging challenges. Enhancing grants and financing schemes will encourage cross-border partnerships in high-growth areas such as the digital and green economies, fostering regional collaboration and supporting Singapore companies in diversifying across ASEAN. A government-backed transfer pricing advisory programme can provide consultation and financial support to small enterprises, helping them align with international standards, reduce compliance risks, and enhance operational efficiency in complex tax environments.

Highlights of Our Recommendations

1. Ready: Leading with Sustainable Impact Regionally and Into the Future

The rising global emphasis on sustainability positions Singapore to lead by example. By establishing robust frameworks and standards, the nation can solidify its climate resilience and reinforce its role as a trusted hub for sustainable business practices and long-term economic growth.

KPMG and SID recommend:
a) Increase transparency in the allocation of carbon tax revenues (page 8) to strengthen clarity in the industry to undertake green initiatives. Detailed disclosures on the use of these funds can enable businesses to align their investments with Singapore’s climate agenda.
b) Develop a centralised ESG reporting hub to guide businesses in adopting consistent sustainability practices (page 12). This hub, established through government and industry collaboration, would help businesses navigate reporting requirements and align themselves with international sustainability standards.
c) Deploy incentives for blended finance to accelerate Singapore’s green transition (pages 17 and 18). Strategic grants and first-loss guarantees could enhance the funding landscape for large-scale sustainable projects while supporting programmes that mitigate climate risks for vulnerable communities such as low-income groups.
d) Launch a decarbonisation assistance facility (page 19) that provides long-term financial support for businesses in hard-to-abate sectors. Grants and competitively priced loans would facilitate energy efficiency, clean energy adoption, and the exploration of innovative solutions across challenging industries.

2. Refreshed: Uplifting Tomorrow’s Workforce

Singapore’s workforce is integral to sustaining its competitive edge. To remain a top destination for global talent and leadership, Singapore must equip its workforce with the skills and capabilities needed to drive innovation and address future challenges.

KPMG and SID recommend:

a) Establish a National Leadership Competency Index (page 23) to help organisations evaluate and grow their leadership pipeline. This index would serve as a benchmark to track and enhance essential competencies, building a talent pool that supports local and regional growth.
b) Expand investments in micro-credentialling and increase accessibility to SkillsFuture funding (page 24). Short-term certifications in high-demand areas such as AI, sustainability, and cybersecurity would address immediate skills gaps, while tax incentives and grants can encourage businesses to sponsor such upskilling programmes.
c) Mandate regular, robust board evaluations conducted by external facilitators (page 28). By adopting rigorous performance reviews similar to the UK’s standards, companies can enhance governance and transparency across sectors. Encouraging companies to develop the competencies of their directors and adopt an unbiased, objective perspective to the review process will strengthen governance and performance.

3. Resilient: Driving Innovation in a Dynamic Global Business Landscape

To stay ahead in a rapidly evolving global economy, Singapore must strengthen its position as a leading innovation hub to help businesses excel on the global stage. By leveraging its open ecosystem and providing adequate consultation and financial support, businesses can adopt cutting-edge technologies, enhance their digital capabilities and better navigate the increasingly complex tax landscape.

KPMG and SID recommend:

  • Increase funding for the development of AI governance and standards (page 32) and training initiatives to encourage ethical AI deployment (page 34). Allocating funds to R&D in AI governance technologies, such as bias detection and transparent decision-making, can address technical complexities, while introducing grants can help companies boost the adoption of responsible AI practices through continuous learning opportunities provided to their employees.
  • Develop company director capabilities in ESG navigation and innovative strategies (page 37). Firms can be incentivised to provide ongoing professional development for their directors, elevating governance excellence and thought leadership across organisations, from startups to established corporations.
  • Strengthen corporate governance through enhanced tax governance practices (page 38). Tax governance can be incorporated as an integral part of corporate governance requirements, especially for companies benefitting from tax incentives or grants.

Lee Sze Yeng, Managing Partner, KPMG in Singapore, said:

“As Singapore enters SG60, we must focus on developing leaders with foresight and expertise in sustainability and technology to drive ambitions across sectors and secure a competitive edge in a rapidly changing global landscape. A cohesive national strategy, aligned with the Forward SG agenda, is vital for nurturing future leaders. Leveraging Singapore’s educated workforce and initiatives like SkillsFuture, a National Leadership Competency Index would help strengthen leadership pipelines and drive local and regional growth.

“Leadership development must emphasise two critical strategies. First, micro-credentialling will play a pivotal role in equipping individuals with industry-recognised qualifications, creating leaders who are not only well-educated but professionally competent to deliver value and impact across sectors. Second, structured apprenticeships and meaningful learning exchanges will foster collaboration, mentorship, and the refinement of practical skills. These engagements – across all leadership tiers – offer emerging leaders invaluable opportunities to broaden their perspectives and master the art of value creation.”

Ajay Kumar Sanganeria, Partner, Head of Tax, KPMG in Singapore, said:

“Value creation is a significant challenge for Singapore amid a volatile global economy and growing concerns over digital trust, particularly with generative AI’s rapid rise. The government must take the lead in driving transformation by using systemic levers, engaging industry stakeholders and implementing impactful strategies through enterprises to catalyse widespread impact.

“Key areas of focus must include accelerating green infrastructure development through diverse green financing instruments, beyond traditional blended finance. Furthermore, a fast-track (or fast-pass) approach is required to support enterprises in their sustainability and technology transitions. This must involve clear standards, ready-made templates, actionable guidance and targeted funding. Partnerships with industry to co-create these tools will be vital.

“Tax policies should strategically incentivise R&D and drive organic innovation, ensuring Singapore leads in ESG and technological advancements through sustainable and innovative growth.”

Terence Quek, CEO of SID, said:

“As stewards of the organisation, directors are uniquely positioned to champion the integration of ESG principles into the core of business strategies. By fostering a culture of sustainability and innovation, directors can ensure long-term value creation, driving both responsible growth and competitive advantage. Board leadership is essential in setting the tone and aligning business models with evolving societal expectations, shaping a future where profitability and positive social impact go hand in hand.”

Neil Parekh, Governing Council Member, SID, said:

“Public capital markets, along with the fast-growing private financing markets, are a very powerful engine for value creation, enabling companies to access the funding needed for innovation, expansion and sustainable growth. Directors play a crucial role in guiding businesses to strategically leverage these markets, ensuring that investments are channelled towards initiatives that not only deliver financial returns but also contribute to long-term value creation for all stakeholders.”

Hashtag: #KPMG

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About KPMG in Singapore

KPMG in Singapore is part of a global organization of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We operate in 142 countries and territories with more than 275,000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients.

About SID
The Singapore Institute of Directors (SID) is Singapore’s national association for company directors. Established in 1998, our mission is to transform boards and empower board directors to be champions of good governance. SID works with regulators and partners to serve as the voice for directors and facilitates consultations and feedback sessions on regulatory matters. In advocating for good governance, SID advances thought leadership and benchmarking research and indices on corporate governance and directorship issues.

SID builds competencies and capabilities to enhance boardroom skills of directors for informed decision-making. An accreditation programme serves to set standards for and showcase best practices of good governance. The organisation supports members on their directorship journey with courses, workshops, advanced masterclasses, forum discussions and pit-stops. SID connects and strengthens the ecosystem with initiatives such as mentoring and networking. The Governance for Good Alliance is an initiative by SID to bring together key stakeholders who help advance our vision for every board director to be a champion of good governance.

For more information, visit sid.org.sg

Advertisement

Media OutReach

SL Aesthetic Group Marks 22 Years of Innovation and Regional Expansion in Singapore and Southeast Asia

Published

on

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 January 2026 – SL Aesthetic Group celebrates its 22nd anniversary, marking its growth from a single clinic into a multi-brand medical aesthetics and healthcare group.

Founded in Singapore in 2003, the Group has grown to encompass five specialised brands operating more than twenty outlets across Singapore and the region.

  • SL Aesthetic Clinic offers doctor-led skin, face and body treatments, and is one of Singapore’s longest-running medical aesthetics clinic.
  • SkinLab The Medical Spa, a dermatology-focused medical spa, specialises in medical-grade facials and skincare products for sensitive skin.
  • TrichoLab, a dedicated hair and scalp health brand specialising in medical hair loss solutions.
  • Euphie (Malaysia) is the Group’s Malaysia-based extension comprising Euphie Skin Solutions and Euphie Clinic, delivering medically supervised aesthetic care.

The Group has served more than 100,000 patients, with care provided by a team of 12 doctors and more than 100 trained specialists.

Over the past two decades, the concept of beauty and wellness has broadened into a more holistic approach to personal care—one that goes beyond aesthetics to support overall wellbeing. People are placing greater emphasis on long-term health, from their mental health and nutrition to their physical appearance. This shift has driven growing demand for preventive, medically supervised services that integrate aesthetics with broader health concerns.

In response to these changing needs, SL Aesthetic Group has expanded its medical services beyond skin and hair treatments, introducing more than 40 new offerings across its five specialised brand portfolios, including women’s health services.

Dr Kelvin Chua, Founder and Senior Medical Director of SL Aesthetic Group, said: “Reaching 22 years reflects the continuity of care we have built over time. As patient expectations change, our focus remains on delivering medically supervised services that support long-term health and well-being.”

As part of this expansion, the Group launched Prologue The Lifestyle Medical Clinic and Prologue Centre for Women’s Wellness in 2025. Prologue The Lifestyle Medical Clinic focuses on preventive care for chronic conditions, supported by artificial intelligence–enabled health screenings for early detection of conditions such as dementia and cancer. Meanwhile, Prologue Centre for Women’s Wellness addresses women’s health needs across different life stages, including perimenopause, menopause, and postpartum recovery.

Within Singapore, the group strengthened its physical presence with the opening of its tenth SL Aesthetic Clinic and SkinLab The Medical Spa outlet at iMall in Marine Parade, as a response to strong and sustained demand from patients in the eastern region.

Regionally, SL Aesthetic Group marked a milestone as its Malaysia-based brand, Euphie — comprising Euphie Skin Solutions and Euphie Clinic — celebrated its first anniversary. Building on this foundation, the Group plans to open an additional outlet in Malaysia, extending its medically supervised services to a wider patient base.

Looking ahead, SL Aesthetic Group plans to continue expanding its clinical footprint while maintaining regulatory compliance, clinical standards, and patient safety.

For more information, visit: https://slaestheticgroup.com/
Hashtag: #SLAesthetic

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About SL Aesthetic Group

SL Aesthetic Group is one of Singapore’s longest-established medical aesthetic groups, with a presence in Singapore and Malaysia. The Group houses a diverse portfolio of brands, including SL Aesthetic Clinic, SkinLab The Medical Spa, TrichoLab, PROLOGUE, and Euphie (Malaysia).

Founded in the 2000s, SL Aesthetic Group specialises in skin and hair health, women’s wellness, and holistic medicine. Across its clinics and outlets, the Group offers a comprehensive range of FDA-approved aesthetic and medical treatments, all supervised by trained and certified healthcare professionals holding Certificates of Competency (COC) recognised by the Singapore Medical Council’s Aesthetic Practice Oversight Committee (APOC).

Continue Reading

Media OutReach

Aon Appoints Kulshaan Singh as Enterprise Client Leader, Asia Pacific based in Singapore

Published

on

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 January 2026 Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, today announced the appointment of Kulshaan Singh as enterprise client leader, Asia Pacific, effective immediately.

Based in Singapore, Singh will leverage his extensive experience across some of Asia’s most dynamic markets to deliver innovative approaches to Risk Capital and Human Capital for Aon’s enterprise and large multinational clients in Asia. Reporting to Craig Torgius, chief client officer and head of enterprise clients, Asia Pacific, Singh will focus on building strategic partnerships and unlocking new opportunities supporting clients to achieve their growth ambitions.

“Kulshaan brings a rare blend of strategic acumen with strong execution ability, global insight and local expertise to our Asia Pacific team,” said Torgius. “His ability to lead transformation, foster collaboration and deliver results across diverse industries will be invaluable in helping clients navigate an increasingly complex risk landscape.”

With over two decades of experience in consulting and executive leadership, Singh held prominent roles including managing director for talent solutions for southeast Asia at Aon, CEO Mercer Singapore and chief people officer at Charoen Pokphand Group. Most recently, as the global group chief people officer at Thai Union Group, he spearheaded large-scale transformation initiatives including organisation design, succession and leadership alignment.

Reflecting on his new role, Singh said, “I feel privileged and excited to be back at Aon and look forward to working closely with Aon’s global and local teams to deliver solutions that help clients navigate complexity and interconnected challenges.”

Read more about Aon’s capabilities in Asia Pacific here.

Hashtag: #Aon

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Aon

exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that help protect and grow their businesses.

Follow Aon on and sign up for news alerts .

Disclaimer
The information contained in this document is solely for information purposes, for general guidance only and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although Aon endeavours to provide accurate and timely information and uses sources that it considers reliable, the firm does not warrant, represent or guarantee the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or fitness for any purpose of any content of this document and can accept no liability for any loss incurred in any way by any person who may rely on it. There can be no guarantee that the information contained in this document will remain accurate as on the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No individual or entity should make decisions or act based solely on the information contained herein without appropriate professional advice and targeted research.

Continue Reading

Media OutReach

Zero-Emission Technology Underpins the Future of Urban Living

Published

on

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 January 2026 – In 2025, Vietnam marked a pivotal moment in its economic trajectory. Amid persistent global uncertainties, the country recorded GDP growth of 8.02%. Vietnam’s economic scale also reached a new threshold, with GDP estimated at approximately USD 514 billion and GDP per capita surpassing USD 5,000, officially elevating the country into the upper-middle-income category. Notably, Vietnam led ASEAN in growth momentum, reinforcing Vietnam’s rising profile as a resilient and increasingly attractive destination for long-term global capital.

As an economy reaches a new stage of development, the central question is no longer how fast it can grow, but how well it can sustain that growth over time. The development trajectories of many countries show that crossing an income threshold often brings complex structural pressures: Mounting strain on urban infrastructure, environmental degradation, and higher expectations for quality of life.

In this context, traditional growth models, those that prioritize short-term economic returns, begin to reveal their limitations. What emerges instead is a clear demand for development paradigms in which economic performance, environmental resilience, and social value are conceived together from the outset, rather than treated as sequential or secondary considerations.

For Vietnam, this transition is particularly significant as global capital flows increasingly favor ESG-aligned markets, and urban residents shift from a focus on asset ownership to a more holistic pursuit of living quality and long-term wellbeing. Real estate, therefore, is no longer simply a supply-and-demand equation, but a foundational platform for shaping lifestyles, communities, and sustainable urban ecosystems.

It is precisely within this structural shift that Vinhomes Green Paradise is positioned as a forward-looking benchmark, reflecting the long-term vision of Vinhomes to develop real estate on an “ESG++ from the ground up” foundation, where sustainability is not an added feature, but the core architecture that underpins enduring economic and social value.

Geography as Destiny: A Living Natural Heritage

Many believe that Vinhomes Green Paradise is a “new wonder” of modern society, bringing together a rare convergence of forward-looking planning, contemporary living standards, and visionary development. Yet beyond its scale or sophistication, its very location is a wonder in itself. It is a place where human intelligence and capability are applied not to dominate nature, but to collaborate with it, leveraging an irreplaceable “forest-backed, sea-facing” setting that cannot be replicated, while preserving, restoring, and ultimately giving back to the natural environment.

Among more than 90 submissions from across the globe, New7Wonders selected Vinhomes Green Paradise as the first project worldwide to receive the “Official Participant” certification in the global “7 Wonders of Future Cities” campaign.

“This is a truly exceptional project,” said Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Director of New7Wonders and Chairman of the global campaign. “Vinhomes Green Paradise is a ‘precious jewel’, a place that is exceptional for living, working, and enjoying life. The project symbolizes the kind of cities that dare to dream, dare to pave new paths, and dare to break boundaries to realize a future where nature, community, and growth coexist in harmony.”

According to him, this spirit is exactly what the world is seeking in the cities of tomorrow.

After personally visiting the site in Can Gio, Jean-Paul de la Fuente identified the project’s geography as its most irreplaceable asset. Spanning 2,870 hectares, Vinhomes Green Paradise is uniquely positioned between two globally significant ecosystems. To the front lies the vast Pacific Ocean, with 121 kilometers of coastline. Behind it stretches the 75,000-hectare Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, recognized by UNESCO.

At the heart of the megacity sits an 800-hectare saltwater lagoon, the largest of its kind in the world, functioning as a natural ecological regulator, a “green heart” sustaining biodiversity, climate balance, and urban vitality.

Unlike many coastal developments around the world, nature here is not reduced to a backdrop. It is treated as a living heritage, actively preserved and regenerated through dedicated mangrove restoration funds that protect not only the project, but also the ecological shield of Ho Chi Minh City.

While many global developments aim to comply with ESG standards, Vinhomes Green Paradise goes further, introducing an ESG++ model built on five pillars: Environment, Social, Governance, Regeneration, and Adaptation.

This approach reflects a paradigm shift in urban development. Cities of the future must not merely “do less harm”. They must actively give back to nature and society.

Jean-Paul emphasized the importance of this vision: “Future sustainable cities must not ‘take’ from nature, they must ‘give back,’ helping restore and nurture the planet.”

This regenerative mindset is embedded from the earliest stages of construction. Advanced K-DPM technology transforms dredged soft mud into durable construction material, completely eliminating waste discharge into the environment, a breakthrough in large-scale coastal development.

Technology as the City’s Invisible Infrastructure

If nature is the soul of Vinhomes Green Paradise, technology is its invisible nervous system. The entire megacity is designed to operate on 100% clean energy, sourced from offshore wind turbines located 20 kilometers from shore and large-scale solar systems. Transportation within the city and connections to central Ho Chi Minh City are oriented toward zero emissions, supported by electric mobility and high-speed rail.

IoT, AI, and Big Data platforms operate continuously to monitor environmental quality, optimize energy use, and provide early warnings for climate-related risks, ensuring resilience in an era of increasing uncertainty.

One of the core criteria of the “7 Wonders of Future Cities” campaign is placing people at the heart of urban design. At Vinhomes Green Paradise, this principle is elevated further: Residents are not passive beneficiaries, but active co-creatorsof the city.

The megacity features globally scaled cultural and lifestyle landmarks, including a 122-hectare entertainment complex, the 7-hectare Blue Waves Theatre with 5,000 seats, an outdoor performance plaza for 60,000 people, two 18-hole championship golf courses designed by Tiger Woods and Robert Trent Jones, a 108-story tower among the world’s top 10 tallest, and the Cosmo Bay night-time economy hub.

Healthcare, education, and lifelong wellbeing are equally prioritized, with Vinmec healthcare partnering with Cleveland Clinic (USA), Vinschool and Brighton College (UK) in education, and Vin New Horizon redefining senior living. Together, they form an ecosystem where human potential is continuously nurtured.

Residents also play a direct role in environmental stewardship, participating in biodiversity monitoring, mangrove planting, waste sorting, and adopting electric mobility, becoming true “ecological ambassadors” of Can Gio.

The Wonders of the Future Are Being Built Today

For Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Vinhomes Green Paradise represents far more than an urban project.
“The project is positioned as a powerful symbol of Vietnam’s national aspirations and its determination to assert its place on the global stage. What was seen on site is only a small part of a much larger vision,” he said.

Reflecting on the impact of previous New7Wonders campaigns, he noted: “The previous two campaigns, ‘New7Wonders of the World’ and ‘New7Wonders of Nature’, both generated what researchers call the ‘Wonder Effect,’ significantly boosting the economies and societies of the winning destinations.”

Drawing a parallel with Ha Long Bay, he added that he truly believe Vinhomes Green Paradise can achieve something similar, but on an even larger scale, competing directly with iconic cities around the world.”

As Jean-Paul concluded: “If our previous campaigns celebrated the heritage of the past and the beauty of the present, then the ‘7 Wonders of Future Cities’ campaign celebrates the vision being created for future generations.”

“The wonders of the future are taking shape today through the choices, creativity, and determination of pioneering urban planners and developers.”

In that global narrative, Vinhomes Green Paradise stands as a powerful testament to Vietnam’s ambition: A city where geography itself is a wonder, where growth does not compromise the future, and where nature, technology, and humanity evolve together, creating a legacy not just for Vietnam, but for the world.

Hashtag: #Vinhomes

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Continue Reading

Trending