Daily Briefing: Go-Jek to unveil app's beta version in Singapore by December; PM Lee says US, China need to 'accomodate' each other to resolve trade dispute

And here's why the national development minister thinks that unlocking an HDB flat's value is 'complex'.

From Deal Street Asia:

Go-Jek will launch the beta version of its app in Singapore before Christmas, Go-Jek president Andre Soelistyo revealed.

The beta launch will allow Go-Jek to capture user feedback and finetune its eventual launch. Soelistyo also admitted to being ‘a little scared’ about the pent-up demand in the city-state after the exit of Uber.

Earlier, Go-Jek unveiled a strategic partnership with Singapore’s DBS Bank to collaborate on payment services in the region.

Read more here.

From Channel News Asia:

Prime minister Lee Hsien Loong believes that the United States and China need to deal with the specific issues and realise that they have to accommodate one another in order to resolve their trade conflict.

At the end of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Lee said the tensions between the world’s two largest economies need to be treated as “specified, practical trade issues”.

“Then I think it is possible for the trade negotiators, for the economic ministers on both sides, to deal with the specific issues at hand. Presume good faith and good intentions on the other party and work out practical solutions to those problems,” he said.

The prime minister added that Singapore and other economies in the region will be implicated “considerably” as well.

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From iCompare Loan:

National development minister Lawrence Wong said that unlocking a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat's value is complex as HDB flat owners will have various monetisation options available for their HDB flat value in relation to their financial planning for retirement which must be taken seriously.

In explaining how more personalised help will be available for unlocking HDB flat values, Wong said HDB flat owners have to consider many facts when planning ahead for retirement.

“… we should look at the assets we own in totality – not just the value of the existing flat, but also the income from work, and the savings in our CPF accounts and other areas. Every individual’s circumstance is different and unique. That is why HDB offers comprehensive one-on-one financial counselling sessions for seniors,” Wong explained.

The minister said that he had asked HDB to see what more it can do to provide more personalised information to seniors. Such personalised services could include information on the estimated proceeds that one can get from the different options, be it lease buyback scheme (LBS), right-sizing to a new or resale flat, or renting out a room.

Read more here.