Daily Briefing: Over 10,600 companies tapped loans through Enterprise Singapore; Singapore Tourism Board unveils new campaign

And applications for school placement exercise for returning Singaporeans open on 15 July.

From ChannelNewsAsia:

More than 10,600 companies have taken up loans amounting to about $9.4b under schemes overseen by Enterprise Singapore in the last four months from March to June, according to an announcement.

This is more than seven times the amount for the whole of 2019, when about $1.3b in such loans was extended.

The government bears 90% of the risk for these loans, allowing financial institutions to provide them on more favourable terms, said Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Chee Hong Tat.

About 80% of the 10,600 firms that benefited were micro and small enterprises, he noted, referring to companies which see less than $10m in annual revenue.

More than half of the companies which benefited were from three sectors, with wholesale trade making up 21% of the firms, construction 15% and manufacturing 14%.

Read more here.

From TTGAsia:

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has unveiled #TravelThrowback, a community effort aimed at rallying Instagram users to spark travel interest across Southeast Asia.

Instagram travellers across Southeast Asia are invited to share memories of travelling across destinations in Southeast Asia by using specially created TravelThrowback Instagram effects.

STB will work with various local partners in each Southeast Asian country to welcome other NTOs, tourism providers, and travel stakeholders to be a part of this effort to inspire wanderlust for Southeast Asia.

John Conceicao, executive director, Southeast Asia, at the STB, notes that tourism has been one of the key economic sectors in Southeast Asia that has been hit the hardest in the last few months. 

“When border restrictions are lifted, travellers are likely to make shorthaul trips within Southeast Asia rather than plan longhaul holidays. We hope that the #TravelThrowback initiative can showcase the beauty of our region and inspire travellers to explore the hidden spots within Southeast Asia,” he added.

Read more here. 

From ChannelNewsAsia:

Singaporean children returning from overseas who wish to enrol in a secondary school, junior college, or Millennia Institute next year can apply starting 15 July, said the Ministry of Education (MOE).

The School Placement Exercises for Returning Singaporeans (SPERS) is an annual exercise held towards the end of each year.

Singaporean parents working abroad can apply for their children to re-enter the mainstream school system once the family is relocated back to Singapore.

Returning Singaporean children will need to sit for one set of centralised SPERS tests and then indicate their school choices before MOE posts them to a suitable school.

The tests for those seeking admission into Secondary 1 to 3 will be held from 22 to 24 September, whilst tests for Pre-University 1 will be on 12 November.

Returning Singaporeans at the Primary School level may approach MOE at any time of the year for assistance for admission, and do not have to sit for placement tests.

Read more here.