Daily Briefing: PM Lee says Singapore and EU ‘remain committed' to free trade; Resource centre for freelancers to launch in 2019

And a UK-based fintech firm eyes to link up with new instant payment schemes in Singapore and Hong Kong.

From Channel News Asia:

Singapore and the European Union (EU) remain committed to the values of free trade and cooperation amidst an era of trade tensions around the world, prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said after the signing of the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA) in Brussels.

He also hopes that other countries will maintain this commitment and continue to uphold the rules-based multilateral system, which he says has benefited all countries.

Mr Lee added that he has told British Prime Minister Theresa May that Singapore can extend the terms of the EUSFTA to the UK for a separate trade deal post-Brexit.

Britain has also indicated their interest to join the 11-member Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), said Mr Lee.

Read more here.

From Yahoo! News Singapore:

Singapore is building a resource centre which would give art professionals art access through its online and physical facilities that will have shared services and information about various issues including legal issues, financial planning, and contract terms, the National Arts Council revealed.

Scheduled to launch in the first half of 2019, the centre will also aim to facilitate collaborations with potential partners to increase work opportunities for freelance arts professionals.

The NAC will also encourage employers in the arts sector to adopt the tripartite standard on contracting self-employed persons when engaging freelance workers.
Support for digital initiatives will allow the arts community to use technology as a tool to create, distribute and market the arts effectively.

Read more here. 

From Reuters:

UK-based fintech firm TransferWise mulls to nearly double its Asia Pacific manpower and link up with new instant payments infrastructure in both Singapore and Hong Kong, TransferWise CEO and co-founder Kristo Käärmann said in an interview.

TransferWise is also part of a Monetary Authority of Singapore working group, exploring how non-banks can connect to the country’s Fast and Secure Transfers system, at present only available to banks.

The plans are part of the company’s broader expansion in the region. Käärmann said TransferWise aims to increase its headcount in Asia from roughly 80 now to 140 in the next year.

Read more here.