Daily Briefing: Singapore to lure investments from virus-hit supply chains; NEA rolls out $24.8m HDB household package

And MOH will build two polyclinics in Bishan and Bidadari and a new hospital in the east.

From Bloomberg:

Singapore sees opportunities to win investments from companies whose supply chains have been disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak, according to Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing.

Speaking after an interview on Wednesday with Bloomberg TV, Chan said the city-state is pursuing a strategy to be “the first one off the blocks” once global economies begin to rebound from the effects of the virus. The Southeast Asian nation will also need to assess how the outbreak might impact the timing of elections due by April next year.

Singapore is aiming to appeal to companies and investors by demonstrating an ability to take comprehensive measures that contain the virus, and by helping companies on the ground through lean times, Chan said. For example, with the tourism sector in Singapore set to take a hit this year of about 30% due to the disease, the government is working to help to refurbish hotels, upgrade their operating processes and train workers.

Read more here.

From PropertyGuru:

In a bid to encourage more homeowners to invest in energy- and water-efficient appliances, the government will roll out a $24.8m climate-friendly household package for one-, two- and three-room HDB households.

The package will include a one-off $150 voucher from the National Environment Agency (NEA) to help such households buy refrigerator models that are rated three-ticks and above, said Minister for Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli.

NEA revealed that over 300,000 households living in one-, two- and three-room HDB flats will qualify for the voucher.

According to him, refrigerators are one of the top three energy-consuming household appliances.

NEA’s 2017 household energy consumption survey showed that refrigerators made up around 17% of Singapore households’ total electricity consumption.

Read more here.

From ChannelNewsAsia:

The Ministry of Health unveiled plans on 5 March to build two polyclinics in Bishan and Bidadari by 2030, as well as a new hospital in the eastern part of Singapore.

Speaking in Parliament during his ministry's Committee of Supply debate, Senior Minister of State for Health Lam Pin Min said the new polyclinics will offer similar services as existing ones, including medical treatment for acute conditions, chronic disease management, and women’s and children’s health services.

The two new polyclinics in Bishan and Bidadari will bring the total number of polyclinics in Singapore to 32 by 2030, fulfilling MOH’s previously announced target.

Singapore currently has 20 polyclinics.

MOH also unveiled plans for a new integrated general and community hospital in the eastern part of Singapore by around 2030.

Read more here.