The Singaporean government has announced the launch of a new Business Adaptation Grant in October 2025 to help companies address escalating operational costs and respond to growing global trade uncertainties, particularly following new U.S. tariff developments.
The initiative, introduced by the Singapore Economic Resilience Task Force (SERT), will offer eligible businesses up to S$100,000 (approximately US$78,000) over a two-year period. The grant will require co-funding by recipient companies and aims to support firms most vulnerable to recent international trade disruptions.
Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, who also chairs SERT, stated that the newly introduced U.S. tariffs would likely deepen the uncertainty in global trade and add pressure to already sluggish economic growth. In response, the grant is structured to assist two main categories of businesses: exporters or those with operations in foreign markets exposed to tariff risks, and manufacturing-based firms, both local and overseas, that require support with reconfiguration costs like logistics and inventory.
For exporters and internationally operating firms, the grant will help cover professional advisory services related to free trade agreements, trade compliance, legal matters, supply chain optimization, and market diversification.
The scheme is tailored to offer differentiated support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and larger companies, with specific guidelines to be issued in October. SMEs, representing about two-thirds of the country’s workforce, are expected to receive relatively higher levels of assistance.
To complement the business support, the government, in collaboration with NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (NTUC-e2i), will broaden access to career guidance for workers. In addition, a temporary boost in funding for basic HR certification programs will be introduced, empowering employers to manage workforce-related challenges more effectively.
Mayumi Soh, employment law specialist at Pinsent Masons, noted that the measures reflect the government’s focus on both economic resilience and workforce readiness. She encouraged businesses to monitor eligibility requirements closely and align their operational and hiring strategies accordingly.
BUSINESS GENERAL | Uganda’s Economy Grows 6.9%, Exports and FDI Drive Strong Recovery
