Oral reply to PQs on export potential of Singapore’s water recycling and management capabilities, and support for water technology firms to compete globally

Questions:

Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the Government has assessed the export potential of Singapore's water recycling and integrated water management capabilities, particularly in regions facing rising industrial and digital infrastructure demand; and (b) whether there are plans to develop a coordinated strategy to position Singapore firms as global leaders in this sector.

Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether existing financing and risk-sharing mechanisms are sufficient for Singapore-based water-technology firms to compete internationally with state-backed competitors in large-scale overseas projects; and (b) whether further enhancements are planned to strengthen Singapore's global competitiveness and support local firms in securing international desalination and recycling contracts.

Oral Answer (to be attributed to Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan)

1. Mr Speaker, may I have your permission to answer Oral Questions No. 5 and 6 in today's Order Paper together, as they both relate to the international competitiveness of Singapore's water technology firms?

2. Water supply is an existential issue for Singapore. Therefore, the Government has been promoting the water industry and investing in R&D of water technologies under RIE. Today, Singapore is globally recognised for our integrated water management and our know-how also creates opportunities for our companies to meet the needs of other countries.

3. Enterprise Singapore, PUB and the Singapore Water Association work together to support Singapore-based companies such as Keppel and Sembcorp as they build capabilities and pursue opportunities overseas. Our biennial Singapore International Water Week has become one of the world's leading conferences for public utilities and the water industry since its establishment in 2008. It comprises flagship events that gather suppliers and customers of innovative water, coastal and flood solutions. Co-organized by PUB, the event culminates in the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize. Events like this help Singapore-based companies and startups gain visibility and access to potential investors, partners and customers. Our agencies also regularly organise business missions to and facilitate engagements with stakeholders in key regional markets.

4. These efforts have been particularly helpful for smaller companies. Hydroleap, a watertech company specialising in electrochemical separation, piloted its water recycling systems with Amazon Web Services (AWS) at a data centre facility in Singapore. It has since expanded to markets like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Australia. SG Enviro, another Singapore startup focused on advanced water purification treatment using nano-bubble technology, has been working on water reclamation and wastewater treatment projects with palm oil refineries in Malaysia.

5. Watertech companies can tap the Enterprise Development Grant to upgrade, innovate and access new markets, and our Market Readiness Assistance grant to defray the costs of overseas market promotion, business development and set-up. Companies which need financing for overseas expansion can also tap the Enterprise Financing Scheme. Under EFS, Government offers risk sharing with participating Financial Institutions, such as for fixed asset loans for construction or acquisition of plants and equipment, and trade loans for buying and selling of goods. We announced enhancements to some of these schemes at this year's Budget and MTI Committee of Supply session.

6. The Government will continue to support our local watertech companies, to strengthen their global competitiveness and better position them to pursue market opportunities abroad.