Assessment of Effect on SMEs, Singapore's Energy Policy and Most-impacted Workers from War in Iran
Ministry of Trade and IndustrySpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the assessment of the Middle East conflict’s impact on Singapore’s energy policy, small and medium enterprises, and the workforce. Ms Elysa Chen, Mr Shawn Loh, Mr Lee Hong Chuang, and Mr Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari inquired about rising shipping costs, nuclear energy diversification, and balancing immediate subsidies with long-term decarbonisation. Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong noted that these concerns were addressed in Ministerial Statements delivered on 7 April 2026. These statements were provided by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, the Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance, and the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs. They detailed the impact of the Middle East situation on Singapore and the Government's plans to cushion affected sectors and workers.
Transcript
93 Ms Elysa Chen asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry how the Government is assessing the impact of volatility in bunkering fuel prices and shipping costs arising from the Iran conflict and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz on small and medium enterprises in Singapore, particularly those in logistics, food import, retail and e-commerce delivery services.
94 Mr Shawn Loh asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether there are new lessons for the Government's energy policy from the on-going conflict in the Middle East; and (b) whether the conflict will catalyse or accelerate the Government's policy directions, including (i) diversifying power generation to include nuclear energy and (ii) vehicular electrification to reduce fuel dependency.
95 Mr Lee Hong Chuang asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in light of the current economic climate, to what extent is the Government prioritising immediate cost relief such as subsidies or rebates over long term solutions like energy efficiency and decarbonisation, especially when small and medium enterprises may lack resources to invest in greener technologies.
96 Mr Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in light of the Middle East conflict and its impact on energy prices and supply chains (a) which sectors and groups of workers are likely to be most directly impacted; and (b) what are the Government's plans to cushion the impact on these businesses and workers.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: These questions were addressed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, the Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance, and the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, in their Ministerial Statements on the Impact of the Middle East Situation on Singapore at the Parliamentary Sitting on 7 April 2026. [Please refer to "Impact of the Middle East Situation on Singapore", Official Report, 7 April 2026, Vol 96, Issue 27, Ministerial Statements section.]