Clarification by Minister of State for Trade and Industry
Ministry of Trade and IndustrySpeakers
Summary
This clarification concerns a factual correction made by Minister of State Alvin Tan regarding the agencies responsible for upgrading neighborhood centers. Minister of State Alvin Tan clarified that the Housing and Development Board, rather than Enterprise Singapore, leads these upgrading efforts, including plans for Fuchun Neighbourhood Centre and completed works in Woodlands. He encouraged grassroots advisors to support heartland enterprises in utilizing various government schemes, such as merchandising improvements and placemaking grants, to increase their marketing ability. The statement highlighted existing plans under the Remaking Our Heartland’s programme to enhance infrastructure and support local businesses. Finally, Minister of State Alvin Tan emphasized using the Heartland Enterprise Centre Singapore to boost the overall competitiveness of local heartland businesses.
Transcript
The following statement was made in a reply given by the Minister of State for Trade and Industry (Mr Alvin Tan) during Question Time in response to Question No 18 on the Order Paper for the Sitting of 8 January 2025:
The Minister of State for Trade and Industry (Mr Alvin Tan): Sir, I thank Ms Hany Soh for her suggestions. Indeed, the Government will take those into account. There are already a few existing plans: Enterprise Singapore is working with the neighbourhood centres, for example, to upgrade; and there are plans to upgrade Fuchun Neighbourhood Centre, for example. In fact, five neighbourhood centres in Woodlands have been upgraded under the Housing and Development Board's Remaking Our Heartland's programme. I also encourage the grassroots advisor, and particularly, Ms Hany Soh, to work with us to encourage the heartland enterprises to make use of many of the different schemes – heartland merchandising improvement schemes, placemaking grants, and in fact, also the Heartland Enterprise Centre Singapore – to increase their marketing ability and to increase their competitiveness. [Please refer to "Impact of Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link on Singapore's Retail, Manufacturing and Commercial Rental Sectors and Job Market", Official Report, 8 January 2025, Vol 95, Issue 149, Oral Answers to Questions section.]
Written statement by Mr Alvin Tan circulated with leave of the Speaker in accordance with Standing Order No 29(5):
I wish to make the following factual correction to my reply given during Question Time at the Parliament Sitting of 8 January 2025, in response to Question No 18 for Oral Answer on the Order Paper for the Sitting. My reply should read as follows:
The Minister of State for Trade and Industry (Mr Alvin Tan): Sir, I thank Ms Hany Soh for her suggestions. Indeed, the Government will take those into account. There are already a few existing plans: the Housing and Development Board is working with the neighbourhood centres, for example, to upgrade; and there are plans to upgrade Fuchun Neighbourhood Centre, for example. In fact, five neighbourhood centres in Woodlands have been upgraded under the Housing and Development Board's Remaking Our Heartland's programme. I also encourage the grassroots advisor, and particularly, Ms Hany Soh, to work with us to encourage the heartland enterprises to make use of many of the different schemes – heartland merchandising improvement schemes, placemaking grants, and in fact, also the Heartland Enterprise Centre Singapore – to increase their marketing ability and to increase their competitiveness.