Impact of G7 Agreement on Global Minimum Tax Rate of 15% on Singapore's Status as Financial Centre

2 Ms Mariam Jaafar asked the Prime Minister what is the impact of the G7 agreement on a global minimum tax rate of 15% on Singapore's status as a financial centre in general and, in particular, on emerging fields such as fintech and green finance.

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam (for the Prime Minister): Following the recent G7 agreement to endorse a global minimum tax rate of 15%, the Inclusive Framework (IF) on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) has released a statement on a two-pillar solution to address the tax challenges arising from the digitalisation of the economy. One of the proposals is a global minimum tax rate of at least 15%. As at 1 July 2021, 130 countries and jurisdictions, including Singapore, have agreed to the statement. However, the detailed design elements and implementation plan for these new rules have yet to be finalised. Singapore will continue to be actively involved in these international discussions, and will engage the industry as the new rules take shape.

A conducive tax environment in Singapore has been supportive of the growth of our financial sector. However, it is not the decisive factor. A robust regulatory regime, high quality infrastructure and a skilled workforce, have been far more important.

When there is full international agreement on a global minimum tax rate, the expectation is that a financial institution that is subjected to the global tax rules will be taxed at the same minimum rate regardless of where its activities are located. This means that the non-tax factors that I have mentioned will play an even more significant role in ensuring our financial centre stays competitive. Let me illustrate with some examples.

First, providing a conducive regulatory environment for businesses to grow remains key, especially so for new and innovative activities. A good example is the Payment Services Act, which provides for payment service providers to innovate and grow in Singapore while being regulated in a risk-proportionate manner. We have seen strong interest of more than 400 licence applications since the start of the Act last year. Another example is the Monetary Authority of Singapore's (MAS) FinTech regulatory sandbox which enables financial institutions and FinTech players to experiment with innovative financial products or services in a live environment but within a well-defined space and duration.

Second, a good infrastructure and ecosystem that enables new activities to scale. For example, in green finance, MAS is actively involved in developing an ASEAN taxonomy which will provide a common language on activities that are considered green and transition. This will catalyse more cross-border financing and investment flows to support the region's transition to a lower carbon future. In fintech, MAS has launched an API exchange platform, in partnership with the ASEAN Bankers Association and the International Financial Corporation, that has over the last three years helped more than 500 global FinTechs to connect with over 80 regional and global financial institutions through an online marketplace to co-create innovation solutions.

Third, working closely with the industry to build up skills and capabilities has been among the more unique strengths of our financial sector. It also ensures that Singaporeans are able to benefit from the new jobs created. For example, MAS helps financial institutions build their pipeline of talent through programmes such as the Technology in Finance Immersion Programme.

Ultimately, the continued growth of Singapore's financial centre depends on how well we connect global markets, support Asia's development, and serve Singapore's economy. We also need to stay innovative and agile, in the face of key structural trends like digitalisation and sustainability that are transforming the landscape.