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SINGAPORE: Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat will deliver Singapore’s 2021 budget statement on February 16 in Parliament.
There will be live radio and television coverage of the budget statement, and a live broadcast of the delivery will be available on the Singapore budget website, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said in a press release on Thursday (31 from December).
The full Budget Statement will be posted on the Singapore Budget website after delivery, and real-time updates of key Budget announcements can be found on the MOF Facebook page and Twitter account.
“We thank Singaporeans for providing their input, either online through the REACH Budget 2021 microsite or in person in settings such as REACH listening points,” said MOF.
Singaporeans can continue to provide feedback until January 8 of next year through the website.
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The MOF said it is also partnering with the People’s Association (PA) and its grassroots organizations on its Ask Kopi Kakis #ShareYourViews virtual initiative to seek input and input from the public.
Details of the Ask Kopi Kakis #ShareYourViews virtual engagement platforms can be found online.
“We continue to encourage Singaporeans to share their views and suggestions on issues relevant to the 2021 budget,” the MOF said.
Heng said in a Facebook post on Thursday that preparations for the 2021 budget are “well under way.”
He added that even though the COVID-19 pandemic has been contained locally and vaccination is ongoing, the big picture remains “very uncertain” and will be for some time.
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“For several years now, it is almost a ‘tradition’ to announce the date of the Annual Budget around the turn of the year. This year is no different.
“But this year has been far from traditional. Instead of an annual Budget, we had four Budgets and two Ministerial Declarations. To support our workers, businesses and households through COVID-19, we introduced several rounds of support measures.” he added.
If the economic recovery trajectory is on the right track, Heng said Singapore will have a more “traditional” budget year.
“But if the situation worsens, we are ready to respond and adapt,” he said.
