The Singapore Business Federation (SBF) hosted the Singapore Budget Symposium 2025 on 19 March, drawing close to 1,000 participants. Attendees included c-suite executives, government officials, and representatives from trade associations and chambers. Held in collaboration with PwC as the knowledge partner and DBS as the strategic partner, the event addressed strategies for navigating economic uncertainties while focusing on transformation and workforce resilience.
Now in its second year, the symposium has become a key annual platform for the business community to understand the implications of Singapore Budget 2025. It also facilitates valuable dialogue on trends such as internationalisation, talent development, technology adoption, and workplace culture.
A main feature of the event was a plenary discussion supported by Workforce Singapore and Enterprise Singapore. Moderated by Marcus Lam, Executive Chairman of PwC Singapore, the session brought together industry leaders to discuss business challenges and policy support. The panel featured Mr Lee Chuan Teck, Chairman of Enterprise Singapore; Ms Dilys Boey, Chief Executive of Workforce Singapore; Mr Han Kwee Juan, Group Executive and Group Head of Institutional Banking at DBS; and Ms Chin Wei Jia, Group CEO of HMI Medical.
The discussion highlighted the need for companies to remain competitive by scaling and expanding into international markets despite global volatility. Panellists pointed to schemes such as the Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant and Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) as essential for supporting overseas growth and innovation efforts.
Investing in people and digital tools for long-term growth
Beyond global growth strategies, workforce transformation was a core topic. Panellists urged businesses to rethink job roles and design, and to adopt new workforce strategies that can help attract, train, and retain talent. The Enterprise Workforce Transformation Package was highlighted as a key initiative to support upskilling efforts and prepare employees for future business needs.
The role of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in driving productivity and customer engagement was another key focus. The panel discussed how AI can be harnessed to improve efficiency and give companies a competitive edge. Enterprise Singapore’s three-tiered AI adoption framework was cited as a useful resource to help companies implement AI depending on their readiness level.
Employee wellness was also addressed as a vital component of building a strong, future-ready workforce. Speakers noted the growing need for companies to offer wellness programmes that go beyond physical health to include mental and emotional well-being.
The Singapore Budget Symposium 2025 concluded with a strong call for businesses to embrace transformation, leverage technology, and build resilient, future-ready teams. With ongoing support from government agencies and strategic industry partners, the event highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in achieving long-term business sustainability.
