Market Overview
The Singapore government introduced a policy goal to become a Zero Waste Nation by 2030 where diverting food waste from disposal will need to play a significant role.
Singapore’s new Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF) will be the world’s largest energy recovery facility. The plant design is based on the most advanced waste-to-energy technology. Strategically co-locating the facility next to a new water reclamation plant (Tuas WRP), it aims to achieve the highest energy efficiency and lowest greenhouse gas footprint.
IWMF will be able to treat more than 2.5 million tons of solid waste annually, which is five times the capacity of the largest European waste-to-energy facilities. The sludge incineration plant will also be among the largest in world, with two large, fluidized bed combustion systems.
Currently, Singapore is one of the most developed countries in the world, offering multiple opportunities in smart technologies including AI-based technologies in sectors such as environment technology, financial services, biomedical, defense, aerospace, and water and wastewater.
Environmental Policies
Singapore is among the few countries in the world that have created a balance between urban development and environmental protection. There are many environmental related companies in Singapore that provide pollution control and wastewater treatment services. The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) is the primary government body that establishes policy for all aspects governing the environment. These policies are then enforced by the National Environment Agency (NEA), the Public Utilities Board (PUB) and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA).
MSE is committed to providing Singapore with a clean, sustainable environment and resilient supplies of safe food and water. MSE works with its three statutory boards, the NEA, PUB, and the SFA, to achieve its mission through innovation, vibrant partnerships, and cooperation across the private, public and people (3P) sectors.
Water Treatment
Singapore’s National Water Agency, Public Utilities Board (PUB), launched the Water Exchange, a new space dedicated to further the growth of the vibrant and dynamic water industry in the country. Singapore Water Exchange is the first specialized development designed to house water companies, spanning the entire water value-chain. PUB aims to build a collaborative ecosystem of water start-ups, technology companies, system integrators, investors, accelerators, market advisors, and associations. This collaboration will provide opportunities to mobilize mutual strengths and potential synergies to push the frontier of water innovation and business growth. 
Singapore’s Water Exchange offers virtual offices and co-working facilities with flexible lease terms to support international water companies that are exploring water business opportunities in Singapore and in the region. The Singapore Water Exchange allows technology developers to test-bed their innovations under real life conditions to improve their product’s viability and market readiness. This provides a great opportunity for companies to carry out their product’s proof of concept and provides a steppingstone for future global implementation.
Waste Management Infrastructure
Singapore’s growing population and booming economy have contributed to approximately a seven-fold increase in the amount of solid waste disposed from 1,260 tons a day in 1970 to a peak of 8,559 tons a day in 2016. Currently, Singapore’s solid waste disposal infrastructure consists of four waste-to-energy (WTE) plants: Tuas, Senoko, Tuas South and Keppel Seghers Tuas Waste-To-Energy Plant (KSTP), as well as the Semakau Landfill.
KSTP, developed under a Design, Build, Own and Operate (DBOO) model, was commissioned in 2009 to replace Singapore’s first WTE plant at Ulu Pandan, which was closed in August 2009 after 30 years of successful operation. The Senoko Incineration Plant was also divested to the private sector in September 2009 and has since been renamed Senoko Waste-To-Energy Plant (SWTE).
Incineration of solid waste reduces the volume of waste by approximately 90%. Over time, this has helped land-scarce Singapore reduce the need for future landfills, consequently creating a sustainable waste management framework.
Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA) is considering the development of an Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF) to help Singapore meet its future waste management needs and achieve long term environmental sustainability. As a state-of-the-art flagship facility, it will be developed with innovative solutions that can maximize both energy and resource recovery from solid waste. Since the IWMF and the Tuas Water Reclamation Plant (TWRP) will be co-located at the same Tuas View Basin site, various synergies will benefit both NEA and PUB.
Energy
Singapore’s energy sector has come a long way since its early days. Over the last 50 years, Singapore has moved from oil to natural gas for cleaner power generation. Managed by the Energy Market Authority (EMA), Singapore has also seen an increase in the use of solar energy, particularly on rooftops and reservoirs. With challenges brought on by climate change, Singapore needs to change the way it uses and produces energy, especially if Singapore’s energy demand continues to rise with its economic development.
Working towards a future where energy is reliable and produced and consumed efficiently, Singapore harnesses four components: Natural Gas, Solar, Regional Power Grids, and Emerging Low-Carbon Alternatives.
Natural Gas: Today, approximately 95% of Singapore’s electricity is generated using natural gas, the cleanest form of fossil fuel. Natural gas will continue to be a dominant fuel for Singapore in the near future.
Solar: Solar remains the most promising renewable energy source for Singapore. The country’s energy storage systems allow Singapore to maintain access to solar energy, even in cases of unpredictable direct solar exposure. In the long term, Singapore is working towards achieving a new solar target of at least 2 gigawatt-peak (GWp) by 2030 and an energy storage deployment target of 200 megawatts (MW) beyond 2025.
Regional Power Grids: Singapore is exploring ways to tap into regional power grids to access energy that is cost-competitive. This could be accomplished through bilateral cooperation or regional initiatives.
Emerging Low-Carbon Alternatives: EMA is looking into emerging low-carbon solutions (e.g. carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies, hydrogen) that have the potential to help reduce Singapore’s carbon footprint.
Clean Air Management
Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA) keeps Singapore clean and green by protecting Singapore’s resources from pollution, maintaining a high level of public health and providing timely meteorological information. NEA adopts an approach to ensure that environmental considerations are factored in its land-use planning, development control, and building of control stages in order to minimize pollution impacts and mitigate nuisance impacts on surrounding land uses. Industries are located in designated industrial estates with adequate buffer from residential estates.
Before industries can operate in Singapore, they are screened to ensure that they do not pose unmanageable pollution problems, and health and safety hazards. Additionally, the industries must incorporate pollution control measures to comply with NEA’s air emissions standards and regulations.
NEA’s goal is to maintain the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) for ambient air within the ‘good’ range for 85% of the year and within the ‘moderate’ range for remaining 15%. NEA also aims to lower the annual ambient level of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) to 12 µg/m3 by 2020 and maintain it at this level until 2030, as well as keep annual ambient level of sulfur dioxide under 15µg/m3 until 2030.
NEA is currently exploring more stringent air quality targets that are benchmarked to World Health Organization’s Air Quality Guidelines.
Public Health Management
High public health standards contribute to the quality of life, reflecting a safe environment for Singaporeans to work and play. Healthcare in Singapore is supervised by the Ministry of Health (MOH). It largely consists of a government-run universal healthcare system with a significant private healthcare sector. In addition, financing of healthcare costs is done through a combination of direct government subsidies, compulsory savings, national healthcare insurance, and cost sharing.
Singapore generally has an efficient and widespread system of healthcare, ranking 6th in the World Health Organization’s ranking of the world’s health systems in the year 2000. The Economist Intelligence Unit placed Singapore second out of 166 countries for healthcare outcomes, and Bloomberg Global Health Index of 163 countries ranked Singapore the fourth healthiest country in the world and first in Asia. Singapore is ranked first on the Global Food Security Index.
To achieve high standards of public health, NEA and MOH aim to increase community ownership for public health that includes involvement of the wider community. Additionally, as Singapore shifts towards greater self-regulation the private sector continues to contribute to public health. The main plan is to safeguard the well-being of Singaporeans by conducting research on ways to better control vector-borne diseases.
Market Opportunities
GeBIZ is the Singapore Government’s one-stop e-procurement portal. All the public sector’s invitations for quotations and tenders are posted on GeBIZ. Suppliers can search for government procurement opportunities, download tender documents, and submit their bids online. To search for opportunities, please visit: https://www.gebiz.gov.sg/
Competitive Landscape/Market Entry
American exporters use agents or distributors to serve both the Singaporean market and regional markets. Generally, exporters can easily find prospective partners. Singapore firms are aggressive when representing new products and typically respond enthusiastically to new opportunities. Furthermore, Singapore companies are open to joint venture proposals, and many are interested in manufacturing under license. Prospective exporters should be aware that competition is strong and of global nature. As a result, buyers expect superior after-sale service. Selling techniques vary according to the industry and products but are comparable to the techniques used in most other developed markets. After-sale service should include regular visits to buyers by U.S. exporters to foster and maintain good working relationships.
Trade Barriers, Intellectual Property, and Taxes
Singapore is an ideal location for U.S. companies to expand operations and/or enter the Asian market. The U.S.-Singapore FTA agreement, which was signed in May 2003 and began in January 2004, was the first of its kind between the U.S. and an Asian nation. The agreement effectively eliminated trade duties between the two countries.
The biggest obstacle facing U.S. companies in Singapore is the intense global competition that exists on the island. This competition is a result of the very free and liberal nature of the Singaporean economy. U.S. companies should look to capitalize on this situation by increasing their competitiveness. Quality products and superior after-sale service are essential to competing effectively in Singapore.
Not many barriers or tariffs exist in Singapore, basically making the country a free port. Moreover, the corporate tax rate stands at only 17%, which is good news for U.S. companies. However, though competition from many foreign suppliers is strong but sitting at a virtual crossroads between India and China, Singapore has proven to be a great place to do business with its strong transportation and logistics network, extensive supplier base, and talented workforce.
Finance
Business entities in Singapore are licensed and regulated by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). There are several types of business structures that can be set up in Singapore. To know more how to set up a business in Singapore, please visit: https://www.edb.gov.sg/en/setting-up-in-singapore/how-to-set-up.html
The Singapore Government is committed to creating a pro-business environment through its economic and manpower policies. Singapore’s Economic Development Board partners with companies to develop high-value and substantive economic activities in Singapore. More information is available at: https://www.edb.gov.sg/en/why-singapore/business-friendly-environment.html
Industry Contacts
MINISTRY OF SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
40 Scotts Road, #24-00
Environment Building
Singapore 228231
Website: https://www.mse.gov.sg/
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
Central Regional Office
4545 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 159466
Website: https://www.nea.gov.sg/
SINGPORE FOOD AGENCY
52 Jurong Gateway Road
JEM Office Tower,
#14-01, Singapore 608550
Website: https://www.sfa.gov.sg/
PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD
40 Scotts Road #22-01
Environment Building
Singapore 228231
Website: https://www.pub.gov.sg/
ENERGY MARKET AUTHORITY
991G Alexandra Road #01-29
Singapore 119975
Website: https://www.ema.gov.sg/
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
Ministry of Health
16 College Road
College of Medicine Building
Singapore 169854
Website: https://www.moh.gov.sg/
