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Singapore’s investability problem is not what you think

Lee Ooi Keong
Lee Ooi Keong  • 15 min read
Singapore’s investability problem is not what you think
The window created by liquidity, grants and training is finite. The market has already made clear that “profitable but uninvestable” is not good enough / Photo:
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Singapore’s equity market staged a convincing rally last year. The Straits Times Index (STI) rose 22.7%, turnover surged 21% to nearly $1.5 billion daily, and IPO proceeds reached US$2.5 billion ($3.15 billion), a forty-fold jump from 2024’s dismal US$64 million. These numbers seemed to vindicate the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) reform package, expanded to $6.5 billion in Budget 2026.

Singapore’s equity market has rarely seen this much policy and programme activity in such a short time. Over the past 18 months, MAS and the Singapore Exchange (SGX) have rolled out a $6.5 billion Equity Market Development Programme (EQDP), expanded research coverage and, most recently, launched the $30 million Value Unlock programme to strengthen investor engagement and shareholder value capabilities.

As at mid-March, approximately 120 Singapore-listed companies had engaged with Value Unlock since applications opened on Jan 16. The Equip Grant co-funds training in investor relations, media communications, corporate strategy and financial management. The more substantive Elevate Grant provides up to $200,000 in advisory support, also at 50% co-funding, for companies that meet minimum market capitalisation thresholds ($100 million for Mainboard and $80 million for Catalist companies) and are prepared to publish improvement plans and progress disclosures.

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