💬 Summary of NDR 2025 Key Initiatives for SMEs

During the National Day Rally 2025, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong emphasized empowering SMEs to thrive in an AI-driven economy. While he didn’t announce brand-new SME grants, he highlighted enhancements and strategic support across existing schemes. Here's a summary of the key SME-related grant initiatives he addressed:

🧠 AI Adoption Support for SMEs

• Focus: Help SMEs harness AI to boost productivity and competitiveness

• Approach: Expand access to AI tools, training, and implementation support

• Example: Local firms like Q&M Dental using AI for diagnostics

💼 SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC) – Enhanced

• Update: Extension and expansion of eligible courses

• New Feature: Part-time courses now qualify for training allowance

• Support: Up to S$10,000 credit per enterprise for workforce upskilling

🧑‍🎓 SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme

• Target: Mid-career workers aged 40+

• Support:

• S$4,000 SkillsFuture credit top-up

• Monthly training allowance up to S$3,000 for full-time courses

• New: Partial allowance for part-time studies from 2026

🏙️ Community-Based Job Matching

• Led by: Community Development Councils (CDCs)

• Purpose: Match jobseekers with SME vacancies closer to home

• Benefit: Strengthens SME hiring and local workforce engagement

These initiatives reflect a broader strategy to ensure SMEs are not left behind in the AI transformation. PM Wong reiterated that “AI is not just for the big players”, and the government will work closely with SMEs to redesign jobs and unlock new value.