Written reply to PQ on differences in mandate and work scope between SME Pro-Enterprise office and Pro-Enterprise Panel

Question:

Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) how does the SME Pro-Enterprise Office (PEO) differ in mandate, staffing, and accountability from the existing Pro-Enterprise Panel (PEP); (b) what specific outcomes has PEO delivered since its establishment; and (c) whether the creation of a new office alongside an existing panel risks adding bureaucratic layers rather than reducing regulatory friction for businesses. 

Written Answer by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong

1.           The Pro-Enterprise Panel (PEP) is a public-private panel chaired by the Head of Civil Service, comprising both senior public officers and business leaders representing different sectors and profiles of firms. Formed in 2000, the PEP provides a platform for the Government and industry to discuss and review how rules and regulations can be improved to be more pro-enterprise. The membership of the panel is also updated regularly, so that Government agencies can leverage the private sector members’ perspectives on wider Government regulatory reviews and seek their advice. 

2.           On the other hand, the SME Pro-Enterprise Office (SME PEO) was set up in March 2025 as a central coordination unit within the Government to strengthen regulatory responsiveness for SMEs and to complement the strategic work of the Pro-Enterprise Panel (PEP). It helps SMEs resolve specific regulatory issues, particularly those that cut across multiple public agencies or arise from new and emerging sectors. The SME PEO manages case feedback, implements service standards and monitors resolution outcomes of regulatory feedback and reviews across agencies. 

3.           Since its launch, the SME PEO has engaged over 170 business leaders across 15 sectors to gather and act on feedback on regulatory pain points. It has reviewed more than 300 pieces of feedback and successfully addressed over 65% of the issues raised. For example, following the SME PEO’s facilitation, URA and SLA streamlined their processes and halved the time required for developers to obtain approvals for private residential show-flat sites. 

4.           The establishment of the SME PEO as an office under Enterprise Singapore provides dedicated resources and efforts to engage the industries more extensively and better assist SMEs in resolving regulatory feedback. In addition, it works closely with the respective agencies and follows through with them on the reviews of their regulatory policies and processes to reduce compliance burden. This complements the work of the PEP, in advancing the regulatory agenda of the Government in a concerted manner.