Written reply to PQ on plans to promote and support local heritage food and beverage operators in Singapore and overseas

Question

Ms See Jinli Jean: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the Ministry will consider intensifying its efforts to collaborate with local food and beverage operators to promote local and heritage food in Singapore and overseas, especially in light of celebrating SG60; (b) if not, why not; and (c) what are the Ministry’s plans to support local food and beverage operators in enhancing their appeal to local diners to strengthen the viability of the sector.

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

1. The Government is organising various initiatives as part of SG60 to celebrate our culinary heritage. For example, this year’s Chingay Parade featured a “Food Wonderland” that displayed local food-inspired floats and costumes. Singapore’s food culture will also be showcased internationally through the Singapore Pavilion at Expo 2025, where a range of local food and beverage (F&B) brands, such as Uncle Saba’s Poppadoms, Prima Taste and Tanglin Gin, will be retailed or used at the Pavilion’s café.

2. In addition to SG60, we are celebrating the 5th anniversary of inscribing Singapore’s Hawker Culture onto the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. To recognise the contributions of our hawkers to Singapore’s unique hawker culture, stallholders at hawker centres and markets managed by the Government and Government-appointed operators will receive a one-off rental support of $600 per stall under the “SG60 Rental Support for Hawker Centre and Market Stallholders” initiative. The Government has also issued $600 worth of SG60 vouchers to all Singapore citizens aged 21 and above, with $200 more for seniors. Half of these vouchers are allocated for spending at participating heartland hawkers and merchants, which we hope will encourage Singaporeans to support local F&B operators.

3. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) also promotes Singapore’s F&B offerings globally by collaborating with industry players to profile our diverse and innovative dining offerings through marketing, events and experiences. This includes an ongoing “Made in Singapore” global campaign that showcases Singapore’s vibrant culinary landscape and reinforces Singapore’s status as a culinary capital. In addition, STB organises the Singapore Food Festival, which will see its 32nd iteration this year, to celebrate our local food, culture and culinary talents.