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SINGAPORE : Singles in Singapore will not remain single much longer - not if four dating agencies can do anything about it.
They are the first few in the industry to receive endorsement from the Social Development Unit.
The four agencies have also received between $22,400 and $49,600 to nudge singletons to get in the mood for love.
Violet Lim has been in the business of helping singles find romance for about three years.
And the founder of "Lunch Actually" (www.lunchactually.com) wants to broaden her business.
"We have got feedback from people who are interested in trying out a dating service (and enquiring about) the price tag. They are thinking of giving it a try and are not sure if it'll work, so they aren't willing to pay so much for it," says Violet Lim, founding director of Eteract.com Pte Ltd.
And that's why Violet has a new business plan to fill the apparent gap in the dating service market.
She will provide real names of people dating online. Their identities are also verified, singles will know who they are chatting with in cyberspace.
Three other agencies have also joined in the love fest, providing services from dating on demand to movie dates.
"If someone invites you for a movie, you'll receive an SMS alert from us," says Matthew Tan, director of GoMovieDate.com.
Singles Mingle even offers a full service - taking care of things from that first date right up to when you say "I do".
Some of the services are either free or cost as low as S$50 for a year's basic membership.
To offer new dating services, these agencies have all tapped on a million-dollar fund set up by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports.
They have been awarded a total of $141,000 just for thinking up new ways to get Singaporeans to date.
With more dating agencies cropping up, will the Social Development Unit be getting the cold shoulder from singles?
"We would still play the facilitator, promoter and accreditation role so the government can still do this as a secretariat at the back. But those front-line services like organising activities and events, we'll encourage the private sector to come in," said Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State, Community Development, Youth and Sports.
And dating agencies will also be accredited later this year to improve industry standards.
According to a survey by the ministry, 72 percent of the singles polled said they would like to see more of such diverse dating services.
Most of the 1,800 surveyed said they are willing to give dating agencies a try to find true love. - CNA /ls
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