Shawn Huang on Significant Investments Review Bill

In a world where some economic activities are intrinsically linked to national security, the importance of the Significant Investments Review Bill transcends financial implications - it is about preserving Singapore’s sovereignty, protecting its critical infrastructure and ensuring that the nation remains relevant and viable. MP Shawn Huang said this in Parliament on Tuesday (Jan 9). However, he raised the following questions for clarification. How will the Bill comply with Singapore’s existing trade obligations and affect future trade negotiations? How will it impact entities considering investments in infrastructure, technologies or capabilities in Singapore that may be included as significant investments in the future? How will “significant investments” be defined, what criteria will be used to designate entities as critical for national security and how will this process be safeguarded to ensure accountability? How will the legislation affect entities whose capabilities or infrastructure may be multinational and cross-border?