Paige Lim

Paige Lim

CORRESPONDENT

Paige Lim is a correspondent at The Business Times. She covers small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and macroeconomics, with a focus on F&B and retail. She also contributes to the monthly Barfly column, which profiles home-grown craft cocktail bars. 

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Singapore’s key exports up 9.3% in January, fuelled by electronics shipments on strong AI demand

Non-oil domestic exports to all but two of the Republic’s top 10 markets grow

At Sofitel Singapore City Centre’s Racines Restaurant, the majority of its reunion dinner reservations were made six to eight weeks ahead of CNY, compared to four to six weeks in 2025.

Hotels, restaurants see stronger CNY dining demand, as reunion dinner bookings stream in earlier

While diners are gravitating towards premium experiences, corporates seem more budget-conscious this year

Driving the increase in total expenditure is the Ministry of Trade and Industry, whose outlay in FY2026 is expected to rise by S$4.5 billion – or 68.5 per cent – to S$11.1 billion.
SINGAPORE BUDGET 2026

Singapore expects smaller S$8.5 billion surplus in FY2026

Though estimated expenditure outstrips revenue, net investment returns contribution more than makes up for the shortfall

ST20260202-202694000680-Lim Yaohui-pixgeneric/ Generic photograph of Marina Bay Financial Centre in the Central Business District, including HSBC, DBS and Standard Chartered Singapore as seen from LAVO Italian Restaurant And Rooftop Bar at level 57 of Marina Bay Sands Tower 1 on Feb 2, 2026. Can be used for stories on money, population, property, land, commercial, office, invest, budget, income, bank, finance, financial, CBD, URA, population, economy, and development. (ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI)
SINGAPORE BUDGET 2026

Budget 2026 may give firms more targeted, strategic support to navigate global uncertainty

Observers say AI adoption will be a major focus of this year’s Budget, alongside renewed emphasis on internationalisation and sustainability

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Singapore revises 2025 GDP growth to 5% from 4.8% earlier, bolstered by a strong Q4

MTI raises 2026 forecast economic expansion to 2% to 4%, compared to 1% to 3% previously

A still from one of Pangdemonium's three scheduled productions in 2026.

Theatre company Pangdemonium to close in end-2026; current season’s shows unaffected

The decision to wind up company is a ‘purely personal’ one, say co-founders Tracie and Adrian Pang

Bar Somma has refreshed its menu with 10 new signature tipples, mostly twists on classic cocktails.
BARFLY

Laid-back coastal vibes at Bar Somma

The new menu at fine-dining restaurant Somma’s sister bar leans into stronger Italian influences

The central bank projects core inflation momentum “to come in at a pace that is slightly below trend” over 2026.

Economists expect MAS to tighten monetary policy in April or July, after keeping settings unchanged in January

Despite maintaining its policy stance on Thursday, the central bank raises full-year core and headline inflation forecasts to 1-2%

The latest move comes after the central bank similarly kept settings unchanged in October and July 2025.

Singapore leaves monetary policy settings unchanged in January but raises inflation forecasts

MAS ups full-year core and headline inflation forecasts to 1-2%, from 0.5-1.5%

Nanyang Optical's outlet in Clementi. The business last closed its Woodlands Causeway Point outlet in May 2025 after its three-year lease expired.

Nanyang Optical plans to enter into voluntary liquidation after 65 years; will close 4 of 6 stores

The eyecare chain’s remaining two stores, which are under franchise arrangements, will continue operating and are unaffected