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Overview
Singapore is an excellent market for UK exporters in the tech sector, due to its advanced infrastructure, government support for innovation, and strong demand for cutting-edge technology solutions.
The Singapore government is making significant investments in its digital landscape, allocating over $2.5 billion for ICT development in 2023 alone. This includes an ambitious 10-year plan to double the number of submarine cable landings and the goal of achieving nationwide 10Gbps domestic connectivity in the next 5 years. Such infrastructure enhancements are vital for supporting industries such as AI, cybersecurity, and 5G, areas where UK companies can find opportunities to provide expertise, products, or partnerships.
For UK tech exporters, Singapore is particularly appealing because of its open market for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Around 80% of government ICT procurement opportunities are available to SMEs, creating pathways for innovative UK firms to compete and collaborate with local businesses. Furthermore, Singapore’s push for sustainability and integration of environmental criteria in ICT tenders opens doors for UK firms specialising in green tech solutions.
Singapore’s 5G rollout is also driving demand for new digital products and services, a trend that UK exporters can tap into, especially for companies operating in subsectors such as fintech, health tech, and smart city solutions.
With a tech-savvy population, robust infrastructure investments, and a highly open market, Singapore is a prime destination for UK tech companies seeking to expand in Asia.
Ongoing initiatives
- collaborating with industry partners to train specialists in emerging deep tech fields, including 5G, AI, and cybersecurity
- updating the Industrial Digital Plan (IDP) framework to address the needs of specific sectors (retail, security, legal). IDPs target small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) specifically
- cybersecurity health plan, addressing challenges faced by SMEs in hiring dedicated cybersecurity personnel. It allows for consultants to assume the role of Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for SMEs, working closely with them to develop customized cybersecurity health plans that mitigate digital risks
The UK’s technology sector is a thriving, innovative sector which ranked fourth globally in 2022. The UK is the third country, after United States and China, to reach the landmark of having a technology sector which is valued at over $1 trillion at the end of 2022.
Trade agreements between the UK and Singapore provide many opportunities for UK tech exporters in the Singaporean market. The agreements allow the UK further access to these opportunities and continue to cement both the UK and Singapore as global leaders in technological innovation.
Trade agreements with Singapore
The UK has 3 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Singapore:
- the bilateral UK-Singapore FTA which entered into force on 11 February 2021
- the UK-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement (DEA) which entered into force on 14 June 2022
- the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trade agreement including 12 countries (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the UK and Vietnam), which entered into force between the UK and Singapore on 15 December 2024
The UK-Singapore FTA should be read in conjunction with the EU-Singapore FTA because the UK-Singapore FTA incorporates provisions of the EU-Singapore FTA. The following Parliamentary report provides information about significant differences between the two.
The UK-Singapore FTA and the UK-Singapore DEA will remain in force alongside CPTPP. At times, you will need to specify which agreement you choose to trade under (notably when applying rules of origin), but benefits from either agreement will mostly apply automatically. Our guides attempt to highlight where businesses may need to make an explicit decision.
CPTPP entry into force and ratification
As of 24 December 2024, CPTPP is in force between the UK and:
- Australia
- Brunei
- Chile
- Japan
- Malaysia
- New Zealand
- Peru
- Singapore
- Vietnam
This means that the UK can access CPTPP provisions with said countries.
The following countries have not yet ratified the terms of the UK’s accession:
Canada and Mexico.
This means that the UK cannot yet access CPTPP provisions with those countries.
This guidance will be updated following each of the remaining countries’ ratification of the terms of the UK’s accession to CPTPP and will include when CPTPP will enter in force between the UK and the relevant remaining country.
Tariff-free technology products
Digital and physical technology products are free from import tariffs under the UK-Singapore FTA. In addition to goods such as smart watches and computers, this includes apps, software and other electronic products traded between the UK and Singapore, keeping trading costs low for digital technology exporters.
Customs
Singapore’s customs authority has created one single platform for all import, export and transhipment related-regulatory requirements, which is called TradeNet. This means that you can submit one single documentation to multiple regulatory agencies when exporting goods to Singapore.
Customs paperwork that needs to be completed before goods arrive in Singapore can also now be submitted online. This will allow for faster processing of products on arrival overseas. Additional information about Singapore custom regulations can be found on the Singapore government website.
For more information on tariffs, visit our tariff guide. For further information on moving goods through customs, visit our customs guide.
Intellectual Property
Singapore has ambitious Intellectual Property regulations that support businesses through adequate, effective protection and enforcement, encouraging innovation and creativity. Singapore will protect Intellectual Property rights, applying criminal procedures and penalties as required. This includes enforcement in the digital environment.
Trade in services
UK businesses providing services in Singapore will be treated on a level playing field to Singaporean businesses (for sectors that are within scope), meaning British businesses will operate under the same rules of Singaporean competitors. UK businesses are not required to have a business presence, such as a subsidiary or branch office, in Singapore to provide services. This would allow, for example, a UK business providing training to customers in Singapore on how to use a software system to provide their service from the UK, without being excluded for being UK-based.
Singapore and the UK are encouraged to recognize one another’s professional qualifications where areas of mutual interest are identified. While decisions on recognition are for the Singaporean regulator to make, this could allow UK businesses greater access to the Singaporean market in areas such as engineering.
Procurement
Government procurement opportunities allow private UK businesses to sell goods or services to foreign governments and public bodies at the central and local level, including numerous opportunities in the technology sector.
In Singapore, UK businesses bid for government procurement opportunities on a level playing field to Singaporean businesses, with procurement processes designed to be open, transparent, and accessible. Opportunities are published online on the GeBIZ website.
Previous examples of procurement opportunities in the technology sector have included management systems, medical devices and robots. Singaporean organisations looking to procure goods and services include:
- Government Technology Agency (GovTech)
- Agency for Science, Technology and Research
- Ministry of Trade and Industry
Conditions do apply. Visit our guide on Procurement in Singapore for more information.
Easier business travel
UK businesses wanting to travel to Singapore for business have several visa options for both shorter and longer periods of stay in other countries to carry out business activities. This allows UK businesses to do activities such as negotiating contracts and specifications for software systems in person or travelling to Singapore to provide design services.
In Singapore the following categories of UK business visitors are recognised:
- business visitors
- investors
- business visitors for establishment purposes
- intra-corporate transferees
- graduate trainees
- business services sellers
Opportunities for digital trading
Electronic authentication, electronic contracts, and electronic signatures
Electronic signatures and electronic authentication increase trust in e-commerce by helping to verify that transactions, and the people behind them, are genuine. Strengthening the legal validity of electronic signatures provides greater confidence that transactions can be concluded through electronic means.
By using electronic signatures and/or electronic authentication, you can complete transactions in a matter of minutes regardless of where your counterpart is, reducing costs and simplifying processes.
CPTPP ensures that electronic signatures are considered valid and individuals and businesses can confidently use them.
However, CPTPP countries might impose specific criteria regarding electronic signatures, including some circumstances where electronic signatures are not accepted. You should check local regulations for more information.
Our agreements with Japan and Singapore also ensure that electronic contracts are legally valid and cannot be considered invalid just because they are in electronic form.
However, Japan and Singapore might impose specific criteria regarding the use of electronic contracts, including some circumstances where they cannot be used. You should check local regulations for more information.
You have the freedom to determine the best way of authenticating your transaction. However, for some transaction categories, there can be specific requirements.
Electronic contracts and trading digitally
Electronic authentication methods such as e-contracts and e-signatures between UK and Singaporean businesses have the same legal validity as material contracts. This allows UK technology businesses to have certainty when agreeing to supply goods or provide services without needing to visit Singapore to sign contracts.
The free flow of trusted data
The UK and other CPTPP countries have committed to allowing trusted data to flow freely between countries without unjustified restrictions. This is set out in Article 14.11 ‘Cross-Border Transfer of Information by Electronic Means'.
Data underpins everything from emails to electronic payments to shipments across borders. The deal will support UK businesses to provide modern services, ensuring that they can collect, process, and transfer data without facing unnecessary red tape.
These commitments provide a more certain and stable environment for businesses and do not interfere with the high level of protection afforded to personal data when it is transferred overseas. This is accompanied by a commitment that a framework must be in place for the protection of personal data in each CPTPP country, though these can be different regulations.
In the Article 14.13 ‘Location of Computing Facilities' CPTPP countries have committed to not imposing unjustified data localisation requirements (where data is required to be stored or processed in a specific territory as a condition for doing business in that territory).
The CPTPP countries have also committed to not imposing unjustified server localisation requirements (where a business is required to establish facilities in a specific territory).
This means you do not have to bear additional costs associated with storing or processing data overseas, nor do you have to set up new facilities in another country. These costs are particularly prohibitive for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Please note that there might be exceptions to the information provided where you might still be restricted on where you move your data to, or you might be required to store your data in a specific location. You will still need to comply with UK and local regulations on data protection and data handling, which might be different across all CPTPP countries. You should consult domestic regulations on data protection and any local regulations on data localisation.
Data for business purposes can flow freely between the Singapore and the UK. Provided high personal data protection standards are upheld, businesses may collect, process and transfer data between the 2 countries with minimal red tape. For example, a dashboard controlling a manufacturing system located in Singapore could be used from the UK.
Both countries have agreed against unjustified data localisation, allowing UK and Singaporean businesses to store their data in either country. This prevents difficulties in arranging for local data hosting and saves costs on buying local storage.
The UK and Singapore honour the Trade-Related Aspects of the Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) legal framework, developed by the World Trade Organization (WTO). This aims to promote innovation and creativity in many sectors including technology.
Further information can be found in our Trading Digitally guide.
Protection for your cryptography
Encryption is critical to shielding citizens and companies from a variety of threats including fraud, hacking and corporate espionage. Information and communication technology (ICT) products that use cryptography provide security to users that the information they transmit or store is processed in such a way that:
- requires user authentication
- only permits authorised users to access the information
Businesses selling ICT products will be able to enter the markets of Singapore and Japan confident that they will not be required to transfer or provide access to proprietary information related to cryptography. Nor will they have to partner or co-operate with another person or use a particular cryptographic algorithm to sell commercial ICT products in these countries. This protection applies to ICT products that are goods and services.
These agreements acknowledge that the UK, Singapore, and Japan still have the power to require a manufacturer or supplier of an ICT product to provide access, or preserve and make available, proprietary information related to cryptography, where necessary. For example, these may be required for certain regulatory investigations or judicial proceedings, including those related to competition law.
Department for Business and Trade support
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) helps businesses export, drives inward and outward investment, negotiates market access and trade agreements, and champions free trade. Helpful links, tools and services available from DBT and wider government include:
Export Support Service (ESS) team
Get support on how to do business abroad. You may also be eligible for 1-2-1 support from a local International Trade Adviser. Businesses in Wales can also access support from Business Wales.
Export Support Service – International Markets (ESS-IM)
DBT's overseas in-market export support service for SMEs with high-export potential. Our International Market Advisers provide tailored support and market introduction information to new and current UK exporters looking to enter or expand into new markets. The service may be accessed globally with International Markets teams in South Asia, China, the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, North America and Latin America.
Sign up to access free training on how to grow your international sales.
Information on finance and insurance for UK exports.
Trade and investment factsheets
The latest statistics on trade and investment between the UK and individual overseas partners.
Overseas business risk profiles
Information for UK businesses on political, economic and security risks when trading overseas.
Advice and warnings about travel abroad, including entry requirements, safety and security, health risks and legal differences.
Check or report a trade barrier
If you encounter an issue when exporting to any country – report the issue and UK government officials will be able to assess the issue and consider the options we have open to addressing it as appropriate
Search for your specific product to find applicable tariffs for each market, explore rules of origin and step-by-step help on customs procedures
Check import duties and allows you to check the status of available tariff rate quotas
Useful resources
You can find more information about export opportunities, business culture and any existing trade barriers on our Singapore market guide.
Prior to export, you must be aware of local regulations and import conditions in Singapore that apply to your goods or services. This can include tax considerations, labour laws, intellectual property rules, labelling and packaging regulations, among others.
To seek further information related to local regulations, business culture, or to find a local lawyer, translator, importer or distributor, you can use the following contacts:
- DBT’s Export Support Service International Markets team
- get in touch with DBT at the local British Embassy
- get in touch with the British Chamber of Commerce in Singapore
To see information on political, economic and security risks when trading with Singapore, please see: