http://business.asiaone.com/Business/News/Story/A1Story20100310-203690.html
Govt lets GIC and Temasek make own decisions
By Esther Au Yong
THE Government judges the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) and Temasek Holdings on their overall portfolio performance, and does not discuss the individual deals of these sovereign wealth funds, Mrs Lim Hwee Hua said yesterday.
The Second Minister for Finance was replying to MP Inderjit Singh's (Ang Mo Kio GRC) suggestion of more conservative mandates for GIC and Temasek as their investment outcomes affect Singapore's reserves directly.
MP Ho Geok Choo (West Coast GRC) also asked for an update on GIC's investments, during the Committee of Supply debate on the Budget estimates for the Ministry of Finance.
Explaining that the Government leaves the funds to make their own decisions on asset allocation, Mrs Lim said that 'moving to a more conservative mandate as a knee-jerk reaction to the recent downturn would not be prudent, as this could risk compromising the ability of GIC and Temasek to deliver long-term sustainable returns'.
It was announced earlier this month that GIC's 11 billion Swiss francs (S$14.3 billion) investment in UBS bonds was showing a paper loss of over five billion francs after the bonds were converted into ordinary shares when they matured.
Mr Inderjit also suggested the formation of 'Temasek II' to invest actively in Singapore- based companies. Mrs Lim replied that 'such an approach may not be the best way to nurture local companies'.
She said: 'Rather, the Government should identify and bridge market gaps, where they exist, so as to support a thriving ecosystem of locally-based enterprises, and leave the private sector to take the lead in identifying worthy investment opportunities.
'It would be neither sustainable nor appropriate for the Government to step in to finance local enterprises that cannot locate private funding.'
But the Government is looking to help home-grown firms internationalise through the 'development of a market-based institution for cross-border financing'. Such an export-import type of bank is needed, said Nominated MP Teo Siong Seng.
He said: 'To expand overseas or take part in overseas projects, SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) need the necessary financial resources.'
A study on this is expected to be completed in a few months, Mrs Lim said.
Govt lets GIC and Temasek make own decisions
By Esther Au Yong
THE Government judges the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) and Temasek Holdings on their overall portfolio performance, and does not discuss the individual deals of these sovereign wealth funds, Mrs Lim Hwee Hua said yesterday.
The Second Minister for Finance was replying to MP Inderjit Singh's (Ang Mo Kio GRC) suggestion of more conservative mandates for GIC and Temasek as their investment outcomes affect Singapore's reserves directly.
MP Ho Geok Choo (West Coast GRC) also asked for an update on GIC's investments, during the Committee of Supply debate on the Budget estimates for the Ministry of Finance.
Explaining that the Government leaves the funds to make their own decisions on asset allocation, Mrs Lim said that 'moving to a more conservative mandate as a knee-jerk reaction to the recent downturn would not be prudent, as this could risk compromising the ability of GIC and Temasek to deliver long-term sustainable returns'.
It was announced earlier this month that GIC's 11 billion Swiss francs (S$14.3 billion) investment in UBS bonds was showing a paper loss of over five billion francs after the bonds were converted into ordinary shares when they matured.
Mr Inderjit also suggested the formation of 'Temasek II' to invest actively in Singapore- based companies. Mrs Lim replied that 'such an approach may not be the best way to nurture local companies'.
She said: 'Rather, the Government should identify and bridge market gaps, where they exist, so as to support a thriving ecosystem of locally-based enterprises, and leave the private sector to take the lead in identifying worthy investment opportunities.
'It would be neither sustainable nor appropriate for the Government to step in to finance local enterprises that cannot locate private funding.'
But the Government is looking to help home-grown firms internationalise through the 'development of a market-based institution for cross-border financing'. Such an export-import type of bank is needed, said Nominated MP Teo Siong Seng.
He said: 'To expand overseas or take part in overseas projects, SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) need the necessary financial resources.'
A study on this is expected to be completed in a few months, Mrs Lim said.