Percentage of travellers refused entry into Singapore rises
Since automated immigration lanes were introduced for all foreigners at Singapore’s Changi Airport in May this year, a higher percentage of travellers have been refused entry into the country.
All arriving travellers are screened against a watchlist of persons of interest, and those flagged by ICA to be of higher risk. They are then stopped for more stringent checks. Photo courtesy of straitstimes.com.
Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday said that with automated clearance, checks are done earlier and technology can be used more extensively.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) uses advance passenger information to conduct data analytics and a risk assessment of travellers.
All arriving travellers are screened against a watch list of persons of interest, and those flagged by ICA to be of higher risk. They are then stopped for more stringent checks.
The ICA’s automated lanes also use biometrics. With more automated processes, more ICA officers can be deployed to spot suspicious travellers at the automated immigration lanes.
Earlier on Monday, Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam said in the parliament about 2,500 visitors are refused entry at Singapore’s checkpoints for various reasons every month, according to The Straits Times.
Since May, 2024, all foreign travellers arriving in Singapore, regardless of nationality, have been able to use the automated lanes at Changi Airport for immigration clearance.
The ICA planned to install about 800 automated lanes across Singapore by 2026.
- Read More
Coca-Cola inaugurates largest-scale Vietnam factory in Tay Ninh province
Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam on Friday inaugurated a $136 million factory in Tay Ninh province, the largest-scale among its four facilities in Vietnam.
Industries - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 5:27 pm GMT+7
Vietnam halts use of German ODA loans for HCMC metro line
The Government has approved a proposal by Ho Chi Minh City to stop borrowing official development assistance (ODA) loans from Germany’s KfW development bank for Metro Line No. 2 and instead use domestic funds to avoid further delays.
Economy - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 3:25 pm GMT+7
Seventeen housing projects foreigners allowed to buy in HCMC
Ho Chi Minh City has announced a list of 17 residential projects located in areas where foreign organizations and individuals are allowed to own houses.
Real Estate - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 3:17 pm GMT+7
Auto enterprises to enjoy preferential import tariff policies
The Government has issued a decree amending and supplementing Decree No. 26/2023/ND-CP on the export and preferential import tariff schedules, as well as the lists of goods subject to absolute tax, mixed tax, and out-of-quota import duties.
Companies - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 2:13 pm GMT+7
Korean chaebol Samsung’s revenue makes up 13% of Vietnam’s GDP in 2024
Samsung’s revenue and export in Vietnam accounted for approximately 13.12% of the country’s GDP and 13.4% of its total export turnover in 2024, respectively, according to the National Statistics Office.
Companies - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 2:09 pm GMT+7
JPMorgan upgrades Vietnam stocks to overweight following US tariff deal
JPMorgan Chase has upgraded Vietnam stocks to overweight after the country became the first Southeast Asian nation to reach a preliminary tariff deal with the U.S.
Economy - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 11:38 am GMT+7
Vietnam government bond issuance surges nearly 70% in June
The Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) held 16 government bond auctions in June, raising nearly VND30.5 trillion ($1.2 billion), up 68.8% from May.
Finance - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 9:30 am GMT+7
Xuan Truong Company asked to make feasibility study for airport proposal in northern Vietnam
The Ministry of Construction has asked Ninh Binh authorities to prepare a feasibility study on the potential development of an international airport in the province, the ministry said in a report submitted to the Government regarding a proposal from private construction company Xuan Truong.
Companies - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 9:18 am GMT+7
Vietnam-US tariff agreement: A strategic turning point toward deeper integration
The tariff agreement between Vietnam and the U.S. marks not only a trade or diplomatic breakthrough but also reflects a long-term strategic vision, bold foreign policy, and Vietnam’s commitment to deep global integration, writes Nguyen Tuan Viet, an export promotion expert and CEO of Vietgo.
Opinion - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 9:00 am GMT+7
Apple supplier Luxshare enjoys 0% corporate income tax in central Vietnam province
China’s Luxshare-ICT, a key supplier to Apple, reported that its subsidiaries in Vietnam’s central province of Nghe An enjoyed a 0% corporate income tax last year.
Companies - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 8:00 am GMT+7
Intel’s 20 years in Vietnam: $1.5 bln invested, 4 bln chips produced
U.S. chip maker Intel has invested over $1.5 billion in its nearly 20 years in Vietnam and exported more than 4 billion products, contributing over $100 billion to Vietnam’s export revenue.
Industries - Thu, July 10, 2025 | 10:05 pm GMT+7
HCMC’s new master plan should prioritize breakthrough growth in finance, high technology, logistics: expert
Ho Chi Minh City should promote university-oriented urban models and innovation ecosystems built on the “quadruple helix” framework - collaboration among the government, universities, businesses, and the community.
Economy - Thu, July 10, 2025 | 9:42 pm GMT+7
UAE tech firm G42, Vietnamese partners plan $2 bln hyperscale data center in southern Vietnam hub
The United Arab Emirates's (UAE) state-backed firm G42 plans to partner with Vietnamese companies to develop a $2 billion hyperscale data center in Vietnam's southern hub Ho Chi Minh City.
Industries - Thu, July 10, 2025 | 4:22 pm GMT+7
Petrovietnam rakes in $19.5 bln in H1 revenue
State-owned Petrovietnam reported total revenue of VND510 trillion ($19.5 billion) in the first half of this year, driven by strong production performance.
Companies - Thu, July 10, 2025 | 4:03 pm GMT+7
Sustained momentum seen across all Vietnam's real estate sectors: Knight Frank
Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi saw solid office leasing and apartment market rebounds after the Lunar New Year holiday (Tet). Industrial land surged with record H1 supply and strong absorption, underscoring Vietnam's appeal, while eased visa policies and new direct international flights continue to support 5‑star hotels in both the cities, write Knight Frank analysts.
Real Estate - Thu, July 10, 2025 | 2:37 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's maritime heavyweight VIMC to expand container port services, bulk cargo transport
Vietnam Maritime Corporation (VIMC) will increase revenue and profit via expanding operations in areas such as container port services, bulk cargo transport, and shipping of agricultural products and steel, leveraging existing infrastructure and fleet advantages.
Companies - Thu, July 10, 2025 | 2:15 pm GMT+7
