Singapore is a major international financial centre, hosting many of the world’s largest banks. These institutions’ Singapore branches serve as conduits for the transfer of funds between their head offices and the local market. This transfers a large volume of deposits kept in their overseas banking systems to Singapore banks and depositors.
As a result, much of Singapore’s gross external debt can be traced to its banks. The Wiki article cited in the askST reader’s question describes Singapore’s gross external debt as “total public and private debts owed to non-residents which are repayable in internationally acceptable currencies, goods, or services.”
These liabilities include deposits held by both domestic and foreign savers and loans extended by foreign banks to foreigners and Singaporeans. This is reflected in Singapore’s GDP, which is heavily dependent on the income of these foreigners.
However, the BIS data does not contain information on the origins of these loans. Consequently, estimates of Singapore’s private external debt are obtained from other sources such as the Survey of Debt Transactions (SDT).
The SDT approaches companies for data on their international loans and other forms of financing. This includes loans to foreigners and debt securities, as well as trade credits. The geographic and sectoral distribution of these debts is also collected.
Some of these debts are reflected in the Singapore economy’s GDP, while others may not. This is because a portion of these foreign loans are not repaid in a timely manner, and the money does not flow back to Singapore’s economy.
Hence, it is important for the government to monitor the flow of these funds in order to ensure that the economy can continue functioning smoothly and sustain Singapore’s growth. As a result, the Government of Singapore has introduced several regulatory measures to regulate its banking industry and to protect the country’s economy from excessive borrowings.
This is why it is critical to make sure that borrowers have the ability to fully repay their loans. This means that they should have a sufficient amount of savings to cover the cost of their monthly repayments. It is also a good idea to consider the total loan expenses, including processing fees, interest rates, and other charges.
Banks and licensed moneylenders offer a variety of foreigner loan products for foreigners to choose from. Some of these loan products are more ideal than others depending on a borrower’s needs and situation.
When choosing a foreigner loan, the most important thing is to find one that can accommodate a borrower’s specific needs and circumstances. This will help to ensure that the loan is used for its intended purpose and does not end up negatively affecting the borrower’s credit history.
Another key factor to take into account is whether the lender you are considering is officially licensed and in compliance with the law’s regulations. A licensed moneylender is a better choice, as they are more likely to provide a more professional and customer-focused service than an unlicensed lender. licenced money lender
