Letter of the day: Lessons from other cities on curbing rising commercial rents

A structured, phased approach would be best to sustain Singapore's vibrant small business landscape while upholding its pro-business climate and learning from global experiences.

- Keith Wong

Refer to the article "Rising rents put the squeeze on small businesses: Should the Govt do more?" (May 26).

Indeed, Singapore's small businesses are grappling with rising commercial rents, with some, like Flor Patisserie, facing steep increases of up to 57 per cent.

This growing pressure reflects challenges seen in other major cities, and Singapore will need to strike a balance between market forces and sustaining its entrepreneurial ecosystem and neighbourhood identity.

Taking cues from strategies employed elsewhere may offer some viable solutions.