AHEAD of next year's Budget announcement, the Government is reassuring businesses that it will help them tide over the global downturn.

'Our key emphasis must be to help businesses remain strong and competitive,' said Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

Mr Shanmugaratnam, who was speaking at the opening of the Pioneers' Memorial Hall of the Ee Hoe Hean Club in Chinatown, said the coming Budget would focus on helping businesses with their costs and cash flow.