SPEECH FOR MINISTER LIM HNG KIANG AT THE SINGAPORE CHINESE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY’S TRADE ASSOCIATION CONGRESS 2006, 24 JUNE 2006, 10AM, AT SCCCI

Mr Chua Thian Poh, President, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Ladies and Gentlemen

Introduction

It is my pleasure to join you here this morning for the SCCCI’s Trade Association Congress 2006. This year, the SCCCI is celebrating its centennial anniversary with a full year of activities, including today’s inaugural event for its 121 trade association members.I would like to congratulate the SCCCI on this important milestone.

The SCCCI has made great progress in its 100 years of establishment. It started as a small self-help group, but has since grown to become the largest business grouping in Singapore. Over the years, the SCCCI has built up its capabilities and network to better serve its members’ business development needs.

Like the SCCCI, many of the SCCCI’s trade association members have long histories, and have played important roles in Singapore’s growth. For instance, the Singapore Clock and Watch Association, and Singapore Furniture Association started way back in the 1920s, and are still active today.

The SCCCI’s theme for its centennial celebrations - “跨世纪，越四海”, is a particularly fitting one as Singapore seeks to position itself to meet the challenges of an increasing interconnected and globalised economy. To achieve this vision, our businesses need to establish and tap on partnerships to develop and grow internationally. This is true not only at the enterprise level, but also at the association and chamber levels.

Building partnerships at these different levels will allow greater pooling of resources, expanded networks, and sharing of ideas and raise our competitive advantage. In this regard, trade and business associations as well as chambers of commerce and industry have been important platforms for partnership, and will have even greater roles to play in the future. Let me elaborate.

Partnership At Enterprise Level

First, at the enterprise level, associations and chambers can provide good platforms for industry capability upgrading and strategic alliances amongst members.

Indeed, recognising this, the Government has created schemes to support associations and chambers in this area. One such programme is the Local Enterprise and Association Development Programme, or LEAD for short. The LEAD programme supports industry associations which are keen to lead industry development efforts and drive initiatives to improve the overall capabilities of players within their industries. In just one short year since the LEAD programme was launched last May, we have approved proposals from six associations, totaling $20 million. One such proposal was from the Singapore Food Manufacturers’ Association, or SFMA. Under the proposal, LEAD funding would go towards the setting up of a Small and Medium Enterprise Club to facilitate co-operation amongst SME members, as well as a Food Innovation and Resource Centre to help companies develop new food products.

Another assistance programme is the International Marketing Activities Programme, or IMAP for short. Last year, IMAP supported some 45 trade associations and chambers with $13 million, to defray part of the costs of organising trade fairs and missions. For instance, the Textile and Fashion Federation tapped on IMAP when it organised a group of 11 companies to participate in the International Garment and Textile Machinery and Accessories Exhibition in Pakistan last year.

Partnership At Trade Association Level

Second, at the trade association level, partnerships, especially among those in related trades, can reap significant synergies and benefits.

Collaboration can take various forms. For example, the Singapore Furniture Industries Council has been working closely with the Singapore Furniture Association to ensure that relevant industry courses are rolled out under the Furniture Learning Institute. This benefits the industry as a whole, by enhancing professionalism and skills development.

Some associations have gone even further, deciding that it would be more beneficial to merge operations. One such example is the Singapore Timber Association, which was formed in 2001, through the merger of the Singapore Timber Manufacturers’ Association and the Singapore Timber Exporters’ Association. The new entity was better able to cover the industry in breadth and depth, and to facilitate synergies along the supply chain.

Partnership At Chamber Level

Third, at the Chamber level, there are opportunities for the various chambers and associations to work with each other to leverage on the wide reach of each chamber, both locally and overseas. Each chamber would have its own strengths and overseas networks, and collaboration with each other can further expand this reach as well as result in increased opportunities for members.

I am happy to note that just last month, the SCCCI and the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, or SICCI, jointly led a 52-member delegation on a business mission to India to explore market opportunities as well as joint ventures with Indian business partners. The delegation met a total of 405 Indian companies, and several partnership dealings are currently being negotiated. I encourage the SCCCI to continue working with the other chambers and associations to organise more such beneficial platforms for its members.

Conclusion

There are tremendous opportunities and synergies that can be tapped through collaboration at the enterprise, association and chamber levels. Whether you are here as representatives of your various associations, or as individual businessmen or professionals, I urge you to take the occasion of the Congress to network, gather ideas and build partnerships.

With that, let me conclude by wishing all of you an enjoyable and fulfilling congress. Thank you.