SPEECH BY MR LIM HNG KIANG, MINISTER FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE INTERNATIONAL DENTAL EXHIBITION AND MEETING 2008 (IDEM 2008), HELD ON FRIDAY, 4 APRIL 2008, AT 11.20 AM, IN THE SUNTEC CONVENTION CENTRE

Dr Burton Conrad, President, FDI

Dr Benjamin Charles Long, President, Singapore Dental Association

Associate Professor Patrick Tseng, Chief Dental Officer, Ministry of Health

Mr Oliver P. Kuhrt, Vice President, Koelnmesse

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen

Good morning.

It gives me great pleasure to be here today at this International Dental Exhibition & Meeting 2008. I understand that this is the 4th time IDEM is being held in Singapore; and it is already the leading dental exhibition and meeting platform for the Asia Pacific. I am also told that this meeting has shown an impressive growth of more than 100% since it was first held in the year 2000.It continues to attract new and established exhibitors from around the globe making it an important fixture in the trade fair calendars of exhibitors worldwide and of dental professionals in this region. I urge both the Dental Association and Dental Trade Community to continue to grow and expand this industry.

As Singapore continues to further our reputation as a strategic international MICE Hub of choice, it is encouraging to note an increasing trend of professional bodies

Hosting medical-related events such as IDEM and also Biomedical Asia in April, is an integral part of the Singapore Tourism Board’s efforts to attract, anchor and grow business events. This will give impetus to one of Singapore’s key economic clusters, the Medical and Biomedical Sciences sector.

Currently, BTMICE visitors constitute 28% of Singapore’s total visitor arrivals. They contribute more than $4 billion in tourism receipts. In line with our Tourism 2015 roadmap, the STB aims to increase BTMICE contribution to $10.5 billion by the year 2015.

IDEM, which will draw an estimated 4,500 international participants, augments our exciting pipeline of business events and enables us to showcase Singapore’s position in the field of dentistry in the Asia-Pacific region.

I am confident that international and regional meetings like these will also give new impetus to Singapore in building its reputation as an international business hub. It will also reaffirm our growing status towards becoming the exchange capital of the world and the gateway to the Asia Pacific.

I understand that IDEM is held in conjunction with a well-established conference, attracting world-class speakers conducting seminars on a wide variety of topics. I encourage all dental and allied professionals to keep abreast of the latest technological advances that will continue to update and shape the local practice of Dentistry. With the current emphasis on compulsory professional upgrading and education, indeed, IDEM will be a good opportunity where dental professionals have access to both fellow professionals and industry players.

Even as the dental profession moves ahead in skills, technology and commercial development, dentists should not forget their main vocation. This would of course be helping to care for patients and improving their quality of life. The Association and its members must always find ways to strike a balance between business and providing quality healthcare service.

Acquiring the technical skills and specialized knowledge during these conferences and meetings is only part of providing good service to patients. For every dentist, the choice of the right behavior and ethics, comes from within you. It is a reminder for us all of the moral and professional obligation to advise and deliver treatment in the best interest of patients.

On this note, I am happy to learn that although IDEM has been organized for dental professionals and trade businesses, the public will not be left out. The Singapore Dental Health Foundation will be conducting free dental screening and oral health advice to the general public daily throughout the duration of the conference.

I am confident that IDEM 2008 is an excellent opportunity for the interaction among dentists - to learn not only the evidence or scientific basis of clinical practice but also new innovations that can change the way one practices Dentistry.

In closing, I wish all of you a successful meeting and that IDEM 2008 be a fruitful and enriching experience. Thank you.