SPEECH BY MR LIM HNG KIANG MINISTER FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY AT THE 86TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER OF THE OLD RAFFLESIANS’ ASSOCIATION ON SATURDAY, 22 AUGUST 2009, AT 7.30 PM ROYAL BALLROOM, REGENT HOTEL

Dr Lim Ee Koon, President, Old Rafflesians’ Association

Distinguished Guests

Fellow Rafflesians

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good evening.

Introduction

It gives me great pleasure to join you in celebrating the 86th anniversary of the Old Rafflesians' Association (ORA).I graduated from Raffles Institution a good many years ago, but despite the intervening years, I still have many vivid and fond memories of my student days. Joining you this evening allows me to acknowledge the hard work and achievements of the ORA as you continue to support and promote the development of the Rafflesian schools.

After graduation, old school ties remain valuable as these provide a network of useful contacts and help open doors to new opportunities. Alumni links are one of the social networks which make us a community. It helps us to be more rooted to our society and contributes to nation building.

Since its establishment in 1923, the ORA has been instrumental in helping students of the Rafflesian family keep in touch with one another and maintain their links with their schools. It is important for the Association to continue to attune itself to the changing needs and aspirations of its members, both young and old.

Entrepreneurship Wing

In this regard, I am pleased to learn that the ORA will be launching an Entrepreneurship Wing in an effort to foster a pro-enterprise environment for members. Having a pro-enterprise and nurturing environment for promising entrepreneurs is the first step to building a foundation for growth for Singapore in the future.

I was at the Blue Sky Festival last month and I felt heartened to see many entrepreneurs and business leaders at that annual gathering. It is crucial for entrepreneurs to network and learn from one another in order to overcome common challenges. So, the ORA can really provide such a network as you already have an established base of some 4,000 members.

Competition

Although many old Rafflesians have distinguished themselves in Singapore, both in the public service and the private sector, I think we would like to have more entrepreneurs in our fold. The only way to ensure continued success is to keep abreast of the latest business and technological developments in your field of profession or business. This is the only way to effectively meet the increasing competition in future.

Through the Entrepreneurship Wing, I hope the ORA will help members take advantage of the many programmes and incentives for entrepreneurship available today. Since many of these programmes are spearheaded by MTI, my Ministry would be most happy to provide the link and the support for such efforts.

Let me, finally, also encourage the ORA to continue with its various activities in the drive to connect with members. We have to continue to energies and strengthen the ties within the Rafflesian family of schools. I believe that members will benefit from the network provided and leverage on it to develop your business and social links. Members can also leverage on ORA activities to contribute to the development of the Rafflesian family of schools and all our students.

I congratulate the ORA on your 86th anniversary and wish all of you here an enjoyable and fruitful evening.“Auspicium Melioris Aevi”.

Thank you.