SPEECH BY MS SIM ANN, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY AND MINISTRY OF CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND YOUTH, AT THE MEDIA CONFERENCE ON CHINA INTERNATIONAL IMPORT EXPO, THURSDAY, 22 FEBRUARY 2018, 10.00AM, SINGAPORE BUSINESS FEDERATION (SBF) BOARD ROOM

Madam Zhong Manying, Minister-Counsellor, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China

Mr SS Teo, Chairman, Singapore Business Federation

Friends from the Media,

1.         Good Morning. I am glad to be here at the media conference on China International Import Expo (CIIE) today. The CIIE is expected to be China’s main trade event for 2018. It will showcase how China is opening the Chinese market to the world and Singapore is proud to be a partner in the Expo.

2.         Singapore has identified internationalisation as a key growth driver of our economy. We will continue to encourage our companies to unlock new opportunities by venturing overseas. Asia, in particular, with its rising consumption and demand for infrastructure, offers significant export and investment opportunities for our companies. I believe that Singapore companies, with their strong branding and high quality products, will be able to cater to a Chinese market that is increasingly open and a consumer population that increasingly seeks differentiated products and services.

3.         I am also glad to see that Singapore Business Federation (SBF), our apex business chamber, as well as other chambers like the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI), Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) and Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (ASME) are here today. This strong interest by our trade associations will be useful in rallying Singapore companies to participate in the CIIE.

4.         Our companies are already actively tracking developments in the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) and taking part in BRI projects. Singapore looks forward to participate in the inaugural CIIE and hope that our companies will take full advantage of the opportunities in an increasingly open Chinese market, through the CIIE platform. On this note, we wish the CIIE a great success. Thank you.