Minister Shanmugam's speech at SCCCI's Lunar New Year Gathering

Sypnosis:

Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Law and Home Affairs, commended Singapore Chinese Chamber Of Commerce And Industry (SCCCI) for being a staunch partner of the Community Engagement Programme (CEP) and for its efforts in promoting social harmony and integration in Singapore.

Lunar New Year Gathering, At The Singapore Chinese Chamber Of Commerce And Industry (SCCCI) Building - Speech By Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Law and Home Affairs, 3 February 2011

Mr Teo Siong Seng, President, SCCCI Distinguished Guests,Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to join you here today. Thank you for inviting me.

I would like to wish everyone here “Gong Xi Fa Cai” and an excellent Year of the Rabbit.

Positive economic results in 2010

Last year our economy expanded by 14.7 per cent. This was made possible by a combination of decisive political leadership, strong support by stakeholders like you, the SCCCI and a resolute public.

We want to keep up the strong growth momentum. We want to create a more robust competitive edge for Singapore and Singaporeans.

The Chamber will continue to play a key role in helping the nation achieve our common goals.

A strong partnership through thick and thin

The Chamber has witnessed many ups and downs of our society over your 105 years. Throughout, you have shown unwavering dedication to serve not only the local Chinese community, but also the interest of Singapore and Singaporeans.

In an era of rapid change, you have helped Singapore and the business community stay focused on our key fundamentals.

On the domestic front, the Chamber has continued to strengthen the economic foundations of Singapore. You have promoted the development of industry and commerce in Singapore. You have been a valuable partner.

Last year, the Chamber partnered government agencies like the Ministry of Finance, IRAS and SPRING. This was to train our workforce and operationalise the recommendations of the Economic Strategies Committee (ESC).

Bridging ties for local business ventures overseas

The Chamber has also helped forged important global ties and network for local businessmen venturing abroad.

These include Malaysia, Indonesia and several emerging markets like Middle East, India, and China.

The ESC has recommended trade organisations to be empowered to drive growth and internationalisation. In response, the Chamber set up a representative office in Shanghai last October to promote closer ties between local businesses and those in China.

This would enhance Singapore’s business presence and facilitate our local SME operations in China.

The new office will also focus on promoting bilateral exchanges and cooperation in areas such as culture and education.

That will help current programmes such as immersion courses that the Singapore Chinese Chamber Institute of Business ^[1] now develop together with established institutions of higher learning in China such as Tsinghua and Jiao Tong Universities.

I urge the Chamber to render similar assistance to local businesses who express interest in expanding their businesses to other emerging markets. This can be done in collaboration with your counterparts in other trade organisations. I understand that you have also organised joint trade missions, together with organisations like SICCI to Chinese and Indian cities.

Beyond self-help

Finally, I thank the Chamber for its role in forging social cohesion. In the course of promoting social harmony and integration in Singapore, the Chamber has helped spearhead various initiatives to promote cross-cultural appreciation and inter-ethnic understanding.

A particularly commendable gesture was the Chamber’s initiative to award business scholarships to deserving Singaporean students of all races.

The Chamber is also a staunch partner of our Community Engagement Programme (or CEP) since its inception in 2006. The Community Engagement Task Force was set up in collaboration with the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Association.

The Force will help develop and initiate engagement with other communities. In 2008, the Chamber helped launch the Chinese edition of “Fighting Terrorism: The Singapore Perspective” - an English publication first compiled by Taman Baccan.

More recently, the Chamber has also set up the Immigrants Liaison Group in 2010 to help integrate new immigrants into our society.

Continuing the legacy

Today, the Chamber has a network and influence that reaches out to 35,000 enterprises in Singapore, comprising 4,000 corporate members and 137 trade association members across a broad span of trade and industry sector. The Chamber has constantly updated itself to ensure that it remains relevant to the Singapore economic landscape. You have reviewed old practices and introduced changes to the way you conduct business and reach out to the global business community.

In December last year, the Chamber introduced ten new faces to the 55-member council of SCCCI. I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate Mr Teo Siong Seng for being re-elected as the President of the Chamber and all elected council members.

Thank you. I wish you all good health and prosperity in the Year of the Rabbit.

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[1] The Singapore Chinese Chamber Institute of Business is a training subsidiary of the SCCCI.