Singapore Business Federation - AGM 2009
2009 - A Breakthrough Year for SBF Amidst Challenges.
- Business facilitation helped clinch $550 million in deals for members
- Pivotal role in APEC CEO Summit and APEC Business Advisory Council Meetings
- Economic Strategies Committee Forum + 14 national policy briefings
- SBF FundsAssist assisted members to access credit during global economic slowdown
- Appointed the National Business Continuity Management focal point for businesses
- 275 activities benefitting 48,300 member representatives
AGM witnesses inauguration of new SBF Council for 2010 - 2012 term headed by Tony Chew.
Singapore, Friday, 25 June 2010 -SBF member companies attending the Singapore Business Federation's eighth AGM heard that the Federation plans to further broaden the reach of its members by intensifying relevant programmes and services. Building on its success in 2009, SBF will leverage its working relationship with business chambers and government agencies, locally and overseas, to bring greater benefits to the Singapore business community.
In 2009, the Federation organized 275 activities which benefitted 48,300 member representatives. Amidst the global economic slowdown and H1N1 outbreak, SBF responded swiftly with programmes to help members overcome their challenges. These included initiatives to help them access credit from financial institutions, as well as regular economic and business updates to keep them posted on changes in the operating environment. The SBF also mounted 16 business missions to markets less impacted by the economic slowdown, and received over 50 overseas delegations for networking and business matching with Singapore companies. These inbound and outbound marketing activities enabled our members to secure over $550 million worth of deals. Separately, SBF was appointed the national Business Continuity Management focal point for businesses in Singapore.
Despite the challenges, there were several bright spots. As Secretariat for the meeting of APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) in Singapore, SBF successfully organized the APEC CEO Summit and hosted the concluding meeting of ABAC. These two events were an important sounding board for business leaders to provide feedback to the 21 APEC nations' leaders on measures to facilitate business, as well as the primacy of free and open trade.
2009 saw the return of Global Entrepolis@Singapore, a regional business networking platform to spur business collaboration and internationalization. As a member of the Economic Strategies Committee, SBF also initiated an important forum between key business representatives and ESC members, chaired by Minister for Finance, Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam. The SBF and its members, together with McKinsey & Company, produced a proposal for the ESC, on ways to help Singapore grow and maintain its competitive edge.
SBF will work closely with the trade associations, business chambers and government agencies to leverage on initiatives and incentives arising from the ESC recommendations, for the benefit of members. SBF will focus on schemes to help companies increase productivity and competitiveness through skills upgrading and innovation; intensify efforts to assist its members to seek growth in new and non-traditional markets, as well as in new business growth areas such as green technology and solutions.
Composition of New SBF Council (2010-2012)
At today's AGM, 20 business and corporate leaders drawn from business chambers trade associations and businesses in the Singapore economy were installed as SBF Council Members for the 2010-2012 term. (Please refer to Annex 1 for the full list of Council Members).
The SBF Council which manages the affairs of the Federation comprises nominated, elected and co-opted representatives. The three local ethnic chambers i.e. Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry have permanent representation in the Council. Up to 25 percent of the Council Members are representatives from foreign chambers of commerce and industry, while the remaining members are nominees of local chambers or elected representatives from member companies.
Election of Office Bearers for SBF Council 2010 -2012
At the first meeting of the SBF Council, held immediately after the AGM, Mr. Tony Chew was re-elected Chairman of SBF for a second two-year term, having assumed the position in 2008. The other elected appointment holders include:
Dato' Mohd Zain Abdullah Vice Chairman
Mr. Teo Siong Seng Vice Chairman
Mr. R. Narayanamohan Vice Chairman
Mr. Philip Ng Honorary Secretary
Mr. Bob Tan Honorary Treasurer
Mdm. Kay Kuok Deputy Honorary Secretary
Mr. Lawrence Leow Deputy Honorary Treasurer
On his re-appointment as Chairman, Mr. Tony Chew said "The past two years have been an exciting and fruitful period for SBF. The Federation witnessed significant growth in members' participation, attesting to the value SBF brings to members in its programmes, services and business facilitation efforts. SBF is gaining increasing recognition as Singapore's apex chamber amongst its members and business partners, as well as local and foreign chambers and government agencies".
"On behalf of the Federation, I take this opportunity to extend a vote of thanks to out-going Council Members - Mr. Chua Thian Poh (Vice Chairman), Mr. Barry Desker (Vice Chairman), Mr. Vijay Iyengar (Vice Chairman), Mr. Cheng Wai Keung (Honorary Secretary), Ms. Kristin Paulson (Deputy Honorary Treasurer), Mr. Renny Yeo (Council Member), Mr. David Conner (Council Member), Mr. Joachim Ihrcke (Council Member), Mr. Simon Cheong (Council Member) and Mr. Yasuhiko Kitagawa (Council Member) for their unstinting support and contribution to SBF and the local business community", he added.
Mr. Chew also said that "The Federation is delighted to welcome eight new members to the SBF Council, and is confident they will provide fresh insights and impetus to SBF's role as the apex business chamber". The new members are Mr. Teo Siong Seng, Mr. R Narayana Mohan, Mr. Steven Royce Okun, Mr. George Huang, Mr. Seiji Kino, Ms. Chong Siak Ching, Mr. Gautam Banerjee and Mdm. Kuok Oon Kwong. (Please refer to Annex 1 for their profile).
Annexe 1
SBF Council 2010/2012
| CANDIDATE |
DESIGNATION |
COMPANY |
1. Teo Siong Seng
|
President
|
Singapore Chinese Chamber Of
Commerce & Industry
(Pacific International Lines (Pte) Ltd - MD)
|
2. Dato' Mohd Zain Abdullah
|
Immediate Past President
|
Singapore Malay Chamber Of
Commerce & Industry
(Prestige Marine Services Pte Ltd - Executive Chairman)
|
3. Mr. R. Narayana Mohan
|
Chairman
|
Singapore Indian Chamber
Of Commerce & Industry
(Natarajan & Swaminathan -Senior Partner)
|
4. Steven Royce Okun
|
Chairman
|
American Chamber Of Commerce
In Singapore
(United Parcel Services - VP, Public Affairs, Asia Pacific Region)
|
5. Francois Guibert
|
President
|
European Chamber Of Commerce
(ST Microelectronics - Executive VP, President Greater China & South Asia Region)
|
6. Seiji Kino
|
President
|
Japanese Chamber Of Commerce &
Industry
(Tokio Marine Insurance Singapore Ltd - MD)
|
7. Jung Young Soo
|
Chairman
|
Korean Chamber of Commerce
& Industry
(CJ Group - Global Business Advising Director)
|
8. Wee Ee Cheong
|
Chairman
|
Association Of Banks
(United Overseas Bank Limited - Deputy Chairman & CEO)
|
9. Lawrence Leow
|
President
|
Association Of Small And Medium
Enterprises
(Crescendas Group - Chairman/CEO)
|
10. Mdm. Kay Kuok
|
President
|
Singapore Hotel Association
(Shangri-La Hotel Ltd - Executive Chairman)
|
11. Hill Desmond Louis
|
Immediate Past President
|
Singapore Contractors Association
Pte Ltd
(Penta-Ocean Construction Co Ltd - Deputy GM)
|
12. George Huang
|
President
|
Singapore Manufacturers' Federation
(Amoy Canning Corporation(S) Ltd - Managing Director/CEO)
|
13. Tony Chew Leong-Chee
|
Chairman
|
Asia Resource Corporation Pte Ltd
|
14. Bob Tan
|
Chairman
|
Jurong Engineering Limited
|
15. Edwin Khew
|
Director
|
IUT Singapore Pte. Ltd.
|
16. Philip Ng
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
Far East Organization Centre Pte Ltd
|
17. Tang Kin Fei
|
Group President & Chief Executive Officer
|
Sembcorp Industries Ltd
|
18. Robert Yap
|
Chairman & Chief
Executive Officer
|
YCH Group Pte Ltd
|
19. Ms. Chong Siak Ching
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
Ascendas Pte Ltd
|
20. Gautam Banerjee
|
Director
|
Pricewaterhousecoopers WMS Pte Ltd
|
|
|
