First, on behalf of SingCham, I wish all members and friends a very happy new year!
Year 2007 Review
2007 has been a fruitful year for SingCham.
Since the 5th AGM in March this year, we stepped up our activity level. I believe many members would feel this new life and drive from SingCham.
During the 9-month period from April to December this year, we conducted a total of 36 business and social events, i.e. monthly average of four events. In comparison, for the 12-month period before the 5th AGM, we held a total of 30 events, i.e. 2.5 events per month.
More importantly, we started doing higher value-adding events such as business study missions and business consulting. We also started to help Singapore companies with setting up important meetings, business referrals, and business translation. We started to engage students, sharing with them knowledge and experience about China business. These are new services that we add value to our members.
SingCham has also started participating and speaking at major regional and national economic events such as the East Asia Business Forum, Pan-Pearl River Delta Economic Forum, and Expo Central China. Participation at such events not only raises awareness and knowledge on SingCham, and build new contacts, but also helps to fly the Singapore flag high.
SingCham is now not only the most active Singapore civil organisation in China, but also one of the most active foreign chambers here.
We have made good progress.
Year 2008 Plans
But we are still far from success.
We have set ourselves a vision. We want to be a premier, first-point contact business chamber providing members with an influential network for business and social exchanges.
To offer such an influential network, first, we must expand beyond our base in Beijing. We must reach out to the Singaporean communities in other key cities.
We have launched the Fujian Chapter in August. With the strong support from the local Singapore communities, we have also started working to set up the Jiangsu and Guangdong chapters. This would not be possible without the guidance and support from our diplomatic corps and IE officers in China, in particular, our patron Ambassador Chin Siat Yoon, and our consul-generals in Xiamen, Shanghai and Guangzhou. We are also working to set up a chapter in Tianjin.
For the other areas which are not yet ready to set up chapters, we will work closely with the local Singapore clubs or business associations to provide you SingCham’s services. You will not be neglected.
For the coming year, we will launch three key projects. First is a China-Singapore Business Summit, which we aim to do in the first half of 2008, and the next is to launch a massive Singapore pavilion showcasing Singapore’s unique consumer products and services, in conjunction with the Beijing Chaoyang International Tourist Festival during the October holidays. We will also work with schools and universities in Singapore for the students’ internship or holiday attachment programmes.
With our wealth of network and business experience in China, we plan to do more on business referrals, business consulting and business translation in the coming year. Members are most welcome to approach us with your needs.
We certainly will grow, and be the pride of Singaporeans. We have done well in the past year, with all your support, and in particular, our sponsors. I would like to thank all our sponsors again, in particular, Singapore International Foundation, and our honourary chairmen, DBS, Keppel Corporation, and Poh Tiong Choon Logistics. We sincerely hope all of you would continue to support us in the coming year. The next three years is our rapid growth stage. With your generosity and strong support, we will have less to worry about as we charge forward.
Thank you!
Best wishes for the coming year! Good health, fortune, and happiness!
DOROTHY SEET
CHAIRMAN, SINGCHAM CHINA
