DPM Heng Swee Keat at the SCCCI 61st Council Installation Ceremony

新加坡中华总商会会⻓ 
总商会董事
各位嘉宾
⼤家好！

我很⾼兴出席中华总商会第61届董事会的就职典礼。
总商会成⽴以来，今年已经是116周年。
这些年来,总商会不断与时俱进，创新求变。
在我国接下来的发展道路上，总商会将继续扮演着重要的角色，推动经济转型，并为人民造福。  

An Uncertain Environment 

Let me now continue my remarks in English. I am delighted to be here today for the installation of the 61st Council of the SCCCI. 

Today’s event takes place amidst the ongoing pandemic, which has disrupted the world at unprecedented scale over the last two years. Globally, there have been more than 6 million deaths. The world has gone through its worst recession since the Great Depression. To add to the uncertainty, the economic outlook has been further clouded by the ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine, plus the tensions between US and China.

It is still too early to tell how global economic conditions will unfold. In Singapore, we had to contend with multiple waves of infection, including the current Omicron wave. But with high vaccination rates and robust safe management measures, we managed to keep fatalities low. Our economy rebounded strongly last year, and we are forecasted to grow by 3 to 5% this year, though there is now significant uncertainty in the global economy. 

Amidst these uncertainties, how can we continue to thrive and succeed? SCCCI will continue to have an important role to play, as a bastion in uncertain waters. I look forward to your continued contributions as:

A responsive partner in times of crisis, a dynamic enabler for transformation, and a passionate advocate for our way of life. 

A responsive partner in times of crisis 

Let me first touch on how SCCCI has been a responsive partner in times of crisis. The SCCCI bore witness to many turbulent chapters in our history.  

In these moments of difficulty, SCCCI was not a bystander, but a responsive partner of the government. Early in our Independence, our founding fathers decided that we must be able to ourselves defend Singapore. But National Service was not popular, especially among the Chinese community. As the Chinese saying goes, “好铁不打钉，好汉不当兵”. Thankfully, the SCCCI understood the bigger picture. You minted 5,000 commemorative medals with the phrase “尽忠报国” to encourage the newly enlisted youths to do their patriotic duty.  This helped to get National Service going. Today, NS keeps Singapore safe and secure, and is well supported by Singaporeans.  

During the current pandemic, SCCCI again stepped up to the plate. Early in the crisis, you tapped on your global networks to source for disposable masks and other protective equipment to alleviate the severe supply crunch here. You also provided regular first-hand ground feedback to government, including many to me when I was preparing the various budgets. This feedback was very useful in helping us design policies to help our businesses tide over the crisis. 

We greatly appreciate SCCCI’s role in times of crisis, and we will continue to count on you as we navigate more turbulent times in the years ahead. 

A dynamic enabler for transformation 

Second, SCCCI has also been a dynamic enabler for transformation. COVID-19 will eventually pass, but the world has changed. The digital revolution has been accelerated by the pandemic. There is now a much stronger emphasis on environmental sustainability, as well as the resilience of supply chains. Businesses that are best able to respond to these new trends will thrive.  

I am glad that the SCCCI is doing its part to help our businesses ride these new waves. For example, SCCCI set up live streaming studio facilities last year to help members tap into the digital economy, in collaboration with the Malay and Indian Chambers. You also helped our SMEs to go digital, through the SME Centres and other efforts. I hope that businesses will continue to transform and make the most of the support measures provided. 

As importantly, you are helping our businesses grow their external wings, a point which Choon Keng just mentioned. Several months back, I co-chaired the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation with Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng. We agreed that with the pandemic accelerating existing structural shifts, our two countries should explore new areas of collaboration, such as in the digital economy and green development. I am glad that the SCCCI has made efforts to plant new seeds of cooperation. For example, you have started the “Singapore Import Pavilion” initiative in China, and, as Roland mentioned, also set up several centres in China, which has helped Singapore brands and products expand into China using e-commerce platforms. The pavilion currently showcases 200 products from 35 Singapore brands. Apart from China, you have also ventured into other parts of the region, to find new opportunities for your members. Our region has vast potential, and I am glad that the SCCCI is playing an active role in helping our businesses seize these opportunities.    

While there is much uncertainty in the global economy, Singapore can continue to thrive as long as we have a unity of purpose. Singapore may be small, but we should turn this into our advantage by being more nimble, and working together as an eco-system. The Industry Transformation Maps, or ITM, is one example of how we are doing so. It is a national effort that brings together the work of the government, union, and industry. Beyond our well-established tripartite approach, I hope that our businesses can build new capabilities, by working together better to solve common challenges. Singapore has a small domestic market, and many businesses are used to seeing each other as competitors. This sense of competition is good – we can harness this to develop distinctive strengths to differentiate your company, and to strictly observe our Competition laws. But businesses should come together to solve common challenges, and to explore overseas markets. We should not just be big fishes fighting in a small pond, but rather, go together and explore the oceans. SCCCI has been helping in this effort, by uplifting our TACs and enabling them to work better together, through the Trade Association Hub that you set up in 2017 right here. Today the Hub houses more than 40 TACs under one roof. As we refresh our ITMs I look forward to SCCCI and our TACs playing an even bigger role in enabling economic transformation. 

A passionate advocate for our way of life 

Let me now touch on the third role. The third role that SCCCI plays is to preserve our way of life as a passionate advocate. Because of your long history, you have a deep appreciation of Singapore’s history and have kept this alive by helping younger generations appreciate our past. At the 80th anniversary of the Fall of Singapore in February this year, SCCCI launched an online exhibition to commemorate this painful chapter in our history. Separately, on the first day of Lunar New Year this year, I was also happy to take part in your launch of a new virtual heritage trail of Hill Street, and I look forward to the completion of your new building, which is not far from my office.

SCCCI has also played a key role in preserving our Chinese culture and heritage while strengthening our multicultural fabric. For example, Singaporeans of all races often look forward to the events organised by the SCCCI and your partners, such as the annual River Hongbao and Mid-Autumn Festival. Since the 1960s, the SCCCI offers scholarships not just to Chinese students, but to all deserving students, regardless of race and background. You also organise regular inter-chamber networking events with your Malay and Indian Chamber counterparts. We should continue to strengthen these linkages. It is an important part of Singapore as a multicultural, multi-racial and multi-religious society.

Conclusion

Let me conclude. A responsive partner. A dynamic enabler. A passionate advocate. 

These are some of the key traits of the SCCCI. They are all a very apt descriptor of Roland and his team in the 60th council. Roland has served a total of 5 years as President of the SCCCI. I should also mention that Roland serves on the Future Economic Council which I chair. I have benefited much from his counsel and insights. Thank you, Roland. The term of the 60th Council coincided with one of the most challenging business environments brought about by the pandemic. You worked tirelessly to help your members navigate these difficult times and emerge stronger, while also strengthening our social fabric. Importantly, you continue to bring outstanding young entrepreneurs into your fold, to ensure that the SCCCI remains vibrant. I would like to put on record my thanks to Roland and your Council for your dedication and leadership over a most challenging period. Your exceptional work has put SCCCI on an even stronger footing for the future.  

Let me also congratulate Choon Keng and the new Council on your successful election. I look forward to working with all of you. The new council members come from a diverse range of industries, and I am confident that you will bring fresh ideas and new vigour to the SCCCI. Building on the previous council’s achievements, I hope the new council can make a further push in helping our companies adapt and transform. I also hope that you can continue to forge a stronger partnership with other TACs, and grow our social capital. I wish Choon Keng and the new Council success, and look forward to you leading the SCCCI to even greater heights! 

 最后，我祝愿新加坡中华总商会能够再接再厉，百尺竿头，更进一步！谢谢大家。

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