New CEO appointed for IE Singapore

THE current Deputy Secretary (Trade) of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), Lee Ark Boon, will be appointed chief executive of International Enterprise (IE) Singapore from Feb 1.

IE Singapore's former CEO Teo Eng Cheong stepped down on Dec 31 last year to join Surbana Jurong.

As MTI Deputy Secretary (Trade), Mr Lee helped to advance Singapore's foreign bilateral and multilateral economic relations, the MTI said in a release on Monday. He also oversaw the successful conclusion of the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA), TransPacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) and Turkey-Singapore FTA.

In addition, Mr Lee was involved in the review and upgrade of existing FTAs such as the China-Singapore FTA and in raising local companies' awareness of new and emerging markets.

Mr Lee was also Singapore's Senior Official for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) and World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Mr Lee previously served in the Ministry of Manpower, National Security Coordination Secretariat, Ministry of Transport, Public Service Division and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ow Foong Pheng, Permanent Secretary for MTI, said: "Ark Boon's experience in expanding Singapore's trade and investment relations and international negotiations will equip him well to lead IE Singapore to promote the overseas growth of Singapore-based enterprises."