BT Explains: What does the Singapore Manufacturing Federation do, and why is it important?

THE Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) recently made headlines with the unexplained stepping-down of Douglas Foo, who had been president since 2014. Members told The Business Times that in the lead up to his departure, there had been concerns over a planned extraordinary general meeting that included a resolution to remove its Board of Governors.

The SMF is a major trade association, and is among the 12 constituent members of the Singapore Business Federation.

Since 1932, it has represented the interests of Singapore's manufacturing and manufacturing-related industries - one of the Republic's key economic engines.