A century of building bridges

FOR over a hundred years, the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI) has been an advocate for promoting business and trade cooperation between Singapore and China.

Founded in 1906 by a group of Chinese business leaders who settled in Singapore, the chamber shouldered the responsibility of looking after the welfare of Chinese immigrants, donating to relief efforts in China, and helping with education.

"Whether it is during the 1911 Chinese revolution, anti-Japanese protests, or working together with China to break the monopoly of the Western shipping conferences in the 1970s, the Chamber and China have always maintained a strong connectivity," said Thomas Chua, president of the SCCCI.

It continued to act as a conduit for the two countries even after they established diplomatic relations in 1990. Among other activities, the chamber organises regular seminars and business missions to help local firms venture into China. It also helps various China provinces and cities to organise investment promotion seminars in the republic.

In addition, it provides management training for China's entrepreneurs and government officials, as well as arranges for immersion programmes in China to help local enterprises understand the business and cultural environment.

"The SCCCI's efforts in promoting Sino-Singapore business relations have been widely acknowledged by both governments," said Mr Chua. The chamber's achievements saw it honoured with the Business China Enterprise Award at the China Business Awards last night.

The body currently has a membership comprising over 4,000 corporate members and 151 trade association members, representing over 40,000 companies including large financial and business organisations, multinational corporations, government-linked companies, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

In 1991, the SCCCI established the inaugural World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention (WCEC) with the aim of bringing together the global Chinese business community.

"This is an important platform to strengthen economic cooperation among the global Chinese business community and to promote mutual understanding," said Mr Chua.

The event has been hosted by more than 10 countries and regions around the world to date.

In 2010, the SCCCI set up its first overseas representative office in Shanghai. In 2013, the chamber partnered with International Enterprise Singapore to upgrade the representative office into the Singapore Enterprise Centre.

Going forward, the body plans to organise even more targeted and focused events and activities to propel the exchange and cooperation between Singapore and China. One of its most recent initiatives was the publication of the Singapore Investment Guide 2014/2015, which contains relevant information on doing business in Singapore.

"This guide would help China enterprises in their Go Global strategy, using Singapore as their preferred business location," said Mr Chua.