Building bridges, creating opportunities
Marking its 20th year, the Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce continues to be an important link between the two sides
FROM just 700 in 2004, to about 2,300 now, the number of German companies in Singapore has grown significantly, creating around 45,000 jobs in Singapore.
Central to this growth is the Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (SGC), the bridge between Singapore and Germany for the past 20 years.
As the official foreign trade promotion agency of the German government, the SGC is the first point of contact for German-Singapore business relations.
The SGC facilitates opportunities for trade and investment between the two countries, and supports businesses and emerging industries in the two countries through trade missions and business or industry events.
Since its inception in 2004, it has grown significantly to become one of the largest country business chambers in Singapore, with around 550 members from German and Singapore companies across various industries.
“For the past 20 years, our key objective has been to strengthen the bilateral relationship between Singapore and Germany through many initiatives,” said Dr Tim Philippi, SGC’s executive director, who has led the chamber since its establishment.
High level exchange
In light of the current global economic climate – characterised by climate change, rapid technological advancements and economic uncertainty – SGC is facilitating discussions about important economic matters to strengthen ties between countries and encourage dialogue on current economic issues.
Since last year, SGC has hosted events with Singapore political leaders as keynote speakers.
Topics covered include digitalisation and innovation; sustainability; trade policies; environmental, social and governance; artificial intelligence; human resources; and other relevant issues concerning the broader geopolitical landscape and their impact on businesses in Singapore and the Asean region.
From hosting top political leaders to organising more than 200 trade delegations, the SGC provides a platform for Singaporean and German companies to connect with one another and expand on their collaborations and partnerships.
“Without the SGC as a conduit for economic relations and growth between Singapore and Germany, business relations between both countries would not be as good as they are now. Members of the chamber have often commented that the chamber offers an excellent platform to discuss relevant topics and keep the Singaporean-German business community well-connected,” said Dr Philippi.
German business delegations come with the intention of gaining market entry into Singapore and South-east Asia. Last year, the SGC welcomed the first pharmaceuticals and biotechnology delegation, a sign of the companies’ interests in Singapore, and recognition of Singapore’s strength as a biomedical hub and its manufacturing and research capabilities.
Over the years, the nature of trade delegations has evolved along the lines of growth industries. Delegations in recent years now focus on sectors such as smart living and health; energy efficiency; Industry 4.0 with robotics; optics and photonics; and training and further education. Regular incoming delegations also include those interested in energy efficiency and startups.
Annually, the SGC organises eight to 10 incoming delegations from German companies across various industries. These delegations attend briefings and visit companies of interest.
They also have the opportunity to present or pitch their solutions to an audience of corporates, multipliers and partners, before attending business matching sessions to find potential partners to collaborate with and expand their business in Singapore.
“Our delegations are designed to create a powerful exchange between Singaporean and German companies, unlocking opportunities to find business partners, expand operations, and jointly increase sales of products and services. By fostering these collaborations, we aim to build strong partnerships that enrich our bilateral ecosystem. This mission drives everything we do at the chamber,” said Dr Philippi.
As part of its anniversary celebrations, SGC launched the first German Week in May, to highlight the impact of German companies on the Singapore economy.
More than 600 visitors participated in a variety of open house events hosted by 50 participating companies.
Shirley Qi, president of SGC, said: “Each company’s open house provided an invaluable opportunity for member companies to showcase their achievements, innovations and operational excellence. We believe that such an event has not only fostered better bilateral business relations but also encouraged networking and collaboration among various companies within the industries.
“The participation and outcome of the German Week also highlighted the Chamber’s commitment to fostering strong bilateral relations and business growth between Singapore and Germany,” she added.
SGC also provides information about trade policy developments and assists companies in successfully tapping free trade agreements by publishing position papers, newsletters and publications that provide in-depth analyses of trade policies, market conditions, and economic trends.
“By presenting these position papers to government officials, regulatory bodies, stakeholders and members, the SGC effectively represents members’ interests and contributes to the broader discourse on economic and trade issues,” added Qi.
Staying ahead of the curve
Both countries place great importance on continual skills training. Germany has its dual vocational training system while Singapore has its Continuing Education and Training (CET) Masterplan.
To help workers prepare for a wide range of skilled and technical professions, SGC works with several tertiary institutions, Singapore and German companies, and government agencies to offer training to professionals in various fields. SGC – in collaboration with partners such as Bosch Rexroth Training Centre, NTUC Learning Hub, and SICK Product Centre Asia – currently offers a 10-day AHK Certificate Programme in Industry 4.0. The course has been running since 2021, and 50 participants have completed it.
SGC also supports the National Centre of Excellence to implement the National Workplace Learning Framework and assess organisations for certification.
As SGC continues on its mission to act as a bridge between Germany and Singapore amid the fast-changing global economy, Dr Philippi hopes to see an expansion in bilateral trade, with both countries leveraging each other’s strengths and working together on sustainable economic development objectives.
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