Labour MP Desmond Choo to join EDB's board

THE Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) on Monday (Jan 31) announced board changes at the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), effective Feb 1.

Labour MP Desmond Choo, who is also assistant secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), has been appointed as a new board member. Choo is a Member of Parliament (MP) for Tampines GRC and is concurrently the Mayor of the North East District in Singapore.

Within the labour movement, Choo is the advisor to the Attractions, Resorts and Entertainment Union, the Singapore Union of Broadcasting Employees and the Union of Security Employees. He is also the trustee of the Singapore Shell Employees' Union. Additionally, he sits on the board of Surbana Jurong and SBS Transit, EDB said in a press statement.

Two EDB board members will also be stepping down come Jan 31 when their term ends. They are Patrick Tay Teck Guan, who is NTUC's assistant secretary-general and the MP for Pioneer SMC, and Tan Hooi Ling -- the co-founder of Grab.

Separately, 5 EDB board members have been reappointed. They are:

• Alexander Charles Hungate, chief operating officer of Grab
• Forrest Li, founder, chairman and group CEO of Sea
• Gan Seow Kee, vice-chairman of Singapore Business Federation
• Liew Wei Li, deputy director-general of education (schools) and director of schools at the Ministry of Education
• Magesvaran Suranjan, president of P&G (Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa)