80th Anniversary Commemorative Book - Singapore Manufacturing ...

Glowing testimonialsA Straits Times editorial on 15 Sept 1971attested to how the organisation had grown instrength and prominence post-1965. The article,titled “SMA grows in strength and prestige”, hadthis to say:The role of the SMF in the republic’sindustrialisation programme is gainingimportance daily. And quite rightly so, for sinceits birth, the SMF has been the one organisationworking very hard for the advancement of itsmember manufacturers.But the promotion of the interests of its membershas never been at the expense of the nation.More often than not, the SMF has taken the leadin responding to calls for greater efforts in nationbuilding and economic progress.And because of this as well as its owndynamism, the SMF grows in strength andprestige. Member manufacturers are showingeven greater confidence in the organisationand the direction of the association.In 1970, the then-Minister of Finance Hon SuiSen proclaimed: “Although the Governmenthas its instrumentalities such as the EconomicDevelopment Board and its sister or affiliateorganisations like the Singapore Institute ofStandards and Industrial Research and theNational Productivity Centre, it is importantthat manufacturers should have their ownAssociation to voice the views and opinionand to look after the legitimate interests ofthe manufacturing industry as a whole.”Promoting Made-in-Singapore goodsThe SMF championed the “Made-in-Singapore” brand strongly to both localand foreign buyers.The most high-profile of the SMF’s efforts were the annual exhibitions whichit organised from 1970. These were warmly received by the people ofSingapore.A Product Display Centre was set up at the SMF’s headquarters, then inthe John Little Building, to showcase its members’ products. This centrewas labelled the “shop-window of Singapore” in an August 1967 StraitsTimes article. Thousands of schoolchildren also visited the centre and were“impressed with the fine quality of locally-manufactured goods”.The SMF joined various international chambers of commerce as it wasaware that many of these chambers had global contacts, which would beuseful in its export efforts.From the 1970s, trade missions to promote Singapore-made goodsoverseas also became a big part of the SMF’s activities.52 A Partner in Nation Building 1965 – 1996