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Singapore Business Federation Annual Report 2008 Singapore Business Federation Annual Report 2008SOUTH ASIAMission to India (19 – 24 April)SBF and the Federation of Indian Chambersof Commerce & Industry jointly organised abusiness mission to India to enable delegatesto learn about the largely untapped tourismmarket there and to explore partnershipswith India operators. The mission was inconjunction with the Great India TravelBazaar in Jaipur, Rajasthan, sponsored byDepartment of Tourism, Rajasthan and theIndian government.Seminar on Navigating India’s Booming Economy –Opportunities in the Goods Trading and Food & Beverage Sectors(14 August & 24 October)The Goods Trading seminar enlightened35 participants on the opportunitiesavailable in the goods trading sector inIndia. It also provided valuable insightson how companies can leverage theComprehensive Economic CooperationAgreement to improve their tradingactivities, and how the logisticsenvironment in India affects theirbusiness operations.34 Review of 2008Singapore tour operators were able tomeet with owners of boutique hotels,spas and recreational establishmentsand came away better equipped todesign customized tour packagesto India. The delegates shared thatthe mission had generated usefulbusiness contacts and facilitatedexploration of possible partnershipsand joint ventures.At the Food & Beverage seminar, 52participants were able to pick up valuabletips on the taxation and legal frameworkand the prospects of competing with thedomestic beverage companies in India.Speakers at the seminar, including fromAsia Pacific Breweries, shared key insightsabout the dynamics of the Indian marketand how they overcame the challenges ofoperating there.Seminar on Business &Investment Opportunitiesin Sri Lanka (22 August)This briefing organised by SBF enabled thevisiting government officials and businesspeople from Sri Lanka to update our localbusinessmen on the country’s political andeconomic situation. Additionally, the 52participants picked up valuable tips fromlong established Singaporean companiesoperating in Sri Lanka, such as Prima Foodsand Shing Kwan Group. Overall, participantswere pleased with the candidness ofthe speakers and encouraged by theimprovement in the political situation in SriLanka. A few companies discussed with thevisitors the feasibility of starting partnershipsand distributorships in the country.Seminar on Business &Investment Opportunitiesin Bangladesh (19 June)The objective of the seminar wasto educate companies on the broadoverview of the Bangladesh economyand the opportunities available inselected sectors, such as infrastructure,chemicals and electronics. Somecompanies expressed interest to startgreenfield operations to cater to theneeds of the growing marketplace.Other South Asia ActivitiesSome of the other South Asia activities organised during the year included:• Singapore-India PartnershipFoundation – 2nd Annual GeneralMeeting (4 April)• Business Mission to India (Gujarat& Kerala) (17– 24 June)MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA• Economic Roundtable on Nepalwith visiting MP Mr. BinodChaudhary (16 October)• Investment Conference on Gujarat(22 October)Business Mission to Qatar & UAE (29 January – 3 February)SBF’s Middle East Business Group (MEBG) led a 38-member business missionto accompany Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong on his official visit to the twocountries. It was the largest Singapore business delegation to visit the Middle East,comprising senior representatives from diverse industries.The highlight of the business mission was the inaugural Qatar-Singapore BusinessForum (QSBF) in Doha, graced by H.E. Yousef Hussein Kamal, Minister of Finance,H.E. Dr. Mohamed Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of State for Energy, with SM Goh asthe Guest of Honour. The QSBF was jointly organised by the Qatari and Singaporegovernments and business communities, with SBF and the Qatari BusinessmenAssociation (QBA) fronting it. Attended by 150 top government officials andbusiness leaders from both countries, the forum witnessed the inking of threecooperation agreements. Besides the MOU between SBF and QBA to facilitateexchanges and explore business opportunities to spur bilateral trade betweenthe countries, the QBA also signed an MOU with SPRING Singapore to facilitateexchanges of experience on the development of SMEs. The third MOU was signedbetween Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Keppel Corp, by which QIA becomesthe first partner in the Tianjin eco-city project developed by Singapore and China.The QSBF helped to profileSingapore’s businesscompetence and open doors forpossible collaborations betweenSingapore businesses with theQatari and Emirati counterparts.The mission helped delegatesto generate $17.5 million worthof business deals.• 4th International Conferenceon South Asia – Challengesof Economic Growth, Inequalityand Conflict in South Asia(24 November)Business Mission to Libya(5 – 13 May)This business mission was organised inconjunction with the official visit by SeniorMinister Goh Chok Tong to Libya.The business mission was led by Mr. TengTheng Dar, Chief Executive of SingaporeBusiness Federation and comprised 19 seniorrepresentatives from diverse industries.The highlight of the visit was the Libya-Singapore Business Networking Dinner attendedby SM Goh Chok Tong and H.E. Abd Al-HafidhZalitni, Deputy Prime Minister of Libya, at whichan MOU was signed between SBF and theLibyan Businessmen Council (LBC) to facilitateexchanges and the exploration of businessopportunities, to spur bilateral trade betweenboth countries. The mission delegates alsoattended briefings organized by the relevantLibyan ministries and government agencies, andparticipated in the business-matching session.The mission helped to expedite the processand conclusion of a three-year S$175 millionwater and waste water infrastructure contractfor mission participant, Boustead SingaporeLimited. The company had been negotiating thedeal since 2007.Review of 2008 35