SGC_issuu

Messages
The unmistakable combination of young, well-educated Singaporeans and advanced
German technology has culminated in consistent prosperous cooperation between
both nations in the past years, and we look upon the successful German-Singaporean
business partnership with much satisfaction.
Singapore has understood at an early stage that sustainable prosperity goes hand in
hand with a well-educated youth and the promotion of free trade and fair competition.
These assets and the excellent infrastructure have made the nation a forerunner of
smart technologies in the Asian-Pacific Region. German enterprises are aware of these
opportunities and the steadily growing trade volume between our countries reflects the
success of it.
Dr Martin Wansleben
Chief Executive Officer,
Association of German Chambers
of Commerce and Industry
(DIHK e.V.)
Accordingly, I highly welcome the progress that the implementation of dual elements
in Singapore’s vocational education system has reached. In Germany the “dual system”
is recognised as an innovative approach towards skill development and plays a key role
in Germany’s attempt to handle the very relevant challenge of skilled labor shortages.
Our AHK exported this model successfully to Singapore by supporting the cooperation
between companies and colleges.
In an environment of steadily advancing worldwide integration the Singaporean nation
has found its place among the other ASEAN members to engage on an international
level. The most prominent example is probably its recent adherence to the Trans-Pacific
Partnership. The advantageous geographic location made it a key mediator for western
countries like Germany to access other South-East-Asian markets. This is why I see
founded reasons for the aspiration of the Singaporean archipelago to become a hub for
the ASEAN Region.
Over the past years we have fostered our bilateral trade relations and incentivised new
investment with FTAs. I am confident that the mutually improved market access will
continue to bear fruits.
The Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce represents the interest
of all German enterprises, at home and abroad, in the face of political institutions,
foreign partners and the broader public. Through our international network of chambers
and cooperating with other institutions we aggregate region-specific information about
market and political conditions. This enables our German Chambers Abroad to develop
an unbiased view about market dynamics and hence to lay the grounds for a successful
market entry of German firms abroad promoting smart German technologies worldwide.
The Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (SGC) keeps doing
exemplary work in transposing our mission on the local ground. After 12 years of
supporting German business in finding local market partners and by this contributing to
the success of German technologies abroad, the SGC has become an integral part of the
German Business Society in Singapore.
Also in the name of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry, I
would like to thank the members of SGC and its team for their engagement. Our gratitude
goes especially to President Wolfgang Huppenbauer and Executive Director Dr Tim
Philippi. We sincerely look forward to an ongoing prosperous partnership with Singapore.
Dr Martin Wansleben
Chief Executive Officer,
Association of German Chambers
of Commerce and Industry (DIHK e.V.)
12