Speech by SMS Sim Ann at the SCCCI 5th Trade Association Congress

​SPEECH BY MS SIM ANN, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY AT THE SCCCI 5TH TRADE ASSOCIATION CONGRESS, 22 NOVEMBER 2017, 9.50AM AT THE TRADE ASSOCIATION HUB

Mr Roland Ng, President, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI),

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning.

Introduction

1. I am delighted to be here today to join you for the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s 5th Trade Association Congress. Trade Associations and Chambers’ continued importance to industries

2. Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs) are champions of their industries. Through a deep understanding of global economic trends, their industry and their members, TACs can distil the key issues facing the industry and develop appropriate solutions to help their members adapt to changes in the business environment, stay ahead of the curve, and make inroads into overseas markets. Their position as industry champions allows them to lead industry consolidation, capability development and training.

3. This year’s theme, “Dynamic Trade Associations, Future-Ready Industries”, aptly captures the roles and benefits which TACs can offer their members. The theme mirrors our vision and ambition for Singapore to remain resilient and future-ready, as articulated in the Committee on the Future Economy report. To do so, Singapore must remain open and well-connected to the world, and build deep skills and capabilities in our people and enterprises. As part of this effort, Government is developing the Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs) in collaboration with industry associations, business chambers, companies, as well as unions. These ITMs cover 23 sectors, which cover approximately 80% of our economy. 14 of the ITMs have been launched, and the rest will be launched by next year. 

4. The call for transformation is not limited to industries with ITMs. Our goal for a future-ready Singapore involves driving productivity, innovation and competitiveness across all sectors. To this end, our TACs are key multipliers, driving industry initiatives to transform their members. 

5. The Government stands ready to support TAC-led projects to enable transformation of their industries. Through the Local Enterprise and Association (LEAD) programme, SPRING and IE have supported close to 50 TACs in driving more than 200 industry initiatives since 2005. I am encouraged that more TACs are taking up the baton. For example, the Singapore Medical Association (SMA) was awarded its first LEAD grant in 2017 to establish an eMarket portal, in collaboration with the Association of Medical Device Industry (Singapore) (AMDI). The portal, just launched in October 2017, provides private medical clinics and healthcare institutions a common procurement platform for basic medical supplies, equipment and services, purchased at collectively-negotiated prices. The platform will help 300 healthcare SMEs gain easier access to products and services, and i ncrease their productivity through time and cost savings. Transformation of TACs to remain current

6. Our TACs have been on the move, and momentum has been picking up. At Budget 2016, LEAD+ was introduced, which supports TACs in internal upgrading initiatives that will enhance their capability to lead industry development efforts. I am glad that we now have nine TACs that have embarked on initiatives to transform themselves to better support their members.

7. The latest of these TACs is the Singapore Retailers Association (SRA), which has embarked on a project to improve its member engagement through technologies such as a member-management system and mobile app, and enhancing its membership services, such as business matching. SRA will also develop intelligence capabilities and build partnerships with solution providers in order to encourage adoption of retail technologies and drive industry transformation. Additionally, SRA intends to strengthen its secretariat by conducting a HR diagnosis to identify gaps in staff capabilities and developing a secretariat training roadmap. Through this LEAD+ project, SRA intends to improve member satisfaction, increase its membership by 50% and drive adoption of tech solutions across 200 retailers.Launch of the TAC Transformation Map and TAC Management Handbook

8. Earlier this year, SCCCI formed the Trade Association Committee (TACOM) to complement the Government’s efforts to uplift our TAC landscape. The TACOM serves as the software to complement the Trade Association Hub, which will be officially opened later today. Led by SCCCI, with members from 12 other TACs, TACOM aims to be the lead platform to drive the development of associations and chambers. Right at the outset, TACOM had made it its mission to drive the development of TACs, with a view of leading the transformation and growth oflocal industries and enterprises. I am honoured to serve as their Advisor. As the culmination of their efforts over the past year, TACOM is launching the TAC Transformation Map today.

9. The TAC Transformation Map identifies key challenges facing TACs today, and sets out thrusts through which these challenges can be addressed. Its vision is for effective, professional and sustainable TACs to enable the transformation of Singapore enterprises. This will be supported via four pillars. a. First, Building Strong Secretariat Capabilities. By upskilling existing secretariats, building a talent pipeline and developing career pathways, this pillar will address talent development, attraction, and retention of TAC secretariat staff. b. Second, Strengthening TAC Leadership. This year, SCCCI held the second run of its Trade Association Management Course for TAC leaders, supported by Workforce Singapore and the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce Foundation. 16 council members from 12 TACs have successfully completed the course. Under the TAC Transformation Map, SCCCI aims to run more of such courses on a regular basis. SCCCI is also releasing its TAC Management Handbook at this Congress. The handbook is a practical compilation of the best practices in TAC governance and operations. It also outlines the value-add services that TACs can provide their members, such as business conferences, member directories, and overseas business missions. As a simple and focussed reference, even the busiest TAC leaders and secretariats would be able to turn to it for advice. You should have already received a copy, and the e-version will be available for download for free on SCCCI’s website. c. Third, Enhancing Productivity of TAC Operations. To optimise the resources of TACs, strategies under this pillar will leverage technology and create shared platforms for resource sharing. I am happy to see that TACOM has plans to roll out a TAC Digitalisation Plan next year, to enable our TACs to apply digitalisation to improve TAC operations and efficiency. For example, it encourages TACs to use technology to simplify tracking of membership, updating members’ information, and event pre-registration and payment. Just as TACs lead our industries to improve productivity and reduce reliance on manpower, they can themselves reap the efficiencies of digitalisation.d. Fourth, Forging partnership and collaboration. Under this pillar, TACs are encouraged to find synergies across sectors to create cross-industry collaboration. I am glad to note that SCCCI has also taken up the challenge of developing ITMs for identified sectors, and facilitate discussion between Government agencies and TACs. The first of these is the Motor Workshop Industry Transformation Roadmap, developed by the Singapore Motor Workshop Association (SMWA) in conjunction with SCCCI to uplift the standards and image of motor workshops in Singapore. It demonstrates how multiple agencies can support a TAC’s efforts to transform its industry. 

10. As of the launch today, 30 TACs have already committed their support for the TAC Transformation Map. This Transformation Map is a means through which smaller TACs can tap on the experience and expertise of larger ones, and transform themselves to better serve their members and their industries.Conclusion

11. Trade associations and chambers will become even more important partners when Enterprise Singapore is formed through the merger of IE and SPRING next year. The new agency will build on the combined strengths and networks of both agencies. But we would be able to serve all enterprises well only if we work with strong, well-organised and innovative TACs in every sector. With such partnerships, we aim to deliver seamless and integrated support to TACs and their members in their growth and internationalisation journeys.

12. I would like to congratulate and thank SCCCI and TACOM for quickening the tempo of the TAC movement, by launching their TAC Transformation Map. I hope that our larger TACs will be inspired to continue contributing back to the TAC community, and to seed the ground for collaboration and synergies. Together, this will strengthen our industries and make Singapore more resilient and future-ready. 

13. I hope you will have fruitful conversations, build enduring networks and seed future collaborations at the TA Congress today. I wish you an enriching and rewarding event. Thank you.

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