Written reply to PQ on Support for Trade Associations to Attract Retain and Develop Secretariat Talent

Question

Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry what support programmes are available to help Trade Associations attract, retain and develop the secretariat talent needed to drive sector collaborations and implement key enabling policies.

Written Answer by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong

1. The Government is committed to helping our Trade Associations & Chambers (TACs) strengthen their secretariat teams so as to increase the TACs’ capacity and capabilities to serve their members.

2. The Trade Association Committee (TACOM) Transformation Centre, which is supported by Enterprise Singapore and run by the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI), provides shared secretariat services to assist the TACs’ operational needs in areas like internationalisation, digitalisation, sustainability, and advocacy. This support enables them to drive industry transformation projects more effectively.

3. Enterprise Singapore also collaborates with the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) on programmes to develop the human capital of TACs. For example, the TAC Fellowship Programme (TFP) for Leadership Development is an executive leadership training initiative that seeks to build a strong pipeline of next-generation TAC leaders. The programme has benefited 60 TAC professionals in the past three years. Another example is the TAC Knowledge Series, which comprises workshops to equip TAC professionals with the knowledge and skills to be more effective. Since 2024, over 210 secretariat members from more than 50 TACs have attended these workshops.

4. The Government also second officers to TACs to augment the bench strength of the TAC secretariat staff and enhance the TACs’ efforts in implementing key Government policies.