M E D I A R EL EA S E

Leadership Changes to -China Bilateral Business Councils with New Cabinet

MR No.: 002/16 Singapore, Wednesday, 27 January 2016

1. International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, the Singapore Secretariat to seven Singapore- China Bilateral Business Councils, today announced several leadership changes to the Councils that demonstrate Singapore’s continued engagement with the Chinese market.

2. China remains one of the key priority markets that Singapore companies are keen to expand in. The Business Councils are led by Ministerial-level leaders from both sides. They are strategic platforms that aim to promote cooperation between Singapore and the respective provinces beyond economic areas, such as cultural and education exchanges, as well as training and tourism.

3. The leadership changes to the following five Business Councils are as follows: a. Singapore-Guangdong Collaboration Council (SGCC): Mr , Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) & of State, Ministry of Defence, succeeds former Minister as Co-Chairman; b. Singapore-Jiangsu Cooperation Council (SJCC): Dr , Minister of State, Ministry of National Development & Ministry of Trade and Industry, succeeds Minister of State as Vice Co-Chairman; c. Singapore-Sichuan Trade and Investment Committee (SSTIC): Mr , Acting Minister for Education (Schools) & Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Transport, succeeds Minister as Co-Chairman; d. Singapore-Tianjin Economic and Trade Council (STETC): i. Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for National Development, succeeds Minister as Co-Chairman;

International Enterprise Singapore is the government agency driving Singapore’s external economy. IE Singapore Media Release 27 January 2016

ii. Mr Desmond Lee, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs & Ministry of National Development, succeeds former Senior Minister of State as Vice Co-Chairman; and e. Singapore-Zhejiang Economic and Trade Council (SZETC): Ms , Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Finance, succeeds Minister as Co-Chairman. (Please refer to Annex for full details)

4. Mr , Minister for Finance, continues to be the Co-Chairman for SJCC. There are also no changes to Singapore-Liaoning Economic and Trade Council (SLETC) and Singapore-Shandong Business Council (SSBC) - Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Minister for Social and Family Development, and Mr Teo Ser Luck, Minister of State, Ministry of Manpower, remain as the Co-Chairman for SLETC and SSBC respectively.

5. Singapore and China marked 25 years of diplomatic ties last year. The Business Councils have grown to become integral in strengthening bilateral relations and the internationalisation efforts of Singapore companies. They are dynamic platforms for Singapore companies to network with local government officials and business communities, as well as deepen collaboration at the provincial level.

6. As the Singapore Secretariat to the seven Business Councils, IE Singapore will continue to tap on the experience and strength of the Ministerial-leadership team. The agency will further enhance assistance for Singapore companies to overcome market challenges and expand their footprint in China, through the Business Councils.

Annex: Singapore-China Business Councils’ Leaders

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Note to Editor Please use ‘IE Singapore’ if an acronym for ‘International Enterprise Singapore’ is required. Unless otherwise stated, the use of statistics cited in our media releases, website or Statlink, should be attributed to IE Singapore.

For media enquiries, please contact: Ms Mok Kai Lynn Senior Manager, Media Corporate Communications Group DID : (+65) 6433 4706 Email : [email protected]

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IE Singapore Media Release 27 January 2016

About International Enterprise Singapore

International Enterprise (IE) Singapore is the government agency driving Singapore’s external economy. We spearhead the overseas growth of Singapore-based companies and promote international trade. Our vision is a thriving business hub in Singapore with Globally Competitive Companies and leading international traders.

IE Singapore attracts global commodities traders to establish their global or Asian home base in Singapore. Today, Singapore is a thriving trading hub with a complete ecosystem for the energy, agri-commodities and metals & minerals trading clusters.

Through our Global Company Partnership and Market Readiness Assistance, we also work with Singapore-based companies in their various stages of growth towards being globally competitive.

Our global network of overseas centres in over 35 locations provides the necessary connections in many developed and emerging markets. Visit www.iesingapore.com for more information.

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IE Singapore Media Release 27 January 2016

ANNEX

Business Council Singapore Leaders Singapore-Guangdong Co-Chairman Collaboration Council Mr Ong Ye Kung, Acting Minister for Education (Higher (SGCC) Education and Skills) & Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence [Predecessor: Former Minister Lui Tuck Yew]

Singapore-Jiangsu Co-Chairman (No change) Cooperation Council (SJCC) Mr Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Finance

Vice Co-Chairman Dr Koh Poh Koon, Minister of State, Ministry of National Development & Ministry of Trade and Industry [Predecessor: MOS Teo Ser Luck]

Singapore-Liaoning Co-Chairman (No change) Economic and Trade Council Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Minister for Social and Family (SLETC) Development

Singapore-Shandong Co-Chairman (No change) Business Council (SSBC) Mr Teo Ser Luck, Minister of State, Ministry of Manpower

Singapore-Sichuan Trade Co-Chairman and Investment Committee Mr Ng Chee Meng, Acting Minister for Education (SSTIC) (Schools) & Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Transport [Predecessor: Minister Lawrence Wong]

Advisor (No change) Mr , Minister for Manpower

Singapore-Tianjin Economic Co-Chairman and Trade Council (STETC) Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for National Development [Predecessor: Minister Khaw Boon Wan]

Vice Co-Chairman Mr Desmond Lee, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs & Ministry of National Development [Predecessor: Former Senior Minister of State Lee Yi Shyan]

Singapore-Zhejiang Co-Chairman Economic and Trade Council Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of (SZETC) Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Finance [Predecessor: Minister Grace Fu]

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