Proposal o set up SBF Business Centre in China (27 Oct ).docVIP

Discussion paper with IES (As at 27 Oct 2010) CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT PROPOSAL TO SET UP SBF BUSINESS CENTRE IN CHINA UNDER THE IES TA/C OVERSEAS CENTRE PROGRAMME BACKGROUND Based on the feedback of our members to the last 2 SBF National Business Survey SBF National Business Survey 2009 showed that most SBF members would like to venture into China (13%) followed by Vietnam (12%) and India (9%). The top 3 destinations were same as those in the SBF National Business Survey 2007. , China has consistently been identified as the top overseas venture destination followed by Vietnam and India. Indeed, China with its economy opening up to foreign investments along with on-going urbanization and infrastructure development provides more opportunities for trade and investments. In responding to members’ interests and the ESC’s recommendation for the Singapore Government to further strengthen the institutional capabilities of trade organizations like SBF as “industry champions and market facilitators”, SBF would like to set up its first overseas business centre in China. The first SBF Business Centre in China will be located in Beijing. It will serve the interests of the Singapore business community in general and our SBF members in particular in Beijing Municipality, Tianjin Municipality and Northern China. The SBF Business Centre will also serve Jiangsu and Eastern China as they are another key area of interests to our Singapore business community. Why Beijing and Jiangsu By locating our SBF Business Centre in Beijing, the Centre will have easier access to the Central Government officials. At the same time, the Centre will reach out to businesses in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning, Jilin and other parts of Northern China. While focusing on the Northern China, the Business Centre is expected to support our members in their business expansion or