The 24 participants of the Future China Advanced Leaders Programme (FC-ALP) celebrated the completion of their three-segment programme with a Commencement Ceremony on 30 May at Swissotel Merchant Court Singapore. Gracing the dinner as Guest-of-Honour was Minister, Prime Minister’s Office and Business China Board Adviser, Mr Lim Swee Say. Minister Lim conferred graduation certificates to this year’s graduates, which comprised successful entrepreneurs, next generation business owners and C-suite level executives.
Business China Board Directors, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade & Industry and Ministry of National Development Mr Lee Yi Shyan and Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Social and Family Development and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Mayor, South West District, Ms Low Yen Ling were also present to witness this momentous occasion.
Reiterating the relevance of the FC-ALP in today’s increasingly competitive business landscape, Minister Lim Swee Say said, “Although our linguistic and cultural affinity gave us a head start with China, this advantage alone is not enough. It is, therefore, imperative that Singaporeans continue to augment our ability to engage China as part of our strategic vision to maintain global competitiveness and long-term economic vitality. The Future China Advanced Leaders Programme is part of these efforts to realise that vision. The FC-ALP combines the expertise of a highly-regarded institution, namely NTU’s Nanyang Business School and the commitment of Business China, a well-supported broad-based platform, to present an exceptional and challenging programme.”
The highlight of the ceremony was the performance by the entire cohort. Class representative, Mr Gan Chong Min and Ms Patricia Goh led the class in recapping and reflecting upon their three-week journey which spanned across three months in 4 different cities. In a display of camaraderie, the participants put up a highly entertaining skit which had the audience in stitches with their amusing anecdotes and impersonations.
Exploring untapped opportunities in China’s western region
For three weeks from March to May, the cohort embarked on a highly interactive journey to understand more about the various paradigms underpinning China’s developments.
During the second segment in April, participants visited three thriving cities along the Yangtze, namely Shanghai, Chongqing and Chengdu to further explore opportunities and developments in the western frontier of China. The delegation was led by Senior Minister of State Mr Lee Yi Shyan, and co-led by Business China Board Directors, Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Mr Sam Tan and Parliamentary Secretary Ms Low Yen Ling. Local officials and industry partners shared with the delegation abundant business opportunities in the newly established Shanghai FTZ, Chongqing’s Liangjiang New Area and the Singapore-Sichuan Hi-tech Innovation Park (HTIP). In Chongqing, some 80 local business leaders attended an investment cum networking forum organised by Business China and Nanyang Business School in conjunction with Chongqing’s Commission of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (COFTEC).
The beginning of a lifelong journey of connecting with China
Following 3 weeks of intensive lectures and extensive networking sessions spanning across 3 months, the FC-ALP graduates emerged better informed, connected and positioned to make game-changing decisions about their corporation’s strategies of engaging China.
Class representative Mr Gan Chong Min, Managing Director of Raffles City China Fund, CapitaLand China, professed that even with his years of experience in China, there remains much to be learnt. He said: “China is constantly evolving. The FC-ALP provides a learning platform for me to rethink and reflect on my knowledge of this truly amazing country. The knowledge that I gleaned from this programme is useful, practical and highly applicable. One of the key highlights of the programme includes exclusive networking opportunities with experienced business leaders, government officials, Business China’s Board Directors and FC-ALP’s alumni. I am certain that the new friendships and bonds of camaraderie forged with fellow participants will translate into long-lasting partnerships as we continue to engage China.”
On a similar note, Mr Chua Thian Poh, Chairman of Business China remarked in his speech that the Future China Advanced Leaders Club initiated by the inaugural FC-ALP cohort, will continue to serve as a platform for the alumni to stay connected and forge closer bonds of friendship, thereby allowing them to identify potential business opportunities and achieve business success by leveraging mutual strengths.
Shaw Chair Professor and Dean of Nanyang Business School, Professor Ravi Kumar added that: “Business success these days requires more than hard economic analyses and meticulously planned strategies. Nanyang Business School is honoured by the opportunity to help participants of the FC-ALP gain deep insights into the nuances of China’s business world as it is influenced by the country’s history, society, politics and culture. We look forward to the future successes that our FC-ALP graduates will accomplish with this fresh understanding of the business of China’s culture and the culture of business in China.”
First launched in 2012, the FC-ALP is the only senior executive business management programme in Asia to comprehensively address the complex dynamics between social, political, economic and cultural factors that are fuelling China’s rapid rise. Designed to provide an immersive and holistic learning experience, the Programme will give participants a comprehensive and first-hand understanding of doing business in China.