2010 marked the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and China. In the 20 years, many have made notable contribution to the success of this bilateral relationship. Business China honoured the outstanding ones who made the moves and built the ties at the inaugural Business China Awards.
Clinching the Business China Excellence Award is Tao Shing Pee, Founder of Shing Kwan Group. China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park won the Business China Enterprise Award, and Stefanie Sun won Business China Young Achiever Award.
The award recipients received the honour from Business China patron, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew at the inaugural Business China Awards held on the evening of 10 Jan 2011. It was held in conjunction with Business China 3rd Anniversary celebrations.
The judging panel was made up of representatives from business, academia and media.
On the winners of the awards, Mr Lim Chee Onn, Chairman of Business China Awards Judging Panel said, “The award is given in recognition of the outstanding contributions the recipients have made in strengthening the relationship between China and Singapore. The judging panel exercised great care and rigour in assessing the nominations and the whole process was open and transparent not only amongst the Panel members but also between the Panel and the Business China Board of Directors. Apart from identifying individuals and organizations which have operated successfully in China, the recipients of the Business China Awards will serve as an inspiration for Singaporeans to be bilingual and bicultural. The recipients of the inaugural awards would have also played a pioneering role in building bilateral relations between the two countries. During the early days of this relationship it would have required great patience and perseverance and much creative efforts to yield successful results.”
Business China Excellence Award Recipient: Tao Shing Pee
Through his pioneering business ventures, he paved the way for closer economic cooperation between Singapore and China. He has invested in many cities, and developed the tallest hotel in the 1980s. As a dedicated philanthropist, he has funded the education of many scholars in China who will play a part in the country’s development.
Business China Enterprise Award Recipient: China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park
Through this first and largest economic and technology cooperation project, Singapore has successfully transferred her public administration and economic management experience to China, elevating bilateral relations to an unprecedented level.
Business China Young Achiever Award: Stefanie Sun Yanzi
Singapore’s music icon is a bilingual and bicultural role model for the young. Her stunning success has lifted the image of Singapore in Greater China. As Mercy Relief’s first Goodwill Ambassador, she helped raise funds for victims of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake and showed that caring goes beyond borders.
Chairman of Business China, Mr Chua Thian Poh said, “These inaugural recipients are not only leaders in their fields, but pioneers and emissaries that have brought China and Singapore closer. The achievements and contributions of these role models are significant and far-reaching. They have paved the way and are worthy of emulation. Business China would also like express our deepest gratitude to OCBC Bank, the joint presenter for the Award, for its kind support in joining us to honour the recipients. ”
Said Mr Linus Goh, Global Head, Enterprise Banking and Financial Institutions, OCBC Bank: “The overwhelming response to the inaugural Business China Awards underscores the strength and depth of both the economic and people-to-people ties between Singapore and China. These countries are also linked by the more than 10,000 Singaporeans who live, work and study in China and the many China-born residents in Singapore. We at OCBC Bank are honoured to be associated with this prestigious award which we believe will play a significant role in elevating Singapore-China ties in years to come.”
The Awards is organised by Business China, and jointly presented by OCBC Bank.
Supporting media for Business China Awards are Lianhe Zaobao and The Business Times