Good afternoon
Mr Chua Thian Poh, Chairman, Business China
Mr Alan Chan, Chairman, Business China Awards Organising Committee
Mr Lim Chee Onn, Chairman, Business China Awards Judging Panel
Mrs Josephine Teo, CEO, Business China
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen
Thank you for joining us at the launch of the Business China Awards this afternoon.
OCBC Bank is delighted to have the privilege and honour of partnering with Business China as the main sponsor for the Awards. We believe the Business China Awards will become one of the most prominent and prestigious business awards in Singapore over the next decade.
China has been an important part of OCBC Bank’s history and heritage. Our association goes back to 1925 when we established our first presence in China with the opening of our branch in Xiamen. Since that time, we have never left China, remaining firm in our commitment to the Country, even during the periods of the Chinese civil war and the Cultural Revolution.
OCBC Bank was also the first Singapore Bank to make a significant investment in a local Chinese bank when we acquired a strategic stake in the Bank of Ningbo in 2006. In the following year, we became one of the first foreign banks to receive approval from the Chinese authorities to establish a locally-incorporated subsidiary bank in China, which we headquartered in Shanghai.
The launch of Business China Awards could not have come at a more opportune time.
Given the increasingly integrated global economies, our corporate, middle market as well as SME customers are aggressively looking for opportunities to expand overseas, particularly in China. Singapore companies have also become more mature, confident and knowledgeable in their exploration and development of the China market.
Besides tier one and two cities, some of them are already cultivating third and fourth tier cities for business opportunities.
At the same time, the Singapore government also continues to champion the internationalization of our homegrown enterprises. With our expanding network in China, coupled with our long history of supporting the local entrepreneurs, we believe we are uniquely qualified to play a crucial role in their development of the China market.
Over the next three years, we will be working closely with Business China to recognize successful individuals and organizations, who have made significant contributions to the enhancement and reinforcement of a stronger cultural and economic relationship between Singapore and China.
We firmly believe that by recognizing their leadership and celebrating their success, the Awards will inspire and encourage many others to deepen their reach in China and Singapore.
With that, may I wish our Business China Awards candidates all the success in their aspirations and endeavours.
Thank you.