CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS OF HONOURING OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS AND ENTERPRISE
– In recognition of their contributions towards enhancing Singapore-China relations
SINGAPORE, 18 November 2014 – An esteemed master planner-architect, a celebrated Singaporean singer-songwriter, and a Singapore leading business chamber of significant global standing were honoured in this year’s Business China Awards.
Following its inaugural launch in 2010, the Business China Awards is now in its fifth year and aims to honour outstanding businessmen, entrepreneurs, professionals and organisations for their successes and contributions to Singapore-China relations. By recognising these exemplary role models, the Awards also aims to promote bilingualism and biculturalism in Singapore. The Business China Awards 2014 (BCA2014) is organised by Business China and jointly presented by OCBC Bank.
The BCA2014 Gala Dinner took place at Shangri-La Hotel Singapore on 18 November with Guest-of-Honour Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs presenting the Awards.
The recipients of the Business China Awards 2014 are:
Business China Excellence Award:
Dr Liu Thai Ker
Senior Director, RSP Architects Planners & Engineers Pte Ltd
Dr Liu Thai Ker, hailed as Singapore’s ‘Father of Urban Planning’, has been instrumental in sharing Singapore’s experience in city planning and urban development with China since the 80s. Besides conducting master classes and speaking at forums to benefit thousands of city officials and urban planners, Dr Liu is also a planning advisor to more than 30 cities in China, whose concepts and master plans would touch the lives of more than 50 million urban inhabitants. As Dr Liu is effectively bilingual and bicultural, he is well regarded for his expertise in infusing elements of Chinese culture into contemporary urban planning to create functional yet aesthetically pleasing designs, while preserving each individual city’s unique character and heritage. Dr Liu was also appointed Chairman of Jury for the Master Plan of the 2008 Beijing Olympics Park, one of his most notable appointments to date. Dr Liu’s tremendous contributions towards shaping China’s urban landscapes and fostering Singapore-China relations are highly commendable.
Business China Enterprise Award:
Singapore Chamber of Commerce & Industry
With a history of more than 100 years since its inception in 1906, the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI) has been and still remains as one of the pivotal points of trade, business and relational contacts between Singapore and China. Long before the independence of both countries and formalisation of bilateral ties, the SCCCI, as an overseas-Chinese apex organisation, had journeyed alongside China through the tremulous first half of the 20th century, supporting China in its modernisation and anti-war efforts. In 1991, a year after Singapore and China formalised diplomatic relations, SCCCI conceptualised and spearheaded the inaugural World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention (WCEC) with the aim of congregating the global Chinese business community. In 2010, SCCCI set up its Shanghai Representative Office to assist Singapore companies in their forays into the China market. With its consistent efforts over the years in promoting Chinese culture, fostering Singapore-China ties and providing a networking platform for businesses from both countries, SCCCI has contributed significantly towards the strengthening of bilateral relations between Singapore and China.
Business China Young Achiever Award:
JJ Lin
Singer Songwriter
Singaporean Singer-song writer Mr Lin Jun Jie, also known as JJ Lin, is an influential figure in the Chinese pop music scene. The two-time winner of the much coveted Golden Melody Awards, including one for Best Mandarin Male Singer, connects Chinese-speaking communities from all over the world with his music through a fan base that spans across Greater China, Southeast Asia, Australia and the US. An avid believer of music as a tool to champion social causes, JJ has been supporting charities and communities since he entered the music industry 11 years ago. During the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, he specially composed a song entitled “Love and Hope” and performed at “The Giving of Love”, a CCTV charity event dedicated to helping victims of the massive disaster. Through songs composed for social causes as well as personal charitable contributions over the years, JJ has demonstrated his commitment towards bringing joy, dignity and hope to youths and the community at large; and is an exemplary role model in furthering Singapore-China relations.
The BCA 2014 Judging Panel, led by Mr Lim Chee Onn and comprising distinguished business leaders, respected academia and key media executives, went through a rigorous process to select the final recipients. Mr Lim shared that: “Building on the foundation of the past four years, we had gathered many deserving nominations from both Singapore and Greater China this year. After rounds of meticulous review and repeated deliberation, the final Awards recipients were selected. Besides being well-regarded in their respective fields, all winners have demonstrated unwavering dedication in the pursuit of their passion as well as in their services to the communities in both Singapore and China, thereby contributing significantly to Singapore-China relations. By recognising these successful individuals, it is our hope they will serve as inspiring role models, encouraging aspiring young Singaporeans to recognise the importance of being both bicultural and bilingual in today’s context.” Mr Lim is the Senior International Advisor of Singbridge International and Board Director of Business China.
In his address, Guest-of-Honour Deputy Prime Minister Mr Teo Chee Hean noted that Singapore’s relationship with China has strengthened and evolved over time, in line with the development needs and priorities of both countries. He noted that as the two countries celebrate the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year, “The bilateral relations between Singapore and China extend far beyond mere statistics or even just the last 24 years. They span our multi-faceted ties in business, government and people-to-people relations, and reflect the high level of trust and close friendship between our two countries.”
DPM Teo also urged Singaporeans to treasure and sharpen their bilingual and bicultural edge, “We must stay updated about the rapid changes in China’s social, economic and political conditions. We will also need to continually augment our skillsets, and adjust our strategies to remain relevant to China’s changing development needs.”
In his welcome speech, Mr Chua Thian Poh, Chairman of Business China, said: “Since Business China Awards inauguration in 2010, the recipients every year are not only exemplary role models who excelled in their respective fields, they also play important parts in strengthening Singapore-China relations.”
Reviewing Business China’s development in the past seven years, Mr Chua expressed that it has developed into a leading organisation in engaging Singaporeans to acquire in-depth understanding of China and to interact effectively with China. “Within the past 7 years, Business China has organised more than 200 multi-faceted events, such as forums, conferences and seminars, which have benefitted more than 50,000 Singaporeans.” Mr Chua added that Business China will continue to promote its founding vision of creating an environment for bilingualism and biculturalism in Singapore.
With its extensive network and knowledge of the Chinese market, OCBC Bank has been supporting both home-grown and Chinese businesses who want to leverage the synergies between the two countries to grow their regional presence. The Bank is delighted to return as the Joint Presenter of the Business China Award for the fifth year running, affirming its commitment to promote stronger Singapore-China bilateral relations.
Mr George Lee, Head of Global Corporate Banking, OCBC Bank, said: “This year’s winners are well established names who have been hugely successful in their respective fields and engagements in China. They are the catalysts of the exchanges between the two countries in the areas of trade, education, infrastructure development and tourism, and have helped to promote the Singapore brand name as well. We hope they will be an inspiration to many as we celebrate their success, as well as the fostering of stronger and deeper bilateral ties between China and Singapore.”
The celebration provided an exclusive opportunity for close to 500 members, partners and stakeholders of Business China, including distinguished business leaders, senior executives and eminent community leaders from Singapore and China, to interact and establish invaluable networks.
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For further enquiries, you may contact:
Deng Shiying (Ms)
Associate (Corporate Communications)
Business China
Tel: 6213 0412
Email: shiying@businesschina.org.sg
About Business China Awards
Business China Awards honours outstanding individuals and organisations with notable contributions towards building Singapore-China relations and promoting bilingualism and biculturalism in Singapore. The inaugural Business China Awards was launched in 2010. For more information, please visit bcawards.businesschina.org.sg/en.
About Business China
Business China was launched in November 2007 by Singapore’s Founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and Former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. We are a platform integrating language, economic and cultural elements. Our mission is to nurture an inclusive bilingual and bi-cultural group of Singaporeans through extensive use of the Chinese language as the medium of communication, so as to sustain our multi-cultural heritage, and to develop a cultural and economic bridge linking the world and China.
About OCBC Bank
OCBC Bank is the longest established Singapore bank, formed in 1932 from the merger of three local banks, the oldest of which was founded in 1912. It is now the second largest financial services group in Southeast Asia by assets and one of the world’s most highly-rated banks, with an Aa1 rating from Moody’s. It was ranked by Bloomberg Markets as the world’s strongest bank in 2011 and 2012.
OCBC Bank and its subsidiaries offer a broad array of specialist financial and wealth management services, ranging from consumer, corporate, investment, private and transaction banking to treasury, insurance, asset management and stockbroking services.
OCBC Bank’s key markets are Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Greater China. It has over 630 branches and representative offices in 18 countries and territories. These include the more than 330 branches and offices in Indonesia operated by subsidiary Bank OCBC NISP and OCBC Wing Hang’s 95 branches in Hong Kong, China and Macau.
OCBC Bank’s insurance subsidiary, Great Eastern Holdings, is the largest insurance group in Singapore and Malaysia by assets. Its asset management subsidiary, Lion Global Investors, is one of the largest private sector asset management companies in Southeast Asia. Private banking services are provided by subsidiary Bank of Singapore, which continues to gain industry recognition including being voted “Outstanding Private Bank in Asia Pacific” in 2013 by Private Banker International.