CELEBRATING THE FLAG-BEARERS OF SINGAPORE-CHINA BILATERAL TIES
– recognising outstanding individuals and enterprises from Singapore and China
SINGAPORE, 22 November 2016 – An internationally-renowned historian, an astute venture capitalist, a Chinese bank with a rich history in Singapore were honoured in this year’s Business China Awards.
The Business China Awards 2016 (BCA) Gala Dinner took place at Shangri-La Hotel Singapore on 22 November with Guest-of-Honour Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, gracing the occasion and presenting the Awards.
Organised by Business China and jointly presented by OCBC Bank, the Business China Awards, which was launched in 2010, aims to honour outstanding businessmen, entrepreneurs, professionals and organisations for their successes and contributions to Singapore-China relations.
The recipients of the Business China Awards 2016 are:
Business China Excellence Award:
Professor Wang Gungwu
Chairman of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy & East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore
In an illustrious academic career spanning 50 years, Professor Wang Gungwu has established himself as an eminent and prolific historian as well as an internationally-renowned pioneer expert on overseas Chinese studies. His academic research and methods greatly impacted future researches and strengthened Singapore’s position as an independent resource centre on understanding contemporary China developments. Proficient in English, Chinese and Indonesian, he has promoted the understanding of China to non-Chinese readers through his writings in English. Prof Wang also established scholarships and loan funds to recognise students with excellent academic and research achievements in the area of East Asian studies; as well as assisted those with financial difficulties. Prof Wang remains an active scholar and continues to augment greater understanding between cultures and civilisations.
Business China Enterprise Award:
Bank of China
Bank of China (BOC) was formally established in February 1912 following the approval of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. In June 1936, Singapore Branch was set up as BOC’s third overseas branch. Deeply rooted in Singapore for 80 years, BOCSG has served as the Group’s regional business centre in Southeast Asia and promoted the developments of RMB business, commodities business and private banking business in the local market to further strengthen the city state’s status as the international financial centre. In 2011, BOC collaborated with Singapore’s Fullerton Financial Holdings to establish the BOC Fullerton Community Bank (中银富登村镇银行), the first of its kind in the country founded by a large Chinese commercial bank with an international partner. The community bank seeks to provide scarce financial services to SMEs, mini business owners, local individuals, and farmers in China’s rural communities. Bank of China’s commitment towards the international business community and its efforts in promoting bilateral relations between Singapore and China through the provision of excellent services to the business communities in both countries is highly commendable.
Business China Young Achiever Award:
Ms Jenny Lee
Managing Partner, GGV Capital
Based in US and China since 2005, Singaporean Jenny Lee is highly regarded as one of the top venture capitalists in the world. Starting with developing new hardware systems and products, Jenny subsequently ventured into investing in tech gadgets, business services and consumer internet companies. Deeply passionate and armed with the sharp acumen of a professional engineer, Jenny was instrumental to the success of many of the world’s famous technology brand names. Having amassed a broad network of entrepreneurs, investors and tech professionals, she connected start-ups with talent, markets and other investors; and often personally mentored and motivated them. Well sought-after as a speaker, Jenny generously shared her industry knowledge with young entrepreneurs in Singapore and international forums. Her success in the highly competitive field of venture capital demonstrates her exceptional courage and vision; and is a source of inspiration for young Singaporeans who aspire to connect and co-create with China.
The BCA 2016 Panel of Judges 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.
Chairman of the BCA Judging Panel, Mr Lim Chee Onn shared that, “The Awards recipients this year hailed from the academic, financial services and the new economy sectors. This diverse representation showed the inclusiveness and progressive nature of Singapore-China collaborations. It is our hope that these exemplary role models will serve as a source of inspiration for all Singaporeans to establish deeper ties with China.” Mr Lim, the Senior International Advisor of Ascendas-Singbridge International, also served as the Board Director of Business China formerly.
In his address, Guest-of-Honour Deputy Prime Minister Mr Teo Chee Hean noted that Singapore-China ties have always been forwarding-looking, innovative and mutually beneficial on many fronts. He highlighted that “The Belt and Road initiative, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the internationalisation of the Renminbi (RMB), the new Digital Economy, and the search by Chinese companies for new overseas markets and investments, offer new opportunities to strengthen bilateral links and business partnerships in these growth areas.”
In his welcome speech, Mr Lee Yi Shyan, Chairman of Business China, remarked that, “Over the past 6 years, the Awards recognised 18 exemplary role models who maintained effective bilateral cooperation between both countries.” Mr Lee also commended this year’s Awards recipients for playing active roles in strengthening understanding, facilitating financial connectivity and developing new business linkages in the digital economy between Singapore and China.
The Awards appreciates the strong support of OCBC Bank as the Joint Presenter for the seventh consecutive year. Ms Elaine Lam, Head of Global Corporate Banking, OCBC Bank said that, “This year’s winners showcase very diverse contributions towards the depth and strength of Singapore-China ties. But despite the significant differences in their businesses and engagements, they have all done well in establishing a strong foothold and influence both in Singapore and China, and in promoting business and cultural exchanges between both countries. We hope that the accomplishments of the winners will inspire individuals and businesses alike to build upon the close ties established and proactively seek out opportunities.
The celebration provided an exclusive opportunity for nearly 400 partners and stakeholders of Business China, including prominent political and business leaders with interests in China to interact and establish invaluable networks.
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For further enquiries, you may contact:
Goh Wan Xin (Ms)
Associate (Corporate Communications)
Business China
Tel: 6213 0410
Email: wanxin@businesschina.org.sg
About Business China Awards
Established in 2010, the annual Business China Awards recognises and honours outstanding businessmen, entrepreneurs, professionals, organisations and enterprises for their successful contributions in strengthening Singapore-China relations. In honouring these exemplary role models, the Awards also aim to promote bilingualism and biculturalism in Singapore.
For more information, please visit: bcawards.businesschina.org.sg/en.
About Business China
Launched in November 2007 by Founding Patron and Singapore’s Founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Business China’s mission is to nurture an inclusive bilingual and bicultural 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.
For more information, please visit: www.businesschina.org.sg/en.
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. Recognised for its financial strength and stability, OCBC Bank is consistently ranked among the World’s Top 50 Safest Banks by Global Finance and has been named Best Managed Bank in Singapore and the Asia Pacific by The Asian Banker.
OCBC Bank and its subsidiaries offer a broad array of commercial banking, 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 610 branches and representative offices in 18 countries and regions. These include the more than 330 branches and offices in Indonesia under subsidiary Bank OCBC NISP, and over 100 branches and offices in Hong Kong, China and Macau under OCBC Wing Hang.
OCBC Bank’s private banking services are provided by its wholly-owned subsidiary Bank of Singapore, which operates on a unique open-architecture product platform to source for the best-in-class products to meet its clients’ goals.
OCBC Bank’s insurance subsidiary, Great Eastern Holdings, is the oldest and most established life insurance group in Singapore and Malaysia. Its asset management subsidiary, Lion Global Investors, is one of the largest private sector asset management companies in Southeast Asia.
For more information, please visit: www.ocbc.com.