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Message from the Executive Director
Dear Members ,
Welcome to the April edition of the Orient which focusses on the small business community in Singapore .
Small businesses form an integral part of not only the Chamber membership , but the wider Singapore economy . Small businesses in Singapore employ around 70 % of the local workforce , and make up 99 % of enterprises .
Certainly , over the past two years , the Chamber team has seen an increase in enquiries from the smaller business community . Whether this has been to help navigate policy changes ( such as the LOC amendment in 2021 and latterly the recent COMPASS framework ), support the process of work pass renewals and applications , travel advice throughout the disruption or connecting members with other businesses remotely , the Chamber team and I have been doing what we can to support the companies here that need us .
We have been working more closely with the Singapore Business Federation – a relationship that under the stewardship of their CEO , Lam Yi Young , I believe can support smaller businesses by helping to connect other parts of the business landscape to make meaningful partnerships .
Through our trade services programme over the last eight years , we have helped around 2000 smaller businesses in the UK to explore Singapore and ASEAN as a market and something the Chamber is keen to continue supporting going forward . I hope that you have noticed the increased engagement with the Singapore Government over the last two years in particular . We have been privileged to host events with the Ministry of Trade and Industry , Ministry of Manpower , Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and Ministry of Home Affairs , providing real-time updates and an opportunity for members to engage in meaningful dialogues , especially for those who only have access to these discussions via the Chamber .
Our Start-up , Entrepreneur and Small Business committee is one of the gems of the Chamber – a forum for smaller businesses to engage , share and develop collectively . It has been a pleasure to see how this committee has supported members and helped to guide members through the last two years . We value all of our members and partners , but if you ’ re a small business reading this , you have a permanent professional home at the Chamber . We continue to strive to understand your needs , and do what we can to ensure you are as connected as possible to the economic and political environment to help you to thrive here .
My best ,
MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR