Speech By President S R Nathan at the opening ceremony of Global Entrepolis @ Singapore 2006

Your Excellencies
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

WELCOME
1.     It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Global Entrepolis 2006, the fourth Global Entrepolis jointly presented by the Singapore Business Federation and the Singapore Economic Development Board.

2.     I wish particularly to welcome those who are here for the first time, joining the many who have participated in previous years.  In the next few days, we look forward to the sharing of your insights, market knowledge, technology and expertise, as well as opportunities to network and forge new alliances with each other.

SINGAPORE BELIEVES IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
3.     Many in the business world see Singapore today as a global entrepolis.  They look to Singapore as a centre of business knowledge and contacts for the businesses of the world to come together to meet, learn and grow.  A key feature of the national agenda for Singapore is entrepreneurship, where creativity and innovation could thrive, and research and development could flourish.  We have more than 140,000 enterprises, of which almost 30,000 are foreign businesses which have come from all corners of the world.

4.     Global Entrepolis gives you a peek into that buzz in Singapore.  At last year’s Entrepolis, key announcements included the relocation of FIFA’s regional headquarters to Singapore, a S$100 million deal between the HuaLian Group and 2000 AD Venture, and the announcement of new projects worth S$136 million between Singapore and Vietnam.

GLOBAL ENTREPOLIS 2006
5.     Global Entrepolis 2006 sets a record in diversity and the number of conferences.  There are 55 conferences including first-time participation by Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the Indian province of Gujarat, and new industry conferences on sectors such as alternate energy, franchising and licensing, the student entrepreneurship society, business angels, and minerals, metals and materials.  China, India and the Middle East come with larger and more diverse representations.  And top business leaders from the United States and Europe will be sharing their global insights.

6.     I should make particular mention of Procter and Gamble, who bring their “connect and develop” initiative to Global Entrepolis this year.  It is a welcome affirmation of Singapore as a blossoming business hub for entrepreneurs.

7.     There is much for you to take advantage of in Global Entrepolis 2006.  In addition to the large number of conferences, more than 400 exhibitors will be showcasing their technology, products, processes and services at the Enterprise Exchange:  this is three times the size of last year’s exhibition.  Many will also be participating in the “Hub of Technopreneurs”, or the HOTstage, where they will pitch for funds and source for technology.  HOTstage is a unique programme where you can meet, network and seek new business opportunities.

AWARDS FOR MANUFACTURING EXCELLENCE
8.     Last year, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called for a national award for manufacturing excellence.  This evening, the Manufacturing Excellence Award, or MAXA for short, will be presented to companies here, with world-class manufacturing standards in their operations.

9.     For more than forty years, Singapore has been actively pursuing and developing the manufacturing sector.  Manufacturing now contributes a quarter of Singapore’s GDP.  It is a key pillar of our economy.  Singapore’s manufacturing industry has since reached a high level of sophistication.  Hence, it is timely to inaugurate and offer this special recognition – MAXA, the first award of its kind in the region.  It will honour role models that have contributed much to today’s dynamism of Singapore’s knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy.

10.     The MAXA judges have had a difficult time selecting the winners based on the criteria of excellence, innovation and long-term sustainability, because the quality of the 43 applications received was very high.  For we have many exemplary role models in our manufacturing sector as well.  They have shown that they are not only visionary but also have the foresight to grow their businesses to meet the industrial and consumer demands, in a very wide range of products and services.

11.     Very special thanks goes to the international panel of judges who have come despite their busy schedules for the judging of this Award.  Thanks also to our MAXA partners – McKinsey & Company, the Singapore Economic Development Board, and the Singapore-MIT Alliance comprising the National University of Singapore, the Nanyang Technological University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology – for inaugurating the award.  I wish to warmly congratulate all our MAXA winners, and wish each one, as well as all the other applicants, continued success in this endeavour in the years to come.

12.     Finally, I wish all of you a rewarding and successful Global Entrepolis 2006.  Enjoy your discussions and your discoveries, and enjoy Singapore.