Why Singapore Is Your Ideal
Strategic Business Partner…
An Investment Information Toolkit for
International Organizations
© Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau
Table of Content
Introduction
2
Singapore’s MICE Industry
2
A City for Business Travel and Corporate Meetings
2
A City for Incentive Travel
3
A City for Conventions and Exhibitions
3
A City for Play
4
Why Singapore?
5
Pro-Business Environment
5
Strategic Location
5
Quality Workforce
6
World-Class Infrastructure
6
About SECB
7
SECB
7
IOs in Singapore
7
International Organizations
7
Business & Assistance
8
Financial Support
8
Non-Financial Support
8
Other Useful Information
8
Contact
9
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Introduction
When global companies and organizations decide to meet or set up their business
operations, they choose one destination — Singapore.
This toolkit is designed to communicate to you why Singapore is the ideal destination
for your business, and promoting your interests within the Asia Pacific region. It will
offer a closer look at what Singapore has to offer as your strategic business partner
when you set up base here and in the staging of your business events.
Singapore’s Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE)
Industry
The world’s companies and organizations choose Singapore for a myriad of reasons.
Apart from world-class infrastructure and state-of-the-art venues, Singapore has an
efficient and productive business culture, as well as an exciting variety of leisure
activities. Singapore’s location as the gateway to Asia makes our city a choice
location for conference and exhibition organizers. Perhaps even more significantly,
organizers choose Singapore because we have an eclectic and unique mix of the best
that the world has to offer — in the arts and culture, business and commerce, sports
and events, cuisine and entertainment.
As Singapore’s presence in the
issues of global significance.
Organizations (IOs) that have
diversity of industries as well as
global community grows, so will its participation in
There are a growing number of International
chosen to set up their base here, representing a
social, humanitarian and environmental concerns.
In the Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) Tourism 2015 Strategic Roadmap, ambitious
targets were unveiled in January 2005 to triple our tourism receipts to S$30 billion,
and double visitor arrivals to 17 million by 2015 for the tourism industry. The
roadmap not only charts the prospective growth in the tourism industry in the next
10 years, it also highlights the STB’s continual focus to achieve leadership position
for Singapore in the Business Travel and MICE sector. The prospects for the MICE
industry in Asia and Singapore are promising. Business and MICE visitors constitute
approximately 25% of Singapore’s visitor arrivals of 9.7 million in 2006.
In addition, our sound legal and financial infrastructure, stability and security have
made Singapore a choice venue for major international events. Singapore has been
raising the service quality and operational standards of the MICE industry through
new initiatives such as the Singapore Standard on Exhibition Terminology and Audit
Procedures (SSETAP) and the Controlled Performance (COPE) certification in
meetings. Singapore is also the first city in Asia to hold the Certified Meeting
Professional (CMP) examination.
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A City for Business Travel and Corporate Meetings
Singapore is recognized as a top business venue, and an ideal destination for any
organization’s corporate meeting. Its reputation is consistently endorsed by many
global institutions:
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Favorite Meeting/ Convention/ Exhibition Facilities (TIME
Readers’ Travel Choice 2006)
Asia’s Top Convention City for the 7th time/ Second Top
Convention City in the World for the second consecutive
year (ICCA Global Rankings 2005)
Top Convention City in Asia for the past 23 consecutive
years and the world’s number four convention city (Union
of International Associations 2005)
Some of the major multi-national companies and organizations that have chosen
Singapore as their meetings destination include:
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2006 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank
Annual Meetings
Forbes Global CEO conference 2006
117th Session of the International Olympic Committee Meeting 2005
A City for Incentive Travel
Singapore is a land of much juxtaposition, offering incentive groups experiences
extraordinaire from sophisticated chic to nature themes and exotic ethnic. Incentive
organizers have a wide variety of venues, entertainment programs, tours and
activities to choose from. Star performers can choose to swim with sharks, eat with
orangutans, and wine and dine at the night races. Singapore is probably one of those
few destinations where visitors can walk into a rainforest in the heart of the city and
sneak up to nocturnal creatures in their natural habitat.
A City for Conventions and Exhibitions
Singapore is viewed by many as an ideal convention and exhibition venue. We offer
world-class hotels, each offering unparalleled service; an extensive range of state-ofthe-art facilities; modern communication networks; the world’s best airport with
excellent air links; a top-notch convention centre that can comfortably accommodate
up to 36,000 delegates and a pool of trained and experienced convention manpower.
Singapore is home to many of the top trade exhibitions in the Asia-Pacific region. We
are honored to host many of the top trade exhibitions in the Asia-Pacific Region, such
as Singapore Airshow (leading air show in the region), Food&Hotel Asia (largest
showcase for the food and hospitality industry in Asia), CommunicAsia &
BroadCastAsia and International Furniture Fair Singapore.
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A City for Play
One of Asia’s safest cities, Singapore offers visitors and residents a growing palette
of entertainment, cultural and lifestyle options. Singapore, with its multi-faceted
leisure and entertainment offerings, presents an endless fun and unique leisure
selection.
Culture Singapore’s position at the crossroads of ancient trading routes has brought
together a harmonious blend of cultures. Today, Singapore is a cosmopolitan city
that embraces tradition and modernity. Visitors will be surprised to discover the rich
and intriguing heritage in Singapore.
Festivals Singapore gives visitors the opportunity to celebrate festival after festival.
Street light-ups, celebration parades, and as many as 7,000 event days make this
destination throb with festive energy all year round. Colorful ethnic festivities and
international entertainment events, to street parties and spectator sports, dot our
event calendar every year.
Food
From open air hawker centers to trendy cafes and award-winning unique
theme restaurants, Singapore offers endless dining experiences. Visitors will be
amazed at the stunning dining options in offer — from native cuisines of Chinese,
Malay, Indian and Peranakan to a tantalizing array of fare from every corner of the
globe.
Attractions Singapore has a wide array of attractions that consists of the sights and
sounds of bustling ethnic communities, to nature’s creatures at play in a natural
environment. In this city of contrasts, visitors can sightsee from a trishaw ride in the
shadow of skyscrapers or relive the tough lives of early immigrants through modern
technology.
Shopping
Along the famous Orchard Road, the shopping stretch in the heart of
Singapore, are rows of shopping malls that cater to every need and desire. Our
ethnic quarters of Chinatown, Little India and Arab Street offer exotic buys and
unique knick-knacks.
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Why Singapore?
A republic with 42 years of history, Singapore has developed into a nation plugged
into the international arena. Singapore has an economy that welcomes investors
both large and small. More than 7,000 multi-national companies from around the
world have done so, and they enjoy a business environment and a quality of life few
can match.
Many investment opportunities are brewing in the key industries that are driving
Singapore’s economy. They include biomedical sciences, chemicals, financial
services,
education
services,
electronics
and
precision
engineering,
infocommunciations and media, and logistics and transport engineering.
Pro-Business Environment
Singapore has been consistently ranked as one of
the most competitive nations and best places for
business in the world. The rankings in the last few
years include:
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Best Business Destination City (DestinAsian
Reader’s Choice Award 2007)
The Best Business City in the World for 6
consecutive years (Business Traveler AsiaPacific 2006)
Favorite Business City for 5 consecutive
years (TIME Readers’ Travel Choice 2005)
Strategic Location
Singapore’s location puts it in the middle of Southeast Asian market of more than
500 million people, and an Asian market of 3 billion — all within no more than a
seven-hour flight away. These are emerging and fast growing markets with an
enormous appetite for consumer goods and innovative products, and in need of a
wide range of services.
Extending beyond the region, Singapore will link you to the world with our
comprehensive network of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). Through Singapore’s FTAs
with strategic trading partners such as Australia, Canada, the European Free Trade
Association, Japan, New Zealand and the U.S., we can expect commercial exchanges
to thrive. There is no better time to do business in Asia and Singapore is well
positioned to play a strategic role in this economic renaissance.
Singapore is a key node in Asia’s extensive business network, with air links to more
than 180 cities, enabling your business to tap into the region’s resources, talents and
markets. Our good connectivity with regional and international markets enables us to
be the confluence of people, capital and ideas from all over the world, and an ideal
launch pad for organization entering the global marketplace.
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Quality Workforce
Singapore’s workforce is ranked among the world's best for productivity, work
attitude and technical skills. Workers, a majority of whom speak English proficiently,
are dedicated and hardworking, and keen to upgrade their skills and knowledge.
Singapore is also accorded with the following awards:
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“Best Quality Labor Force” since 1980 — BERI Report 2005
4th Place in Countries with the Least Restrictive Immigration Laws for
Employing Foreign Talent – IMD World Competitive Yearbook 2006
2nd Place in Most Attractive Environment for Highly-Skilled Foreigners – IMD
World Competitive Yearbook 2005
World-Class Infrastructure
Singapore is one of the best connected countries in the world, with all the sea, air
and telecommunications links needed for business.
Singapore has the world’s busiest container port, offering a choice of 200 shipping
lines with links to some 700 ports in 130 countries, and handle 25% of the world’s
transhipment volume.
Our award-winning Changi Airport, with more than 4,000
weekly flights by 84 international airlines (including 3 LowCost Carriers), connects Singapore to over 180 cities
around the world.
Singapore’s compact geography coupled with an advanced,
efficient transport infrastructure of Mass Rapid Transit
system, bus and taxi services makes getting around a
breeze for all our visitors.
The World Economic Forum has ranked Singapore among
the top 10 in the world for network readiness in 2002. In
fact, Singapore has a broadband network within the country that reaches 99% of the
population.
With 100 hotels and over 37,000 rooms, there is an answer to every budget and
preference - from no-frills hotels to luxury beach resorts. Most hotels offer fullyequipped business centers, meetings facilities, broadband internet access and other
conveniences for business travelers.
Slated to open in 2009, Marina Bay Sands, an Integrated Resort, will boost
Singapore’s MICE capability with more then 100,000 sqm of MICE space. Including
89,000 sqm of exhibition and meeting room space, and a 9,200 sqm column-free
Grand Ballroom that can hold 8,000 people.
Resorts World at Sentosa, another Integrated Resort, scheduled to open in 2010, has
MICE facilities with the ability to host 12,000 delegates in 3 key venues: Le Vie
Showroom (1,600 theatre-style seating), Ballroom (7,300 theatre-style seating) and
22 meetings rooms that can accommodate a total of 3,390 seats.
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About SECB
The Business Travel and MICE (Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions and
Exhibitions) Group is a business group of the Singapore Tourism Board. It was
established in 1974 and is marketed overseas as Singapore Exhibition & Convention
Bureau (SECB). SECB’s vision for Singapore is to be the top business travel and
MICE hub in Asia. It has three roles relating to the MICE industry:
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Creating, attracting and growing an array of strategic business events
Developing strong industry alliances, infrastructure and capability
Provide effective services and unique experiences
IOs in Singapore
As of February 2007, Singapore was home to some 60 International Organizations
(IOs). Some notable IOs:
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Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) Secretariat
International Monetary Fund –
Singapore Regional Training
Institute
Regional Emerging Diseases
Intervention Centre (REDI)
Regional Cooperation Agreement
on Combating Piracy and Armed
Robbery against Ships in Asia
Information Sharing Centre
(ReCAAP-ISC)
World Intellectual Property
Organisation (WIPO)
World Bank Liaison Office
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Business Software Alliance (BSA)
International Air Transport Association
(IATA)
International Baccalaureate
Organisation (IBO)
International Chamber of Commerce
(ICC)
International Life Sciences Institute
(ILSI)
Semiconductor Equipment and
Materials International (SEMI)
Societe International de
Telecommuncations Aeronautiques
(SITA)
World Vision International (regional
functions and Asia Tsunami Relief
Team)
Business Assistance
IOs that set up a regional office in Singapore will be extended financial assistance
and non-financial support. Furthermore, business events created and/or organized
in Singapore from the first year onwards will receive financial support.
Financial Support
The key evaluation criteria of IOs include:
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The number of visitors nights generated from the business events that the IO
plans to organize in Singapore
The roles that the IO will champion from the Singapore office
The IO’s international collaboration efforts
IOs that set up a regional office in Singapore can enjoy financial support for:
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Office set-up, contracted professional services and allowances for expatriate
relocation in the first year
Appointment of a Singapore-based Association Management Company
Business events created and/or organized in Singapore from the first year
onwards
Training given to employees who are Singaporeans or Permanent Residents
Non-Financial Support
One-stop agency for all facilitation:
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Facilitation with other government agencies
Assisting application of necessary permits
Sourcing for suitable location for office
Other Useful Information
Here are some useful links that provide more insights into setting up your business
operations in Singapore.
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Government business information portal — http://www.business.gov.sg
International Enterprise Singapore — http://www.iesingapore.com
Singapore Economic Development Board — http://www.sedb.com
Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority — http://www.acra.gov.sg
Destination information — http://www.visitsingapore.com
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Contact
Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau
1156 Avenue of the Americas
New York Suite 702
NY 10036, USA
Tel:
(1-212) 302 4861
Fax:
(1-212) 302 4801
[email protected]
Email:
www.visitsingapore.com/businessevents
Website:
Contact:
Ms Lim Wen Ee
Manager, MICE
[email protected]
Contact:
Ms Divine Lim
Manager, MICE
[email protected]
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