Inaugural Singapore Apex Business Summit Kicks Off With More Than 3,000 Participants Expected in The Week

  • More than 3,000 business leaders and senior government officials from 57 countries and economies, and more than 1,600 unique companies/ organisations have signed up to attend the Summit, either in person or online
  • About two-thirds of the participants are at the C-suite / senior management level. The inaugural Summit also has the strong support of 16 sponsor partners and 54 supporting organisations, including 13 government agencies and 39 local and foreign trade associations and chambers

Tuesday, 22 March 2022 [Singapore]  – The inaugural Singapore Apex Business Summit (SABS) was officially launched by Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Mr Heng Swee Keat this morning. Organised by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and MP Singapore, the Summit is a new signature platform that brings together business leaders and policy makers from around the world to discuss future trends and growth opportunities, and to build stronger businesses and economies.

The inaugural Summit brings together 5 key signature conferences in one week – the Singapore Regional Business Forum, the ASEAN Conference, the Future Economy Conference & Exhibition, the TAC Symposium and the FTA Day, under the overarching theme of “Accelerating Business Transformation in an Endemic World”. SBF will also hold its 20th Anniversary Event on the first day of the Summit.

Over four days, the Summit will provide opportunities for businesses, SMEs and large enterprises alike, to benefit from discussions on trending business topics and to participate in business matching and networking sessions to forge collaborations. More than 3,000 business leaders and senior government officials from 57 countries and economies, and more than 1,600 unique companies/ organisations have signed up to attend the Summit, either in person or online. About two-thirds of the participants are at the C-suite / senior management level. The inaugural Summit also has the strong support of 16 sponsor partners and 54 supporting organisations, including 13 government agencies and 39 local and foreign trade associations and chambers.

The Summit started today with SBF’s flagship event, the Singapore Regional Business Forum (SRBF®). Besides the Opening Speech by DPM Heng Swee Keat, participants can also hear from Minister for Finance Mr Lawrence Wong, as well as Mr Chun Li, CEO of Lazada Group and 25 business leaders across 5 plenary discussion sessions on topics like ‘Sustainable Supply Chain Management’, ‘Sustainable Infrastructure throughout the Value Chain’ and ‘Green Financing and the Roles of Financial Institutions’.

Later today, SBF commemorates 20 Years of Connecting Businesses at the SBF 20th Anniversary Event with more than 500 guests, including past and present leaders of SBF, foreign dignitaries, key partners, and members. SBF is honoured to have President of the Republic of Singapore Madam Halimah Yacob as the Guest-of-Honour for the event.

Tomorrow (Wednesday), we will be having the ASEAN Conference where participants can hear from Minister for Trade and Industry Mr Gan Kim Yong  and 15 speakers across 3 plenary sessions on topics like ‘How ASEAN Cities and Industries Will Look Like in 2030’, ‘ASEAN Consumers: Do you understand them?’ and ‘A Look into the Future of Jobs and Skills in ASEAN to Capture Business Opportunities’.

On Thursday morning, at the Future Economy Conference and Exhibition, participants can hear from Minister for Communications and Information Mrs Josephine Teo and 23 speakers across 5 sessions on topics like ‘Building a Data-Driven and Cyber-Resilient Business Hub’, ‘Business Transformation in an Era of Industry 4.0’ and ‘Unlocking Value for the Trade Ecosystem’.

On Thursday afternoon, leaders from Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs) will gather at the TAC Symposium to discuss issues pertinent to TACs and how TACs can build stronger partnerships. Ms Low Yen Ling, Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry will take part in a fireside chat moderated by President of the Singapore Hotel Association Ms Kwee Wei-Lin. In addition, there will be 8 speakers across 3 presentations and 1 panel discussion on topics like ‘The Business Implications of the ESG Revolution’, ‘TACs as Enablers for Digital Transformation’ and ‘Cultivating Human Capital for TAC 4.0’.

On Friday, we will be having the FTA Day, where participants can hear from Minister for Transport and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, Mr S Iswaran, and 12 speakers across 3 plenaries on topics like ‘Regional Trade Agreements and the Future of Trade: Trend of Mega-Regional FTAs’, ‘Harnessing Opportunities in the Digital Economy’ and ‘Business, Trade and Sustainability’. There will also be a sharing by Guest Speaker Mr Kelvin Chng, Co-founder of Trusty Cars Pte Ltd (Carro).

“The past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic have been challenging for businesses. Through the SABS, the Singapore Business Federation aims to help companies achieve resilience and further accelerate their growth. Singapore is an attractive business hub for global businesses, and the Summit shows that we are open and ready for business,” said Mr Lim Ming Yan, Chairman, Singapore Business Federation.

“Through SABS, we aim to bring together business leaders and policy makers from around the world to discuss future trends and growth opportunities. The Summit also demonstrates to the world that Singapore is open for business and that we stand ready to connect with the rest of the world and to help connect the world. The Summit is very much aligned to SBF’s mission and the reason and purpose for which we were set up 20 years ago – to help bridge and connect the business community, and to help businesses seize growth opportunities in Singapore and around the world.” said Mr Lam Yi Young, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Business Federation.

“The Singapore Apex Business Summit has been a long-anticipated event for the regional and global business community and significantly so as Singapore moves into a streamlined phase of the endemic. The successful launch of SABS, co-organised with the Singapore Business Federation, reiterates the earnestness of the community to come together, collaborate and strive towards a positive outlook for the future.” said Mr Jason Ng, Executive Director, MP Singapore.

For more information and registration details, visit https://singaporeapexbusinesssummit.com

Inaugural Singapore Apex Business Summit Brings Together Global Industry Leaders to Facilitate Business Transformation in an Endemic World

Presented by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and MP Singapore, the four-day hybrid event will feature conferences, exhibitions, and forums focused on empowering businesses in the new normal

SINGAPORE, 8 March 2022 – As economies reopen worldwide and businesses embark on recovery and growth, the inaugural Singapore Apex Business Summit (SABS), a high-level international business platform, will see key decision-makers and thought leaders converge to empower businesses to maximise their potential in a COVID-19 endemic world.

Running from 22 to 25 March 2022, the hybrid event will bring together top-level industry, government, and business decision makers to focus on “Accelerating Business Transformation in an Endemic World”, the key theme of this year’s event. SABS will feature four full days of exhibitions, keynote speeches, panel discussions and networking sessions, providing deep insights into business trends and global opportunities. The event has received strong support from industry partners and government agencies, including more than 10 partners and more than 40 supporting organisations.

Presented by SBF and MP Singapore, the launch of SABS supports Singapore Budget 2022’s renewed focus on helping businesses and enterprises transform and adapt to changing consumer behaviours, new digital-first processes, global trade shifts in response to the pandemic, and emerging trends such as sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG). Held in conjunction with SBF’s 20th anniversary, this inaugural event is expected to be attended by business leaders, government officials, thought leaders and service providers from ASEAN and the rest of the world.

“As we embark upon recovery and look towards growth, the best way to prepare ourselves is through business transformation and digitalisation. SABS offers an important platform for the business community to come together and share their experiences and knowledge, providing valuable insights and creating new opportunities for each other. Through this, we hope that businesses can emerge stronger than ever and kickstart a long-awaited economic revitalisation,” said Mr. Lam Yi Young, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Business Federation.

“MP is delighted to have the opportunity to work with the Singapore Business Federation, the apex business chapter, on the inaugural Singapore Apex Business Summit. This is the first platform that combines the best of SBF’s thought leadership series into a four-day event that will help businesses pivot and thrive in this pandemic. As an SME ourselves, we are eagerly looking forward to the deep insights sharing and networking opportunities with business leaders in the region and beyond at SABS”, said Mr. Jason Ng, Executive Director, MP Singapore.

“We are excited to be a founding partner of the inaugural SABS 2022, where we will share on the digitalisation journey of MCC Singapore, from the deployment of smart technology in construction to the launch of an online-to-offline, end-user platform that seeks to create a one-stop service space for a community. Through this event, we hope that our recent digital story will inspire more businesses to develop an edge in the disruptive Covid era, “said Mr. Tan Zhiyong, CEO, MCC Singapore.

“Through this pandemic, we have seen how businesses have stayed resilient by digitally transforming themselves. Many pivoted online, and found new ways of connecting with their customers. Many picked up new digital tools, and learned to sell in creative ways such as through livestreaming. Instead of giving up, they fought back, and we are glad to be able to empower them to do so. As we move into an endemic phase in this region, we will continue to innovate to benefit our sellers, and at the same time, keep essential goods available and affordable for everyone,” said Mr. Chun Li, Group CEO, Lazada.

The inaugural SABS will be held from 22 to 25 March 2022, physically at Marina Bay Sands, Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Singapore, and virtually through an online platform.

Mr. Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, will deliver an opening keynote at the opening of SABS. Other Guests-of-Honour and Special Guests who will be gracing and speaking at SABS events include:

  • Halimah Yacob, President of Singapore
  • Lawrence Wong, Minister for Finance
  • Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Trade and Industry
  • Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information & Second Minister for Home Affairs
  • S Iswaran, Minister for Transport & Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations
  • Low Yen Ling, Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Trade and Industry

Each of the four days is themed around a premier business and networking event, as follows:

  • 22 March – Singapore Regional Business Forum (SRBF®) and SBF 20th Anniversary Event
  • 23 March – ASEAN Conference and GlobalConnect@SBF Showcase
  • 24 March – Future Economy Conference and Exhibition (FECE) and TAC Symposium
  • 25 March – FTA Day (Free Trade Agreement Day)

SRBF®, SBF’s flagship annual event and the anchor event of SABS, will explore public-private co-operation to foster sustainable growth and mitigate the climate crisis. The ASEAN Conference will feature panels to discuss changes in consumer behaviour, jobs and skills, and business mindset shifts to capture growth opportunities within the ASEAN region. FECE will help business stakeholders embrace technology and digital transformation through exploring issues like cybersecurity and Industry 4.0, while the inaugural TAC Symposium will help build capabilities within and deepen collaborations amongst trade associations and chambers (TACs) in Singapore. Finally, the FTA Day will spotlight mega-regional free trade agreements, digital economy agreements and the green economy, and how they can help businesses harness new opportunities.

For more information and registration details, visit www.singaporeapexbusinesssummit.com

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