120 years of SCCCI and beyond

• 大 家 晚 上 好。

• 首 先，我 衷 心 祝 贺 新 加 坡 中 华 总 商 会 成 立 一 百 二 十 周 年!

• 非 常 荣 幸 能 够 出 席 今 晚 《跨120》特 展 的 开 幕 仪 式 。  

• 一 百 二 十 年 来，总 商 会 在 推 动 新 加 坡  经 济 的 同 时，也 在 文 化、教 育 和 社 区 建 设 等 方 面， 作 出 了 很 大 的 贡 献。  

• 这 份 精 神，值 得 我 们 铭 记 与 传 承。  

• 今 晚 揭 幕 的 特 展， 让 我 们 重 温 先 辈 的 足 迹，也 让 不 同 种 族 的 朋 友 更 了 解 新 加 坡 华 族 文 化。

• 我 希 望 总 商 会 继 续 发 挥  影 响 力，让 更 多 人 认 识 和 珍 惜 新 加 坡 华 族 文 化，共 同 建 设 我 们 和 谐 美 好 的 新 加 坡。

• 接 下 来，让 我 用 英 语 发 言。

• It is my pleasure to join you this evening for the launch of Beyond 120, a celebration of the Chamber’s remarkable 120-year journey and a reflection of what it means to build something that lasts.

• In many ways, the Chamber’s story mirrors Singapore’s own – it’s a story of staying open to the world, adapting to change, and shared progress.

• Behind this story lies a set of enduring values that have guided generations of business leaders and shaped our national character.

• Tonight, I would like to thank all of you for reflecting these values in the Chamber's work across three important areas:

  • the spirit of enterprise,

  • the commitment to culture, and

  • the courage to innovate.

Spirit of Enterprise: Trust, Unity, and Mutual Support

• First, the spirit of enterprise.

• For generations, our local Chinese entrepreneurs have understood that business is way more than just about generating profits. It is also about identifying needs with wisdom and foresight, creating value through hard work and innovation, and most fundamentally, building trust.

• We see this in tonight’s exhibition, which features historic seals from the Chamber’s collection, some dating to the pre-war period.

  • Beyond their administrative function, these seals reflect the accountability and good governance that the Chamber has long embodied.

  • These same qualities have underpinned Singapore’s success and the reputation that we hold as a trusted partner on the global stage.

• Trust begets trust, and trust grows networks. Over the years, the Chamber has brought many local companies, especially SMEs, together to share knowledge, open doors, and support one another through its initiatives, and built trust amongst members.

• This is the “We First” spirit in action. When our businesses look towards common interests, leverage on each other’s strengths, and contribute to the wider ecosystem, we become stronger together – as an ecosystem, as a community, and as a country.

Commitment to Culture: Strengthening Our Multicultural Identity

• Second, its commitment to culture.

• Through the past 120 years, the Chamber has made invaluable contributions to our Singapore Chinese culture, heritage, as well as our shared identity.

  • The Chinese Business Culture Hub documents the Chinese entrepreneurial spirit and the community's contributions to Singapore's development.

  • The National Heritage Board is honoured to partner the Chamber to manage the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall. This preserves our national monument and helps everyone to immerse in and understand the Singapore Chinese culture and heritage.

  • And through its active support of key cultural initiatives such as River Hongbao and the Speak Mandarin Campaign, the Chamber helps keep our traditions and language alive.

• The Chamber is also a key node in helping Singaporeans understand the Singapore Chinese culture in multicultural Singapore. By sharing and appreciating one another's cultures and traditions, we foster mutual understanding and respect across communities, and reinforce our shared identity as Singaporeans.

• MCCY will do more to strengthen this.

  • We will continue to partner the Chamber and cultural institutions such as the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre to promote Singapore Chinese culture.

  • We have also launched the $20 million Multicultural Arts Programme Grant, which will be open for application next month, to bring Singaporeans from diverse backgrounds together through shared arts and cultural experiences.

• So that together, we can build a stronger Singapore for our future generations.

Courage to Innovate: Embracing the Future Together

• Third, the culture and courage to innovate.

• The Chamber and our businesses have done well through being bold, responding to changing circumstances, and embracing new possibilities.

• From our forefathers who first arrived on these shores, to the visionaries who founded the Chamber in 1906, and to our business leaders gathered here today – each generation has embodied the courage to venture forward, to adapt, and to build.

• And we have done so in a manner that brings everyone forward together, and in a way that leaves no one behind. Progress is only meaningful when it is shared widely by all.

• This means sustained investments in education, training, and lifelong learning to equip Singaporeans with the skills and confidence to move forward as the world evolves.

• The Chamber has long recognised this. From supporting schools in its early years, to introducing computer training as early as the 1980s, and now building workforce capabilities in digital innovation and artificial intelligence, the Chamber has worked alongside the Government at every stage of our country’s development to ensure that our businesses and our workers are well-prepared for each new era, and can continue to move forward with confidence.

Staying Anchored in Shared Values as Singapore Navigates an Uncertain World

• At this juncture, I want to take a moment to thank the Chamber and all of you gathered today for your steadfast commitment to the spirit of enterprise, the commitment to culture and strengthening the courage to innovate over the past 120 years, and your key role in shaping a united, resilient and innovative society.

• Looking ahead, our world is becoming more complex and uncertain, with geopolitical uncertainties, rising costs and technological disruptions.

• But if we remain grounded in our values, if we stay together as a community with a strong and united Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, we can ride out all the storms and we can sail onwards to brighter skies – for our businesses, for our community, and for our people. Not just for tomorrow, but for the next 120 years and beyond.

• Congratulations once again to the Chamber on this remarkable milestone.

• I wish everybody a very meaningful evening. Thank you.