THE Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) should look at business opportunities in the sports sector, said Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports.

Dr Balakrishnan was speaking at a dinner to commemorate the chamber's 68th annual general meeting on Wednesday night.

'It would be good for SICCI to also look at the growing account in the sports business,' he said.

He said that it was important for the chamber to see the 'commercial sponsorships and marketing opportunities' in the sports area.

'I only need to remind you of what's happening in the cricket scene in India and to make you understand that there is real commercial value in sports,' Dr Balakrishnan said.

The minister also spoke about Singapore's growing ties with India and SICCI's role in it.

'Today, we are one of India's fastest growing trading partners. I believe in 2008, bilateral trade between Singapore and India surpassed $28 billion.

'And that represents a growth of more than 20 per cent over the previous year.'

The importance of the youth sector here was also discussed.

'If we don't focus on opening the eyes of our own young people to the opportunities that India represents, that would be a great waste of opportunity,' Dr Balakrishnan said.

Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.