FREEING UP: Ms Chua shakes hands with a performer after cutting the red tape which had bound him, symbolising the Pro-Enterprise Panel's mission of creating a more pro-business environment in Singapore. -- PHOTO: MTI

The new Cut Red Tape Awards are the latest effort by the Pro-Enterprise Panel (PEP), an agency that helps to cut unnecessary bureaucracy in regulations, to create a more pro-business environment.

The awards were launched yesterday by The Ascott Group chief executive Jennie Chua, who is one of the business leaders championing the PEP.

'The Cut Red Tape awards will recognise businesses or persons who give innovative ideas to help Singapore become a more pro-enterprise place,' she said.

Ms Chua was speaking to reporters at the opening of a week-long roadshow to promote the contest, which started yesterday at Raffles Place Park above the Raffles Place MRT station.

'The criteria of the awards are that the suggestions must be effective and have a positive impact on improving the business community,' she added.

'No suggestion is too minor. They can be anything related to outdated rules, onerous regulatory requirements or cumbersome government processes,' said the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) in a statement yesterday.

Three winners will be picked, from all the suggestions accepted by the PEP for implementation between July 1 last year and June 30 this year.

They will each be given a plaque and a letter of appreciation signed by the chairman of the PEP, Mr Peter Ho, who is also head of the civil service.

The winner with the best suggestion will also be awarded $1,000, while those coming in second and third will be given $800 and $500 respectively.

Since its inception about eight years ago, the PEP has received about 1,700 suggestions to cut red tape, and half have been implemented.

Businesses are encouraged to send in their suggestions to cut red tape at www.pep.gov.sg

GRACE NG