Singapore names 6 business leaders as consultants for govt-led project in Chongqing

(Clockwise from top left) Mr Teo Siong Seng, Mr Robert Yap, Mr Liew Mun Leong, Mr Tan Chong Meng, Mr Chia Wee Boon, and Mr Chia Song Hwee have been appointed as consultants to the third government project with China. PHOTOS: CFE, ST FILE, PSA PHOTOS: CFE, ST FILE, PSA
Leaders from China and Singapore unveiled a plaque, signalling that the "China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity" has entered into operations officially. ST PHOTO: KOR KIAN BENG
Leaders from China and Singapore unveiled a plaque, signalling that the "China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity" has entered into operations officially. ST PHOTO: KOR KIAN BENG
Leaders from China and Singapore unveiled a plaque, signalling that the "China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity" has entered into operations officially. ST PHOTO: KOR KIAN BENG

CHONGQING - Singapore has appointed six business leaders as consultants to lend their corporate and professional expertise to the third government-to-government project with China, which is based in Chongqing.

They are Singapore Business Federation chairman Teo Siong Seng; Singapore National Employers Federation president Robert Yap; Surbana Jurong and Changi Airport Group chairman Liew Mun Leong; Temasek Holdings head of investment group and China co-head Chia Song Hwee; NCS chief executive officer Chia Wee Boon; and port operator PSA International chief executive officer Tan Chong Meng.

Labour chief Chan Chun Sing, Singapore's pointman for the project, revealed this at the first meeting of the project's Joint Implementation Council (JIC) on Friday (Jan 8) afternoon.

Mr Chan, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, also met Chongqing party boss Sun Zhengcai on Friday.

At an outdoor ceremony held in the Jiangbeizui CBD area, both leaders unveiled a plaque, signalling that the "China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity" has entered into operations officially.

They also witnessed the signing of several pacts between Singapore firms and their Chinese counterparts for the project.

Chongqing mayor Huang Qifan, who co-chairs the JIC with Mr Chan, revealed at the meeting that the deals totalled some US$6.56 billion (S$9.42 billion).

"This is only the first batch of investments, and we are sure there will be more in the future," Mr Huang added.

Launched during President Xi Jinping's visit to Singapore in November, the third project will focus on four priority areas: Financial services; aviation; transport and logistics; and information and communications technology.

The project is aimed at boosting China's western region development, Mr Xi's revival of ancient Silk Road routes to better link China internally and with neighbouring economies, and providing business opportunities for Singapore and Chinese firms, among other goals.

It is the third government-to-government project between the two countries, following the Suzhou Industrial Park in 1994 and the Tianjin Eco-city in 2008.

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