To recognise outstanding Indian entrepreneurs and inspire Indian Singaporeans to become entrepreneurs, the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) officially announced the launch of its Entrepreneur Awards 2019 yesterday.

SICCI, formerly known as the Indian Merchants Association, is the representative body for Indian businesses in Singapore.

Three of the six awards, to be presented at a ceremony on Nov 9, are open for public nomination.

They are the Established Entrepreneur Award, for an individual representing a corporation with more than $10 million in annual revenue; the Promising Entrepreneur Award, for an individual representing a corporation with $10 million or less in annual revenue; and the Young Entrepreneur Award, for entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 35.

Nominations can be made online at www.sicci.com/sicci-entrepreneur-awards-2019 until Sept 23.

Nominees must be of Indian origin, a Singaporean or permanent resident, and own at least a 30 per cent share in the business that must be registered in Singapore.

The three other awards are the Best Innovation and Technology Award, the Global Presence Award and the Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility Award.

The winners will be shortlisted and picked by the awards committee. This year's judges are Mr Gautam Banerjee, senior managing director of Blackstone Group; Mr Inderjit Singh Dhaliwal, founder and chief executive of Solstar International; Ms Chew Mok Lee, assistant chief executive officer of Enterprise Singapore; and Mr Max Loh, managing partner, Singapore and Brunei, and IPO Leader, Asean, Ernst & Young.

"The awards are one way in which we showcase Indian entrepreneurship at its best," said Dr T. Chandroo, chairman of the SICCI.

"It continues a tradition of entrepreneurship which Indians the world over can be proud of. We hope it inspires our young to continue this worthy tradition."