THE entrepreneur behind candy retail chain The Cocoa Trees has picked up a coveted award for his business achievements.

The chief executive of chocolate distributor and retailer Focus Network Agencies, Mr Paul Loo Lip Giam, is the overall winner of the Ernst & Young (EY) Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Mr Loo will represent Singapore at the annual EY World Entrepreneur of the Year award event in Monte Carlo next year, and compete with contenders from more than 60 countries.

In addition to the top honour, EY also presented awards for entrepreneurial excellence to Mr Loi Pok Yen, group chief executive of logistics firm CWT, and Mr Glenndle Sim, executive chairman and chief executive of repair and overhaul solutions provider Mencast Holdings.

The awards were presented on Thursday at a ceremony held at the Ritz Carlton hotel.

Second Minister for Home Affairs, and Trade and Industry, Mr S Iswaran, said entrepreneurs "epitomise the indomitable human spirit".

The minister, the guest of honour at tonight's event, added that domestic challenges over manpower and land are "well known and understood", and "entrepreneurial collaboration between the public and private sectors" is needed to tackle these challenges.