Chairman and members of the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce, ladies and gentlemen:

As we move towards a knowledge-based economy, there will be a premium placed on developing and utilising knowledge. The flow of ideas and information will play an increasingly important role. To stay at the fore-front of this new economy, Singapore must continue to be an attractive hub for talents and ideas from all over the world.

The Singapore International Chamber of Commerce has done well in bringing together talents, from both Singapore and overseas. 35% of your members are Singaporean companies and the other 65% are multi-national companies from 44 different countries. The diverse backgrounds and experiences of your members have contributed to the flow and exchange of ideas and information. This has not only benefited the members themselves, but also the Business community in Singapore.

The gathering of ideas and feedback from key stakeholders is also important to the Government. The Government recognises that we do not have a monopoly on ideas or talents. Many innovative ideas and useful knowledge actually reside in people outside the Government. To come up with good policies, we need to actively consult the private and people sectors.

Although consultation may be time-consuming, it leads to better-formed policies, greater buy-in from the stakeholders and hence, smoother implementation. The people who are consulted also need to understand that not every idea can be adopted. At the end of the day, the Government will have to consider all the different views and make an informed decision based on the long-term interest of Singapore.

The consultation process is not new to the Government. MOF for instance, has been tapping on the expertise of many people through our various committees and Boards. However, in recent years, the Government has taken active steps to involve and consult even more people, including foreign investors in Singapore. In a PERC (Political & Economic Risk Consultancy) report published in Apr this year, the Singapore Government was rated top among Asian countries in establishing one-to-one business consultative relationships with foreign investors.

Although we can feel proud of this recognition, we must not rest on our laurels and should continue to look for more effective channels of getting ideas and feedback. On this note, let me cite some recent examples from the Ministry of Finance.

The Supplementary Retirement Scheme, or SRS, will be introduced to allow Singaporeans to make voluntary contributions for their old age, over and above their CPF savings. Contributions to SRS will be accorded tax deductions at the time of contribution, with tax being payable only when the savings are withdrawn. In practice, individuals can spread out their withdrawals over a time period such that they may effectively pay no taxes at all.

On 26 April, MOF posted a consultation paper on the Internet to seek feedback from the general public. Before this, officials from MOF and the Ministry of Manpower had met relevant private sector representatives, including financial sector practitioners and businessmen, as well as engaged in Feedback Unit sessions. Among those whom we consulted were Mr Graham Hayward and Mr Jon Robinson from the SICC.

The posting of the SRS policy on the Internet is a new channel that we are using to get feedback from the public. Since its launch, we have received useful comments and ideas from different people. For some policies, getting feedback through the Internet is clearly a useful channel.

Besides seeking feedback on our policies, the Government is also constantly looking for ways to get new ideas and suggestions for improvement. One such effort is the setting up of committees, comprising members from both public and private sectors, to advise Government agencies on how they can improve their service delivery.

MOF recently set up a standing advisory committee in March for the Customs and Excise Department. The advisory committee was established to provide ideas and share best industry practices, to help improve Customs practices and procedures in Singapore. The committee members come from different backgrounds. While some are from statutory boards, such as TDB and EDB, the majority of members are from the private sector, such as the Singapore Aircargo Agents Association, the Singapore Logistics Association and the Singapore Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry.

The Government and our agencies benefit from such consultation with key stakeholders and industry experts. The ideas and feedback suggested by the committee members are valuable inputs to help improve our service quality. MOF is now looking at setting up an advisory committee for the Registry of Companies and Business as well.

Moving on to my final example. There has been significant work on corporate governance in recent years. Most notably, the Corporate Finance Committee, or CFC, made several recommendations in 1998 on how to improve the setting and practice of disclosure and accounting standards in Singapore. The legal and regulatory aspects of the CFC recommendations are currently being implemented by a joint committee of government departments and agencies.

As a continuous effort to make Singapore a world-class business and financial hub, the Government has embarked on a comprehensive review of corporate regulation and governance in Singapore. Three private-sector led committees were formed to study the following areas: Company Legislation and Regulatory Framework, Disclosure and Accounting Standards as well as Corporate Governance. The three committees will complete their study and make their recommendations to the Government at the end of this year.

The Company Legislation and Regulatory Framework Committee is led by Dr Philip Pillai, Managing Partner of Shook Lin and Bok. The committee will review Singapore’s corporate law and regulatory framework, and compare Singapore’s approach and legal structure with the standards and best practices of other countries such as the UK, US and Australia. The committee will study areas such as lowering the costs of incorporation and company administration and having a single legislation for insolvency issues. Dr Pillai’s committee will also be looking at the structure and composition of the Companies Act and its relationship with other Acts, such as the omnibus Securities Act.

The second committee, led by Mr Ng Boon Yew, a Consultant with the Singapore Technologies Group and former Partner of KPMG, is on Disclosure and Accounting Standards. This committee will review the process by which accounting standards are set, maintained and regulated in Singapore, compared with overseas jurisdictions. The Singapore Statements of Accounting Standards will be studied to see if these can be aligned to the International Accounting Standards. Mr Ng and his team will also examine the approach, development and promotion of best practices in disclosure requirements among publicly listed companies in Singapore.

Last but not least, is the Corporate Governance Committee, led by Mr Koh Boon Hwee, Chairman of Singapore Telecommunications. The Corporate Governance Committee will look at the development and promotion of best practices in corporate governance among public listed companies, with comparisons to international benchmarks such as the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance. Mr Koh’s team will also formulate corporate governance principles with a view to adopting best boardroom practices.

These examples highlight the importance of forging a close partnership between the Government and our various stakeholders to develop effective and sound policies. The consultation process is not new to the Government but in the light of a knowledge-based economy, it has taken on a renewed and greater emphasis. The Government will continue to find new ways to tap on the ideas and knowledge of the people and private sectors.

I would like to thank the Chairman and members of the SICC for your contributions and active participation in various discussion forums initiated by the Government. With your high standing in the business community, the SICC is in a good position to build on your excellent track record to further promote active citizenry from the private sector. I wish you all the best in your endeavours for the coming year.

Thank you.