Singapore Government Press Release

Media Division, Ministry of Information & The Arts, #36-00, PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Road, Singapore 119963, Tel: 3757794/5

REMARKS BY MR GOH CHEE WEE, MINISTER OF STATE

FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY AND COMMUNICATIONS,

TO PERSONNEL IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY

PREPARING FOR THE WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE

ON FRIDAY, 22 NOV 96, 11.00 AM, AT SUNTEC ROOMS 325/326

Ladies and gentlemen

Good morning

1 I am very pleased to meet all of you here this morning. You are a valuable part of our national team organising the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference (WTO MC). You are a member of our team of many Singaporeans working hard to make the WTO MC a great success. I hope this meeting will help you understand why Singapore is giving this event so much attention. Mr Chan has given you the facts. Let me give you the big picture.

2 The World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference will be the largest and most important international conference ever held in Singapore. The Singapore Government has worked hard to convince WTO's worldwide members to hold this very first WTO conference here. The WTO Ministerial Conference is a very prestigious event. Many countries have competed for the privilege to host this conference. By selecting Singapore, the world has shown high regard for our nation. We can be proud of this recogition. Hosting the conference is not only a special privilege, it also gives us an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the best Singapore hospitality.

3 The Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body of the World Trade Organisation. It decides on world trade and international business policies. We are expecting 160 Heads of Delegation to attend the conference. These are mostly trade ministers representing their countries. Some countries will be represented by their prime ministers. With senior government officials, other high-level participants, international and local reporters, and others, a total of 5,000 people are expected at the WTO MC. This number alone explains why the Singapore team has taken more than one year to prepare. The WTO MC will benefit Singapore in many ways.

4 First, this event will give Singapore international attention. As host nation, Singapore will take charge of running the WTO MC. Singapore representatives will also be participating actively in the trade and business meetings. This is very significant for Singapore, because all WTO trade and business news will be in international newspapers and on TV around the world. What the world will see is the vital role Singapore is playing in such an important conference. They will see how well Singapore organises such world events. This world attention will help give Singapore a strong international image as an excellent place to conduct business and important events.

5 Second, the WTO MC is the best chance for the world to experience Singapore's multi-racial culture and warm hospitality. It is not often that Singapore gets to host 5,000 guests from around the world for one event in one week! Within one week, these guests will stay in our hotels; eat in our restaurants and food stalls; shop in our complexes; ride in our taxis, buses and MRT; walk our streets; and visit our tourist and business places. They will see and feel what it is like to live in Singapore. They will enjoy first hand our cleanliness and greenery. But most important, they will meet Singaporeans of all backgrounds, from all walks of life. Every Singaporean has a part to play in making our guests feel at home. They must make sure these guests leave with a positive feeling and a good impression of Singapore.

6 As important service providers, you will be one of the first Singaporeans welcoming and serving these special guests. You will take the lead in offering your best service to them. You are the front line people who will create the first impression. The impact of your service is critical, because first impressions last a long time. Your quality of service will be remembered long after the WTO MC is over. These are the acts of service our guests will remember Singapore for.

7 Let me first speak to the Comfort Transportation drivers. You have one of the most important tasks : chauffeuring the 160 Heads of Delegation from the time they land to the time they leave. I mentioned that these will be mostly ministers, but some will be prime ministers. These VVIPs will be given the most attention and the tightest security. They are the highest ranking participants at the WTO MC. On the road, they will be in your care. You need to be alert, courteous and helpful, in your regular contact with these VVIPs. You will be Singapore's representatives serving these VVIP, and we expect you to give your very best. This high standard of service is also expected of all public transport service providers.

8 In the same spirit, quality service from hotels, retail outlets and tourist locations is equally crucial. Many hotels, particularly those surrounding the Suntec area are fully booked for the delegates. Hotel staff will have many good opportunities to show off the quality of their service to these guests. We also expect these guests to do a lot of shopping and to visit the popular tourist attractions. This is where retail personnel and service staff at tourist locations can shine. To all service providers, please remember always to be courteous, helpful and to serve with a smile.

9 The success of the WTO MC depends as much on you as it does on the organisers. We cannot afford to fail, because Singapore's name and reputation depends on us. What our special guests experience here will stick in their minds for a long time. Our entire nation has been preparing for the WTO MC to make it a truly successful and memorable one. This is our chance to show the world about Singapore: a place where the people work hard, live well and take pride in their achievements; a place where everything works; and a place that is always progressing. You are important members of our national team. We are depending on you to make this historic event a success Thank you and I wish you every success in this team effort for Singapore.

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