Mr Bert Choong

President of the Singapore Furniture Industries Council

Excellencies

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

I am very happy to join you here this morning to officiate at the opening of the International Furniture Fair Singapore, held in conjunction with the 19^th ASEAN Furniture Show and OFFICE & KITCHEN Shows. Allow me to wish you a slightly belated Happy Year of the Horse. Let’s hope and work for new opportunities in the new year.

Year 2001 was certainly a difficult year. Things are looking a little brighter. We are certainly happy to note that this year’s event has attracted an impressive participation of 507 exhibitors from 29 countries. China and Indonesia have given their strong support to the Show by staging bigger country pavilions than last year. This year’s event also welcomes for the first time, participation from Norway, Turkey and the Czech Republic. All these are strong endorsements of the Show’s reputation as a truly international trade event where leading furniture players from around the world converge to network and be updated on the latest furniture trends. We, in Singapore, have been most happy to play host to this major international exhibition.

Exhibitions in Singapore help exhibitors to reach out to a wide spectrum of international and Asian buyers. It also offers easy access to Asia Pacific’s dynamic market, within a flying radius of 7 hours and with a population of 2.8 billion. International companies looking for opportunities in Asia have always made exhibitions in Singapore one of their preferred avenues to launch their products. IFFS/AFS is no exception. I would like to commend the Singapore Furniture Industries Council for building this home-grown trade fair into a world-class flagship event. The Show is one of the 14 accredited shows under the Singapore Trade Development Board’s International Exhibition City Program in 2002. An event accredited by TDB is a mark of the Show’s international standing.

Although Singapore does not have a big furniture manufacturing base, it has managed to develop itself into a premier international furniture trading hub. In 2001, Singapore’s total trade in furniture, which has been growing at a steady pace, was recorded at S$426 million, a growth of $44 million from 1999. With the limited market size, local furniture players realised that their chances of survival depended on external markets and opportunities in other countries. Many took the challenge to venture overseas, especially into regional countries like Malaysia and China. We have been able to establish strong regional business networks.

The future international business environment will become increasingly competitive. To stay ahead, furniture companies will not only have to strengthen their presence in existing markets, but will also have to continue to explore and tap new markets. International Furniture Fair Singapore and Asean Furniture Show, in short IFFS and AFS, are excellent platforms for these companies to reach out to new emerging markets like China, the Middle East and South Asia.

Although the IFFS and AFS are established shows today, I am pleased to note that the Singapore Furniture Industries Council continues to add more value to them. The website Asiafurniturehub.com, which was launched at IFFS last year, has enabled many Singapore furniture companies to leverage on the power of the Internet to enhance operational efficiencies and find new growth opportunities beyond geographical boundaries. It has effectively transformed the Singapore furniture industry into a click-and-mortar industry. At this year’s event, more innovative IT applications are being showcased on systems such as the Supply Chain Management, Customer Relationship Management and the Enterprise Resource Planning.

Another important feature of this year’s event is the Furniture Design Competition for young designers, which was opened for the 2^nd time to entries from both Singapore and the ASEAN countries. Design is a very important activity of the furniture manufacturing value chain. As good designs command a premium, more effort should be put in to develop Singapore as a premier furniture design centre. What the Singapore Furniture Industries Council has done in recognising the creativity of young designers and students is a step in the right direction.

I am also pleased to note that Singapore Furniture Industries Council has forged strategic alliance with leading trade-show organiser KölnMesse International, the foreign arm of KölnMesse, the organiser of the world-renowned furniture fairs International Furniture Fair and Orgatech in Germany. This strategic alliance with KölnMesse International is a firm endorsement of IFFS/AFS as the region’s leading furniture event.

At this year’s event, new shows called OFFICE modelled after Orgatech and KITCHEN modelled after the kitchen section of the International Furniture Fair, showcasing the best of office and kitchen furniture will make their debut. These new shows will further enhance the prominence and prestige of IFFS/AFS. Besides, they will build on the already comprehensive range of products and services offered.

I am confident that this five-day trade event will be a most fruitful and rewarding experience for all participants. On this note, it gives me great pleasure to declare open, the International Furniture Fair Singapore held in conjunction with 19^th ASEAN Furniture Show, OFFICE and KITCHEN Shows.

Thank you.

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