Mr James Hughes-Hallet, Chairman of John Swire & Sons Ltd,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning. 

1.                  I am happy to be here with you to celebrate the opening of The China Navigation Company’s new office in Singapore.  I am very glad that the Swire Group has grown in strength and presence here in Singapore over the years.  It wasn’t that long ago that I had the pleasure of officiating the opening of the Swire Pacific Offshore Training Centre.  Two years on, we gather now to mark yet another milestone in the growth of the Swire Group’s operations here. 

Swire Group’s Maritime Operations in Singapore

2.                  The Swire Group has a long association with Singapore.  Swire Pacific Offshore started its offshore marine support operations here in the 1970s.  Expanding its business through the years, Swire Pacific Offshore is today a leading offshore support service provider.  It is based in Singapore and has operations all over the world.  Many of Swire Pacific Offshore newbuilds are contracted with Singapore shipyards, and we are pleased that the majority of her fleet is flagged with the Singapore Ship Registry.

3.                  Beyond offshore marine and engineering, the Swire Group is also expanding into other sectors of the maritime industry.  I understand that this new office is set up to manage the Group’s global liner operations from Singapore.  Existing ship-owning and operating activities in other parts of the world will also be consolidated here.  This is the best demonstration of the Swire Group’s confidence and commitment to Singapore. 

Boosting Singapore as an International Maritime Centre

4.                  The Government is committed to growing Maritime Singapore.  The Singapore maritime industry remains a key pillar of our economy, contributing some 7 per cent to our GDP.  Today, there are over 5,000 maritime companies in Singapore, with more than 100,000 people employed in the sector. 

5.                  We believe in providing the right conditions for the maritime industry to thrive.  We hope to serve companies here with our pro-business maritime environment and stable government policies.  We hope that companies will leverage and add to the network of the very dynamic industry players located here.    

6.                  Our vision is to make Singapore a leading International Maritime Centre in the world and we are continually on the lookout for areas that we can add value to industry.  We regularly review our programmes and schemes to make sure that they are relevant and will keep us competitive.  Throughout this whole process, we see industry as a strong partner.  We welcome regular industry consultation and feedback for ideas to ensure that we have a vibrant and sustainable future for Maritime Singapore. 

7.                  We have also been extending assistance to facilitate the growth of maritime businesses here.  For example, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (or MPA) has offered support to The China Navigation Company in its business development and training programmes.  We would like to encourage companies to make use of the available support schemes to further grow their businesses here.

Conclusion

8.                  In closing, let me congratulate the Swire Group for the opening of The China Navigation Company office.  I wish the Swire Group continued success in Singapore and look forward to the continued partnership in the years ahead.

Thank you.