Singapore, 25 March 2004 – The Bureau of Shanghai World Expo, the executive organising body for the Shanghai World Expo in 2010, has chosen Singapore as its first destination to launch its overseas marketing efforts following its successful bid to host the major event.

In collaboration with Network China (International Enterprise Singapore), the Bureau is holding a CEO Business Forum at the Shangri-La Hotel today. The objective of this Forum is to present the business potential and to promote the World Expo 2010 and the city of Shanghai. In the lead-up to 2010, vast business opportunities are being created in areas such as in infrastructure and construction, communications, logistics, consulting, and real estate development. The event will also see an investment of billions of dollars by the Chinese government as Shanghai gears up to cater to an expected 70 million visitors from around the world.

Mr Huang Yao Cheng, Deputy Director, The Bureau of Shanghai World Expo , said, “Organising the Shanghai World Expo will become the focus for China over the next few years. The event not only provides a good chance to show the world the social, economic and cultural achievements and development prospects of Shanghai, but it will also bring huge opportunities to enterprises all around the world. We welcome more Singapore enterprises to participate in the event and to share in the success of the Shanghai World Expo ” .

Speakers at the half-day Forum include Mr Huang Yao Cheng , Deputy Director, Bureau of Shanghai World Expo; Mr Zhou Hongli , Minister Counsellor, Economic & Commercial Office, Embassy of PRC in Singapore; Mr Ted Tan , Assistant Chief Executive Officer, IE Singapore; and Mr Mao Jingquan , President, Shanghai Public Relations Association.

Business corporations will participate in the panel discussions and representation comes from CapitaLand China Holdings Group, Julink Communications, and Shanghai Hodoor Real Estate Development. Attendees at the Forum comprise a hundred select entrepreneurs and senior management from companies in Singapore and China.

Mr Ted Tan, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, IE Singapore, said, “I welcome and encourage the organisers of the Shanghai World Expo to tap on Singapore's expertise in areas such as real estate management, infrastructure development, and services including international finance, education and logistics, to explore greater opportunities with Singapore-based companies. I would like to thank the organisers for choosing Singapore as their first destination of marketing and hope that “World Expo 2010” in Shanghai would be a successful event.“

The Shanghai World Expo 2010 CEO Business Forum is held at the Banyan Room, Shangri-La Hotel, from 2 to 6pm, and will be followed by cocktails and dinner for the attendees. The event is co-organised by the Shanghai Public Relations Association (SPRA) and the Institute of Public Relations of Singapore (IPRS).

Ms K Bhavani, President, IPRS, said, “This is a very good opportunity for the business community in both countries to network and exchange first-hand information on the potential in each market. IPRS is happy to have worked very closely with our counterpart in Shanghai, SPRA, to make this event possible and we look forward to future collaborative efforts to bring about more of such business platforms.”

Adds Mr Mao Jingquan, President, SPRA, ”This event is just the beginning of the communication and cooperation between us. More communication and efforts are needed in the future to optimise the opportunities brought by the Shanghai World Expo and to create more areas of future cooperation. As the organiser of this event, SPRA would like to provide bridges for more investments and cooperation in the future . ”

Last year, Singapore's trade with China reached SGD36.9 billion, an increase of 31.3 per cent compared to 2002. In 2003, China was Singapore's 5 th largest trading partner. In terms of investment, Singapore was China's 7 th largest investor, with contractual Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) worth USD3.4 billion and actual FDI worth USD2.7 billion. As of end 2003, Singapore's cumulative investment in China reached USD44.7 billion (contractual) and USD25.1 billion (actual).

END

Jointly issued by:

Institute of Public Relations of Singapore
International Enterprise Singapore

For more information, please contact:

Yvette Lim (Ms)
Manager
Institute of Public Relations of Singapore
Tel: (65) 6236 2902
Email: admin@iprs.org.sg

Liane Ong (Ms)
Manager, Corporate Communications
International Enterprise Singapore
Tel: (65) 6433 4939
Fax: (65) 6337 8136
Email: liane_ong@iesingapore.gov.sg

About Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination

The Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, headed by Vice Mayor Zhou Yupeng, is an executive organisation in charge of the World Expo 2010. Its key tasks are:

The Bureau will also establish a World Expo Land Reserve Center and a World Expo Corporate. The former will reserve, expropriate, and develop land for World Expo 2010. The latter will lease the land, build stadiums, and provide management, ticketing and logistic services to World Expo 2010. Visit: http://www.expo2010china.com/

About International Enterprise Singapore
International Enterprise Singapore – or IE Singapore for short – is the lead agency spearheading Singapore's efforts to develop its external economic wing by helping Singapore-based companies to globalise.

Our mission is to help Singapore-based companies grow and internationalise successfully. We offer a wide range of services in Singapore and in 36 locations worldwide to help Singapore-based companies globalise through developing the 3Cs, namely, Competency, Connections and Capital. In doing so, we provide market information, and assist enterprises in building up their business capabilities and finding overseas partners. At the same time, IE Singapore works to position Singapore as a base for foreign businesses to expand into the region in partnership with Singapore-based companies. For more information, please visit www.iesingapore.com

About Network China
Network China is a premier networking platform for Singapore-based companies setting up business, looking for business partners and investing in China. Network China is a government and private sector network aimed at providing business support to its members and nurturing a breeding ground for entrepreneurship. Members are Singapore-based companies in various industry clusters. Members have access to the latest market information and knowledge on China provided by IE Singapore and its corporate partnerships. It is also a place to establish valuable guanxi with influential government officials from China and to source for prospective business partners. For more information, please visit http://www.iesingapore.com/.

About Shanghai Public Relations Association
Shanghai Public Relations Association (SPRA) was established in Nov 1986, the first PR association founded in China. SPRA has more than 200 member companies ranging from state-owned, joint-venture, collective to private and individual members. Mr Wang Daohan, the former Mayor of Shanghai Municipal Government, serves as SPRA's honorary Chairman and directors of the SPRA committee are enterprise heads, the academic elite, government officials and media leaders.

About Institute of Public Relations of Singapore
The Institute of Public Relations of Singapore, established in 1970 as a non-profit organisation, is the only accrediting body for public relations practitioners. The Institute's objective is to establish growth for Singapore's PR industry through knowledge acquisition, networking, and the exchange of new ideas. The Institute continually strives to be the leading regional PR organisation that will not only elevate the profession but also set industry standards and increase public recognition of this profession.