SINGAPORE: Singapore firms looking to appoint new directors to their boards will be able to tap into an online register of directors by late next year or early 2010.

This service is one of the new measures recommended by the Singapore Institute of Directors (SID) following a recent organisational review.

The review also showed that only one in four board directors attend training courses in a year. Those who do receive training only attend about four hours a year.

SID said it plans to roll out training courses which directors said are most relevant for them.

John Lim, president, Singapore Institute of Directors, said: "Risk management is an area. Also there are programmes that people have requested from various sectors - programmes fitted for directors of family-owned companies.

"And also we've had requests for training programmes for directors in the not-for-profit sector of the economy."

SID was formed in the wake of the Asian financial crisis, and aims to promote good corporate governance among Singapore businesses. - CNA/vm