SINGAPORE: Minister in Prime Minister's Office Lim Swee Say is leading a trade and investment mission to Sichuan next week - from October 26 to 29 - together with Minister of State for Defence, Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee.

During the trip, the 11th Singapore-Sichuan Trade and Investment Committee meeting will be held to discuss new areas of co-operation between Singapore and Sichuan.

This is the first business mission organised by IE Singapore to Chengdu since the Sichuan earthquake in May.

Mr Lim will bring a 47-member delegation, comprising representatives from 33 companies, including officials from IE Singapore, Economic Development Board and Singapore Tourism Board.

The Singapore-based companies come from a range of industries and services, including urban infrastructure services, professional services and consultancy, education, hospitality and manufacturing.

Singapore is the third largest investor in Sichuan in 2007 and bilateral trade between the two amounted to US$401.7 million in the first eight months of this year.

To help Sichuan's rebuilding efforts, Singapore member companies of the Singapore-Sichuan Trade and Investment Committee presented a S$282,739 cheque to the Sichuan secretariat on Thursday.

This latest contribution brings the total donation to Sichuan relief efforts by the bilateral committee to S$1,196,360. - CNA/vm