Celebrating trailblazers paving the way for enhanced bilateral ties

The Business China Awards, which commenced in 2010, has long been a platform for recognising individuals and organisations that have played pivotal roles in nurturing Singapore-China relations and strengthening biculturalism in Singapore.

The awards – presented in conjunction with OCBC Bank – are organised by Business China Singapore, a non-profit organisation committed to advancing Singapore’s position as a cultural and economic bridge connecting the world with China.

With three award categories: Business China Excellence Award, Business China Enterprise Award and Business China Young Achiever Award, the awards recognise outstanding contributions across various sectors.

EXCELLENCE AWARD: BUILDING BRIDGES

The Business China Excellence Award went to Mr Roland Ng San Tiong, managing director and group CEO of Tat Hong Holdings, one of the largest crane rental companies in the Asia Pacific region and the second-largest tower crane company in China, with a presence in 32 provinces.

Said Mr Ng: “Due to our enduring business relationship with China, we have a good understanding of the culture and share a common language. China is the second-largest economy, and when China does well, it benefits everyone, including Singapore.”

Mr Ng’s contributions extend beyond his role at Tat Hong Holdings. He was elected president of the 59th and 60th councils of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI) in 2017 and 2019. In 2017, he helped set up the Trade Association Hub, which promotes collaboration among trade associations and chambers in Singapore. One of the hub’s main goals is helping SMEs develop new capabilities to compete in a digital economy.

Furthermore, the SCCCI’s donation of S$1.1 million to COVID-19-stricken communities in China via the Singapore Red Cross in 2020 showcased Mr Ng’s commitment to cross-border humanitarian aid. He also worked with the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products to organise the Conference on International Industrial Cooperation, which was held in March this year in Singapore.

Said Mr Ng: “I did not expect this award. It confirms that I have achieved some of the objectives that SCCCI has set, which include fostering better relations between Chinese and Singapore enterprises and assisting local companies that are venturing into China.”

ENTERPRISE AWARD: A SINO-SINGAPORE COLLABORATION

Winning the Business China Enterprise Award is a recognition of Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Investment and Development (SSTEC)'s contributions towards promoting cooperation and exchanges between China and Singapore. The award also recognises its outstanding achievements in sustainable urban development as the master developer of China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City. 

The China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City is the second flagship government-to-government project between Singapore and China. This joint venture has transformed the area from a wasteland into a green, smart and vibrant city with over 140,000 residents.

Said Mr Teo Eng Cheong, SSTEC’s CEO: “The award reminds us that the influence of the Eco-City project far exceeds its geographical confines of 30 sq km. It is not only important for the overall development of Tianjin, but also crucial for bilateral relations between the two countries.”

The project has been instrumental in facilitating an exchange of expertise and best practices between the governments of Singapore and China in sustainability-linked areas, including urban planning, environmental protection and resource conservation. The governments and institutions from China and Singapore jointly formulated the world’s first set of comprehensive and quantifiable eco-city key performance indicators. Other bilateral green initiatives in the China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City include the Sino-Singapore Friendship Park, a joint development between Singapore’s National Parks Board and the Eco-City Administrative Committee (ECAC).

ECAC also signed a memorandum of understanding with Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA) to promote the China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City’s green building standards. In 2015, the SSTEC’s Low Carbon Living Lab received the BCA Green Mark Platinum Award.

SSTEC has taken an active role in fostering a pro-business environment within the Eco-City. To date, this initiative has successfully attracted over 28,000 enterprises and institutions.

Said Mr Teo: “The Eco-City offers an ideal platform for test-bedding, showcasing and implementing new technologies and products, particularly for businesses from China and Singapore.”

YOUNG ACHIEVER AWARD: A PATENT SUCCESS

Mr Jeffrey Tiong, founder and CEO of Singapore-based start-up Patsnap, won the Business China Young Achiever Award. He founded Patsnap in 2007 with the support of the National University of Singapore and Temasek-owned Vertex Ventures.

Patsnap is a global patent and innovation database that simplifies patent information analysis for organisations worldwide. Today, the start-up is valued at over US$1 billion (S$1.37 billion), following a 2011 funding round that raised US$300 million from investors such as SoftBank, Tencent and Vertex Ventures.

Patsnap has now expanded its global footprint with over 1,200 employees in Singapore, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan.

Said Mr Tiong: “SIP functioned as a strategic launchpad for our entry into the Chinese market. Among our extensive global customer base of over 12,000, our collaboration with nearly 700 institutions and clients in Suzhou underscores the significance of this region.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Tiong provided free Patsnap database accounts to users in China, empowering over 3,000 China-based patent officer examiners to continue working from home. Over 5,000 companies were also able to continue collaborative work between their intellectual property (IP) and research and development teams.

To further enhance Singapore-China IP exchanges, Patsnap launched a free online learning hub that since 2017, has served over 200,000 students and corporate users.

“I am deeply grateful for the recognition and am committed to leveraging this honour as a catalyst for continued business growth while contributing to the advancement of Singapore-China relations and the global innovation landscape,” Mr Tiong said.

Learn more about the Business China Awards 2023.