MTI to partner trade associations and chambers to drive collaborative projects

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) will partner Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs) to drive 30 collaborative industry projects over the next three years, Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade) Lim Hng Kiang announced on Thursday (April 7) during the ministry’s Committee of Supply debate.

Expected to benefit over 3,000 SMEs, the programme will see TACs “source for bottom-up, scalable solutions to industry-specific productivity and innovation needs”, Mr Lim said.

He cited the example of a project led by the Waste Management and Recycling Association Singapore (WMRAS) to encourage the mass adoption of automated canvas covers for the trucks used in waste collection. The project is expected to lead to a 25-per-cent increase in productivity of each truck, improvement in working conditions and thus manpower retention, as well as improvement in workplace safety. A total of six service providers were engaged to pilot this adoption for 39 companies in the waste management industry.

Last month, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat announced in his Budget speech a Local Enterprise and Association Development-Plus (LEAD-Plus) programme, costing S$30 million over the next five years. This will be introduced to improve the capabilities of TACs and help them strengthen their outreach. Providing more details, Mr Lim said the LEAD-Plus programme will strengthen leadership within the TACs - such as through consultancy support for strategic plan development - and build capability in TAC secretariats including training to manage corporate functions.

The Government is also prepared to second up to 20 public service officers over the next five years to TACs under the programme.

Robust processes — for example in the areas of human resource, information technology and finance - will be developed in the TACS, whose branding will also be enhanced — along with their ability to provide services to companies, such as market research and technology mapping.

Separately, to boost the development of small and medium enterprises (SMESs), the Government will set aside a grant budget of more than S$2.3 billion over the next five years, under MTI’s fifth tranche of Enterprise Development Fund. This is an increase from the previous tranche of S$1.4 billion, said Minister of State for Trade and Industry Koh Poh Koon.

The latest tranche of funding will support a slew of existing SPRING and IE Singapore schemes including the Capability Development Grant, Innovation and Capability Vouchers, and Micro-Loan Programme.