Singapore healthcare providers to explore opportunities in Xiamen and Shanghai

06 Sep 2006

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan and Minister of State for Trade and Industry Lee Yi Shyan will lead a delegation of over 50 officials and businessmen to Xiamen and Shanghai, respectively from 7-11 Sep 2006.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) and International Enterprise (IE) Singapore are jointly organising a delegation comprising over 50 officials and businessmen from about 20 Singapore healthcare and related companies to Xiamen (7-9 Sep) and Shanghai (9-11 Sep). The delegation's visit to Xiamen will be led by Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Minister for Health while its visit to Shanghai will be led by Mr Lee Yi Shyan, Minister of State for Trade and Industry. Please refer to Annex I for the list of participating companies.

The aim of this mission is to facilitate the expansion of Singapore's healthcare and related providers (or HCPs) into China by raising the awareness of China's healthcare system and liberalisation policies; providing them with opportunities to meet and interact with PRC government officials, and their Chinese counterparts, and sharing and showcasing Singapore HCPs' capabilities to encourage exchange and collaboration with China's HCPs.

During the visit, Minister Khaw will meet with the PRC Vice Minister for Health, Mr Huang Jiefu and attend the 10th China International Fair for Investment Trade. Together with Vice-Minister Huang Jiefu and Vice Minister from the PRC Ministry of Commerce, Ms Ma Xiuhong, Minister Khaw will officiate the opening of the China-Singapore Joint Healthcare forum, the first of its kind to be organised by the Ministry of Health (PRC), Ministry of Commerce (PRC), the Ministry of Health and IE Singapore of the Ministry of Trade and Industry This Forum will be held alongside the Xiamen Trade and Investment Exposition, commonly known as the "9.8", the largest international trade show in China, held annually on 8 September.

Of interest to Singapore HCPs will be the development of traditional Chinese Medicine and China's move towards liberalising its healthcare industry. Over 50 Chinese government officials and hospital administrators from the various provinces in China have been invited to the Joint Healthcare Forum. The forum will also provide networking opportunities for the Singapore delegation to meet and interact with these government officials and their healthcare counterparts in China.

A similar forum will be held at the Shanghai International Convention Centre on 10 Sep 06. To be officially opened by MOS Lee Yi Shyan, the "China-Singapore Forum on Contemporary Healthcare Management" is organised by IE Singapore in collaboration with the SGP International Management Academy. The forum will provide a platform for Singapore's healthcare value chain to showcase their capabilities to over 100 PRC participants, who are mostly Shanghai government officials and hospital administrators from Shanghai and the neighbouring cities. During his visit, Mr Lee will be visiting some hospitals/ healthcare establishments in Shanghai. He will also be the Guest-of-Honour at the celebration of New York Dessert Cafe or n.y.d.c.'s third restaurant in Shanghai.

In 2005, bilateral trade between Singapore and Xiamen reached US$73.41 million, an increase of 16% compared to the previous year. Xiamen's exports to Singapore amounted to US$32.21 million (29.32%) while Xiamen's imports from Singapore reached US$41.2 (+8.17%). As at July 2006, Singapore's cumulative contractual investments in Xiamen reached US$800 million, with 400 projects. Singapore is the 4th largest foreign investor of Xiamen.

In 2005, bilateral trade between Singapore and Shanghai reached US$5.4 billion, an increase of 24.3% compared to the previous year. Shanghai's exports to Singapore was US$2.2 billion (+16.91%) while Shanghai's imports from Singapore reached US$3.2 billion (+29.98%). As at March 2006, Singapore's cumulative contractual investments in Shanghai reached US$5.6 billion, with 2144 projects. Singapore is the 5th largest foreign investor of Shanghai city.

This Press Release is jointly issued by:

Ministry of Health

Ministry of Trade and Industry

International Enterprise Singapore

Annex 1

Healthcare mission to Xiamen and Shanghai led by Minister Khaw Boon Wan and MOS Lee Yi Shyan, respectively (7-11 Sep 06)

Official Delegation

Ministry Of Health

Ministry of Trade And Industry

International Enterprise Singapore

Singapore Tourism Board

Business Delegation

Singapore Health Services

National Healthcare Group

Asia Medic Limited

China Healthcare Limited

CPG Consultants Pte Ltd

Health Management International Ltd

Keppel FMO Pte Ltd

Mok & Associates

Ma Kuang Healthcare Group Pte Ltd

Medic Marketing Pte Ltd 

NCS Group

Parkway Group Healthcare Pte Ltd

Pacific Healthcare Holdings Ltd

Paragon International Holdings Pte Ltd

Singapore Computer Systems Limited

SGP International Management Academy 

Southern Packaging Group

United Medicare Centre

Zuellig Investments (S) Pte Ltd