Annual Report 2024
2024 has been a special year for the Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (SGC), as we celebrated our 20th Anniversary. Over the past two decades, the SGC has served as a fundamental platform for dialogues, collaborations, and mutual growth for the businesses within the Singaporean-German business community.
Our milestone anniversary theme, ‘Building Bridges & Creating Opportunities’, reflects our commitment to fostering partnerships that drive mutual success. It is therefore with great pride that we present you this Annual Report, highlighting our accomplishments over the past year.
In March, we were honoured to host Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Heng Swee Keat at our special anniversary lunch, where we presented the ‘Building Bridges and Creating Opportunities’ Award to recognise outstanding contributions to Singapore-Germany business relations.
And for our 20th Annual General Meeting (AGM), we could welcome in a truly bilateral manner German Parliamentary State Secretary Stefan Wenzel and Singapore Permanent Secretary Dr Beh Swan Gin.
In May, during our 20th Anniversary Gala and Ball, Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Gan Kim Yong highlighted the chamber’s pivotal role as a cornerstone of bilateral ties over the past two decades, reinforcing the importance of our shared accomplishments.
2024 also brought great new developments to fostering partnerships. The opening of the Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) ASEAN Hub and the Baden-Württemberg Representative Office at the SGC’s premises reinforced our position as a gateway for partnerships in Southeast Asia.
Additionally, our inaugural German Week showcased German innovation and industry excellence, connecting members and guests across various sectors to initiate new opportunities and partnerships.
The year was also defined by impactful initiatives that united people and ideas. Our Women in Business Forum driven by our SGC Women in Business Committee was a remarkable success, featuring inspiring speakers who shared enriching perspectives on gender equality and leadership.
We furthermore welcomed multiple German delegations to Singapore, including those focused on Optics & Photonics and Training & Higher Education, as well as from Saxony-Anhalt, Baden-Württemberg, and Hamburg, further strengthening regional ties and mutual goals.
Additionally, our Hydrogen Delegation to Germany and our Singapore Pavilion at the IFA in Berlin were successful trade promotion activities from Singapore to Germany.
Looking ahead, 2025 marks a momentous occasion as Singapore and Germany celebrate 60 years of bilateral diplomatic relations. Our 2025 theme, ‘Driving Innovation, Empowering Partnerships’, embodies our continued pursuit of bold ideas and collaborative growth.
All the activities and results we achieved over the last 20 years would not have been possible without the great dedication and excellent know-how of the entire SGC Board, Advisory Council, SGC Committees and the support of our SGC members.
In addition, our thanks go to our Gold members and partners, among others the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), the German Embassy in Singapore, the Singapore Embassy in Germany, the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and Enterprise Singapore (ESG).
We would like to express our continued appreciation for the SGC staff for their tireless dedication and professionalism in driving our initiatives forward.
Together, let us continue building bridges, creating opportunities, and driving innovation to ensure a prosperous future for the Singaporean-German business community!
Ms Shirley Qi, President, SGC and Dr Tim Philippi, Executive Director, SGC
