SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (Assistance)

Mr Tay Beng Chuan asked the Minister for Trade and Industry whether greater effort will be taken by his Ministry to reach out and help the large numbers of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which are currently run by the older generation of Chinese-educated or Mandarin speaking businessmen in their own traditional ways so that they will appreciate and take up the challenges posed by the new national SME 21 plan.

The Minister for Trade and Industry (BG George Yong-Boon Yeo): Mr Speaker, Sir, SME 21 is a national plan aimed at strengthening the capabilities of our local SMEs by providing them a range of support services. SMEs will be able to tap on these services to grow, upgrade and expand their businesses in the new knowledge economy.

To facilitate better understanding of SME 21, a Chinese translation of the plan will be made available by May this year. The Singapore Productivity and Standards Board (PSB) also works closely with the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) to reach out to more Chinese-educated or Mandarin-speaking SME businessmen to disseminate SME 21. In particular, road shows will be conducted throughout the year to disseminate detailed action plans for the recommendations in SME 21.

PSB also encourages strategic partnerships amongst SMEs through the formation of business groupings. PSB also works with a wide network of trade and industry associations, including the Singapore Retailers' Association and the Singapore Furniture Association. Such groupings and associations provide good forums for SME owners to network and help themselves by helping each other. PSB plays a facilitating role.

Mr Tay Beng Chuan (Nominated Member): Sir, are there any long-term solutions being initiated by the Government to recruit effectively bilingual senior officers to explain the nitty-gritty or intricacies of Government policies and plans to the older generation of the Mandarin-speaking or non-English speaking businessmen so as to win their hearts and minds in the implementation of these policies and plans?

BG George Yong-Boon Yeo: Mr Speaker, Sir, we are mindful of this need and we have been building up our capability in this area.