Dear Members and Friends

It is entirely fitting this issue #388 is published on the 15th and final day of the Lunar New Year festival. 388 is a great number and freely interpreted means “may prosperity and good fortune prevail.”

It is also fitting this issue is devoted to our Corporate Governance and Regulatory Interest Group (IG) co-chaired by Adrian Chan of Lee & Lee and Balasubramaniam Janamanchi of JBS Practice Public Accounting Corporation. This is because good governance is the key to sustained prosperity and success for all businesses and all not-for-profits. This is precisely why the IG was the first formed in SICC many years ago and remains one of the most active of Chamber IGs because of its engaged members. The IG’s members reflect the diversity of Chamber members and include those from listed companies, professional firms, service providers, private companies, multinationals, family offices and family-owned businesses.

The IG is an extremely valued feedback channel. When public consultation papers are issued, the IG collates feedback from members and these responses are taken seriously by the regulators due to the extensive membership profile and industry representation of the Chamber. The IG has helped shape policies over the years.

Regular talks and interactive sessions are held with regulators and organizations such as ACRA, the PDPC, the Council for Board Diversity and SGX. These interactions allow IG members to gain insights into regulatory policies and trends and enable them to share their concerns in a private, closed-door format with regulators. The aim is the same as the Chamber’s: to help businesses and Singapore.

The IG wants to continue enabling members and like-minded people concerned about regulations, compliance and corporate governance to gain insights into the latest developments and upcoming trends in these areas. Since policies and regulations are ever-changing, it is important for members of the IG to keep track, upgrade themselves and engage with regulators. It is about growing, changing and adapting together with the changing policy and regulatory landscape all in the interests of good governance and sustainable businesses.

Yours faithfully
Victor Mills
Chief Executive