Russia-Singapore Business Forum 2012 -- 7th Annual Forum Set to Open

Singapore well-placed at the crossroads of Russia and Asian growth and development

-- RSBF 2012 will also feature industry-specific sessions on Industrial Cluster Development, Real Estate Investment and Innovation and Technology.

SINGAPORE, Sept. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The seventh annual Russia-Singapore Business Forum (RSBF) will be held from 24 - 27 September 2012 in Singapore, and will focus on Singapore as a gateway to Asia, a vibrant region of emerging cities and fast developing markets.

This forum, themed "Connecting Markets", is organised by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) for the second successive year since 2011. Since its inauguration in 2006, the RSBF has grown in stature to become Asia's only leading business and networking platform for Russian/CIS and Singapore/Asian businessmen. It attracts some 700 delegates each year from over 30 countries, of which 240 are from Russian/CIS.

This year, Singapore and Asian participants will also be updated on the opportunities and challenges in Russia and CIS in light of on-going developments. The inauguration of Vladimir Putin as Russia's President, Russia's entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and its successful hosting of the recent APEC Summit in Vladivostok will have an impact on its business and economic focus and priorities.

Mr Tony Chew, Chairman of the Singapore Business Federation, said, "RSBF 2012 is organised amidst over-hanging global economic uncertainty. While the economies involved are still on an upward growth trajectory, the landscape is changing as emerging and revitalised cities take on new meanings, becoming the focal points of development and human living. These emerging cities, many of which are in the Asia region, are the growth drivers of tomorrow, and businesses must look into engaging them in order to stay relevant."

Commenting on Singapore's growing relevance to Russia, Mr Chew continued, "The world's most dynamic economies are now concentrated in Asia, with markets such as Indonesia, Vietnam and Myanmar holding much untapped potential. Singapore's infrastructure, connectivity and traditional linkages with these markets place it in good stead to take on the role of a global Asia hub. The bridging of businesses to such new opportunities has been a key focus of SBF over the past decade, hence our strong support of RSBF."

Over the past year, several partnerships and collaborations have been forged between Russia and Singapore, which include:

-- A joint venture between Singapore's Changi Airports International

and Russian companies Basic Element and Sberbank, which will finance

and develop airports in Russia's southern Krasnodar region;

-- Russia-based construction and real estate company Morton Group setting

up a fund in Singapore;

-- A partnership between Jurong Consultants and Pskov Region Development

Agency to provide consulting services for Moglino Industrial Park,

located outside Pskov, in Northwest Russia;

-- IDM Venture Capital, which has since invested in two Singapore

companies; and

-- RSP Architects which is helping with the masterplan of the Republic

of Tatarstan.

A key objective of the RSBF is to grow the links between Russia/CIS and Singapore/Asia businessmen. This is further expounded in the forum's programme this year, which comprises industry-specific sessions on Industrial Cluster Development, Real Estate Investment and Innovation and Technology, amongst other more broad-based themes.

Mr Michael Tay, Executive Director of RSBF and Singapore's former Ambassador to Russia, said, "Russian companies are well aware that Asia is the place to be. This is telling in the numbers - there are now around 333 Russian companies in Singapore compared to only 14 in 2004 (Note 1); and the Russian-speaking population has swelled from 300 in 2003 to some 5,000 currently. Singapore has received some 38,000 visitors from Russia in the first six months of 2012, which is more than 20% over the same period last year (Note 2). We have also seen an increase in exchanges between both countries over the years, and I am confident economic relations will continue to strengthen."

As with previous years, highlights of the forum include dialogue and panel sessions with business and political elite such as:

-- Lee Kuan Yew, Former Prime Minister, Singapore

-- Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Finance, Singapore

-- Igor Shuvalov, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation

-- Nikolai Nikiforov, Minister of Communications and Mass Media, Russia

-- Andrei Slepnev, Minister for Trade, Member of the Board, Eurasian Economic Commission

-- Alexey Overchuk, Deputy Commissioner, Federal Tax Service of Russia

-- Hanspeter Brunner, Chief Executive Officer, Asia, BSI Bank

-- Jim Rogers, Chairman, Roger Holdings and Beeland Interests, Co-founder, Quantum Fund

Russia was Singapore's 29th largest trading partner in 2011 with total trade amounting to S$4.7 billion. (Note 3)

Notes:

1. Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority.

2. Singapore Tourism Board.

3. StatLink, International Enterprise Singapore.

About Russia-Singapore Business Forum

The Russia-Singapore Business Forum (RSBF), initiated in 2006, is an annual B-to-B forum organised by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) that takes place in Singapore. The RSBF Organising Council is led by Executive Director, Mr Michael Tay, former Singapore Ambassador to Russia. The RSBF's Strategic Partner is Sberbank, the largest bank in Eastern Europe. The RSBF has the support of key Singapore Government agencies, particularly the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Since the inaugural forum in March 2006, the RSBF has grown in stature to become Asia's leading business and networking platform for Russia/CIS and Singapore/Asia businessmen. It is evolving into a broader platform for emerging markets from these two regions, and has set a precedent in bringing together top government officials and business elite from these regions.

About Singapore Business Federation

As the apex business chamber, the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) champions the interests of the business community in Singapore, in trade, investment and industrial relations. Nationally, SBF acts as the bridge between the government and businesses in Singapore to create a conducive business environment. Internationally, SBF represents the business community in bilateral, regional and multilateral fora for the purpose of trade expansion and business networking. For more information, please visit our website: www.sbf.org.sg.

For media queries please contact:

Mr. Gerald De Cotta

Tel: +65-6827-6896

Mobile: +65-9831-7210

Email: gerald@sbf.org.sg

Ms. Renee Koh

Tel: +65-6827-6866

Mobile: +65-9017-1380

Email: renee.koh@sbf.org.sg

Ms. Eileen Lee

Tel: +65-6827-6874

Mobile: +65-9004-6920

Email: eileen.lee@sbf.org.sg

SOURCE　Singapore Business Federation