Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SMCCI) is a non-profit organization, established in 1956 to support the Malay/Muslim business community in Singapore.

Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Formation1956; 68 years ago (1956)
Founded atSingapore
TypeChamber of commerce
PurposeTo nurture a vibrant entrepreneurial culture amongst Malay/Muslim Enterprises
Location
Membership
900 members
President
Farid Khan
Websitewww.smcci.org.sg
Formerly called
Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce (SMCC)

History

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The Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SMCCI) was first established in 1956 as the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce (SMCC) by a group of Malay/Muslim businessmen, including the first President of Singapore, Yusof Ishak.[1][2] Its establishment was initially intended to look after the trading interests of the Malay/Muslim business community, however, its name was later changed to its current name in 1995 to reflect its wider scope.[1]

In 2006, SME Centre @ SMCCI was established as a one-stop centre for local small and medium enterprises (SMEs).[3][4]

In 2016, The SMCCI celebrated its 60th anniversary and helped set up global hub along with SPRING Singapore and International Enterprise Singapore which would identify food firms scale up their halal exports.[5]

In 2018, The SMCCI collaborated with Enterprise Singapore and One Kampong Glam Association in a project led by Infocomm Media Development Authority to digitalize businesses within the Kampong Glam vicinity.[6][7]

Timeline

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  • 1956 – The SMCC was set up in an effort to uplift the Malay/Muslim enterprises. It started out with only 15 companies, with their first office located at 500 Victoria Street.[1]
  • 1988 – The SMCCI's office was relocated to International Plaza.[8]
  • 1995 – SMCC was renamed to SMCCI in order to reflect its wider scope
  • 1997 – The SMCCI's office was relocated to 72A Bussorah Street.[1]
  • 2006 – SME Centre @SMCCI is established.[3]
  • 2009 – The SMCCI's office was again relocated to its current address at 15 Jalan Pinang.
  • 2018 – The SMCCI collaborated with Enterprise Singapore and One Kampong Glam Association in a project led by Infocomm Media Development Authority to digitalise businesses within the Kampong Glam vicinity.[9]
  • 2021 – SMCCI establishes an office at 35 Onan Rd in the heart of Geylang Serai. [10]


List of Past Presidents

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  • 1956-1960 – Mr Haji Abdul Hamid Allwie[11]
  • 1963-1966 – Mr Salleh Basharahil[11]
  • 1968-1969 – Mr Zainal Haji Alias[11]
  • 1970-1980 – Mr Mohd Ghazali Gaffoor[11]
  • 1980-1984, 1988-1992, 1994-1998 – Mr Haji Abdul Jalil Bin Haron[11]
  • 1984-1988 – Mr Syed Ali Redha Alsagoff[11]
  • 1992-1994 – Mr Jamil Marican[11]
  • 1999-2003 – Mr Umar Abdul Hamid[11]
  • 2003-2005 – Ms Nooraini Noordin[11]
  • 2005-2009 – Dato' Mohd Zain Abdullah[11]
  • 2009-2013 – Mr Abdul Rohim Sarip[11]
  • 2013-2017 – Mr Zahidi Abdul Rahman
  • 2017-2019 – Mr Shamir Rahim
  • 2019-Current – Mr Farid Khan

Functions and activities

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Since its establishment, SMCCI has played an active role in the facilitation of its members’ trade activities and acts as a point of contact between local and international sellers and consumers.[12]

SMCCI collates information on business opportunities and disseminates it among its members. Like other recognised chambers of commerce, SMCCI is authorised to endorse certificates of origin as needed by exporters.[13] Today, SMCCI continues to work in representing the interests of the local Malay/Muslim business community and serves as a platform to create opportunities for members through regular business missions, conferences, networking sessions and activities. Now, with its subsidiary, SME Centre@SMCCI, works to strengthen capabilities and encourage local SMEs to adopt technologies and expand their business overseas.[14]

Since 2010, SMCCI has been hosting Malay/Muslim Business Conference for sharing industry knowledge and expertise with the participation of successful Malay/Muslim entrepreneurs.[15] In 2014, Prime minister Lee Hsien Loong and Yaacob Ibrahim, the Minister for Communications and Information attended the event as the Guest of Honor and gave a speech at the conference.[16][17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Rasheed, Zainul Abidin; Saat, Norshahril (2016). Majulah!: 50 Years of Malay/Muslim Community in Singapore. World Scientific. p. 385. ISBN 978-9814759885. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  2. ^ Rasheed, Zainul Abidin; Saat, Norshahril (2016). World Scientific Series on Singapore's 50 Years of Nation-Building. doi:10.1142/9980. ISBN 978-981-4759-86-1.
  3. ^ a b Rasheed, Zainul Abidin; Saat, Norshahril (2016). Majulah!: 50 Years of Malay/Muslim Community in Singapore. World Scientific. p. 388. ISBN 978-9814759885. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  4. ^ "HomeLocal startup launches app targeting gig economy". The Edge Singapore. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  5. ^ "New global hub to help scale up halal food exports". The Straits Times. 22 October 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Kampong Glam to undergo digital makeover under plan to boost retail sector". The Straits Times. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Kampong Glam shopping belt to revive buzz with digital makeover". The Straits Times. 4 November 2017.
  8. ^ "New office of Malay chamber". The Straits Times. 11 April 1988. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  9. ^ "Grab to offer cashless payment in Kampong Glam". Singapore Business Review. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  10. ^ "DPPMS buka pejabat baru di Onan Road; dampingi peniaga, usahawan Melayu/Islam bahagian timur S'pura". Berita Mediacorp. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "DPPMS meraikan ulang tahun ke-60" (PDF). Berita Harian. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  12. ^ "Malay chamber of commerce to hold business missions". The Straits Times. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  13. ^ Mokhtar, Faris (18 August 2011). "Malay Chamber of Commerce endorses Tony Tan". Yahoo News. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  14. ^ "Singapore Muslim businesses out to tempt Japanese". The Straits Times. No. Malay chamber of commerce leads 10 food and fashion companies on mission to Tokyo and Hokkaido. 11 December 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  15. ^ Rasheed, Zainul Abidin; Saat, Norshahril (2016). Majulah!: 50 Years of Malay/Muslim Community in Singapore. World Scientific. pp. 386–387. ISBN 978-9814759885. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  16. ^ "Transcript of Speech by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Malay-Muslim Business Conference, 7 May 2014". Prime Minister‘s Office Singapore. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  17. ^ "Advancing Entrepreneurship: The Role of Malay/Muslim Institutions". Retrieved 13 October 2018.
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