The Middle East will have greater presence at this year’s Global Entrepolis @ Singapore (GES), the world’s premiere business networking event. Held from 30 October to 2 November, GES is a global marketplace where business funding, creativity and innovation, partnerships and technologies exchanges take place. Last year, GES 2005 recorded an unprecedented 46 deals, worth S$900 million in value with some 14,300 participants from over 60 countries. GES comprises four main platforms; conferences, exhibitions, networking events, and highlight events with participation from businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators from across the world. The President of the Republic of Singapore, S.R. Nathan, will open GES on 30 October.
"GES has proven to be an event that effectively bridges business ideas and markets. The diversity of industries and geographies represented is both an affirmation and a catalyst that will spur Singapore businesses to explore new territories and opportunities. We are particularly pleased with participation from the Middle East which will increase networking and interaction for businesses in both Asian and Middle East markets," said Singapore Business Federation’s Chairman, Mr Stephen Lee.
The ‘Middle East-Asia Business Exchange’ organized by the Singapore Business Federation will promote business exchanges and networking between companies from the two regions. Future economic trends and business opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa will be highlighted. GES will also feature the UAE-Asia Investment Forum, jointly organised by the Singapore Business Federation and Dubai Consultancy Company LLC. The forum will provide information about business expansion opportunities and potential market hubs in the UAE and Singapore.
Building on the success of the 2005 event, this year’s GES will be bigger and more diversified with more than 40 conferences, with the Middle East as a first-time participant at the International Business Conferences. “Asian economic giants” – China and India – will also be holding multiple conferences. Together with first-time participants like the European Union and Ukraine, the International Business Conferences are expected to provide diverse networking and market access opportunities for delegates and visitors.
The cornerstone of GES – the Enterprise Exchange – will also boast triple the exhibition space of the previous year, with the Middle East geared to return in a big way with some 80 exhibitors representing a cross-section of industries.
“GES is a unique marketplace for businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators seeking to identify and secure funding, investment and business opportunities. Participants of the previous years experienced this, and we are heartened to see them return because they are excited to once again revel in GES 2006. At the same time, we are looking forward to the many new participants and exhibitors. The diversity and vibrancy of industries and geographies represented at GES 2006 attest to the robust business environment in Singapore.” said Singapore Economic Development Board’s Chairman, Mr Teo Ming Kian.
Scheduled from 30 October to 2 November, GES 2006 is primed to introduce more “hot” topics on emerging industries, as well as more networking opportunities with the growing number of participant countries at the event.
Diversified line-up of Industry-Focused Conferences on current and emerging industries
Persistently high oil prices and rapid industrialisation have led to growing interest in ways to tap alternative energy sources in many parts of the world, especially in Asia. The viability of biofuels and ethanol as alternative energy sources will be one of the new forums introduced at GES 2006. Conferences on the Minerals, Metals and Materials industry will also be discussed for the first time.
Other industry-focused conferences lined up for GES 2006 include wireless venturing, interactive digital media, as well as franchising and licensing, assistive technology, intellectual property rights and nanotechnology. These industries offer immense opportunities to Singapore-based companies.
Expanded geographical representation at International Business conferences
GES 2006 will also see the return of the two “Asian economic giants” – China and India – who will be holding multiple conferences during the event. Together with first-time participants like the Middle East, the European Union and Ukraine, the International Business Conferences will provide more diverse networking and market access opportunities for delegates and visitors.
To date, close to 50 countries will be represented at more than 40 business conferences (see Annex 2) that have been confirmed at GES 2006.
Strong interest in Enterprise Exchange triples the exhibition space
The cornerstone of GES – the Enterprise Exchange – will also boast triple the exhibition space of the previous year, with the several key economic regions set to enhance their presence at the exhibition with many exciting business opportunities. Vietnam is slated to showcase their top 100 brands in a custom-made pavilion that has been specially brought in. The Middle East is also geared to return in a big way with some 80 exhibitors representing a cross-section of their industries.
The Enterprise Exchange is an exhibition for budding entrepreneurs, small businesses and multi-national corporations to showcase their products, services and innovations, as well as to seek market connections, funding, technology, forge partnerships and build strategic alliances. A total of almost 20,000 sq m has been allocated for the Enterprise Exchange.
“Captains of the Industry” conference to boast panel of prominent industry leaders
This year, the GES flagship conference – Captains of the Industry (COI) – is themed “New Frontiers for a New World: Trends & Innovation Shaping the 21st Century”. It will feature Dr James Canton as the keynote speaker. Dr Canton is known as the “Digital Guru” and is the Chairman and CEO of the Institute for Global Futures, as well as advisor to the White House Office of Science and Technology and MIT’s Media Lab in Europe. Dr Canton will discuss the many business opportunities created by the many trends such as the merging of technologies he has forecasted.
Other distinguished speakers at COI will include Chairman of Showa Denko, Mitsuo Ohashi; Chairman and CEO of F.C.I., Jean-Lucien Lamy; Executive Director of TATA Sons Ltd, R Gopalakrishna; President of Tsinghua Tongfang, Lu ZhiCheng; and Senior Vice-President for Corporate R&D at Procter & Gamble, Nabil Sakkab.
Spotlight on Business Incubation
This year’s Distinguished Technopreneurs Forum has, for the first time, secured the rights to host the Asia Pacific Business Incubation Summit. Conference organisers are collaborating closely with the Association of Asian Business Incubators to look at best practices in business incubation, share incubator management tools, incubation developments and provide the platform for greater international networking and business opportunities.
Funding platforms to grow with new “Business Angels Forum”
Besides its spectrum of conferences, GES 2006 is also a renowned equity funds platform drawing a host of international fund managers, private equity investors, venture capitalists and business angels. This year, a new “Business Angels Forum” will be introduced to specifically cater to the needs of smaller businesses.
In addition, TechVenture Asia – the region’s foremost private equity conference – will be celebrating its 10th anniversary. Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew will be the Guest of Honour at the gala dinner to be held on 1 November.
Collaborate and connect at multiple business networking platforms during GES 2006
GES comprises four main platforms: 1. Conferences 2. Exhibition 3. Networking events, and 4. Highlight events (Refer to Annex 1)
Business networking platforms at GES 2006 will be further facilitated in a number of ways, including the popular HOTEvents (H.O.T stands for Hub of Technopreneurs) – a free platform at the Enterprise Exchange for pitching, seeking, understanding procurement roadmaps and uncovering new market opportunities.
Upon registration, participants can also make use of the on-line Business Matching Portal (BMP) to set up meetings with other delegates ahead of the event. BMP already has a database of more than 13,000 names.
Three Business Networking Sessions in the evenings are also planned for participants to connect and collaborate.
GES 2006 will be opened on Oct 30, 2006 by President S R Nathan. Dr Tony Tan, Chairman of the National Research Foundation and Chairman of Singapore Press Holdings will be the Guest of Honour at the GES Gala Dinner on Oct 31, during which the Asian Innovation Awards will be given out.
GES joint presenters, Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), are confident that GES 2006 will offer participants and visitors valuable opportunities to tap in to and connect with businesses based in Singapore. Committed to promoting trade expansion and business networking, SBF has a membership of more than 15,000 Singapore-based businesses.
About Global Entrepolis @ Singapore 2006
Global Entrepolis @ Singapore (GES) comprises a multitude of events focused on connecting businesses around the world. It is a “free marketplace” that offers delegates, participants and exhibitors valuable opportunities to forge partnerships, secure funding, share expertise and network. Now in its fourth year, the 2006 event is primed to offer more than 40 conferences and triple the exhibition space compared to the previous year. There are four main platforms to GES 2006, namely: conferences, an exhibition, networking tool and sessions, and highlight events.
Specifically within the conference platform stems four categories of conferences: Anchor Conferences, International Business Meets, Industry Focus Conferences, Youth & Community Programmes.
The exhibition, called The Enterprise Exchange, is another highlight providing a platform for delegates and participants to showcase their expertise and products; and linking all parties will be a Business Matching Portal and three Business Networking Sessions.
For more information, please visit www.globalentrepolis.com
About Singapore Business Federation
The Singapore Business Federation is the apex business chamber in Singapore. SBF aims to advance and promote business opportunities and networking within the business community both in Singapore and abroad. At the national level, SBF works closely with the government and labour organizations in a tripartite relationship to create a conducive business environment in Singapore. At the international arena, SBF represents the Singapore business community in multilateral, regional and bilateral business organisations to advance and promote their interest in trade expansion.
For more information, please visit its website: www.sbf.org.sg
About the Singapore Economic Development Board
The Economic Development Board (EDB) is Singapore’s lead agency responsible for planning and executing strategies to sustain Singapore’s position as a global hub for business and investment.
It works closely with local and foreign companies across a diverse range of activities in both manufacturing and services to help them move towards higher value-creating operations in an increasingly knowledge-based and innovation-driven environment. It also encourages companies to use Singapore as their headquarters and total business centre to manage their global or regional functions to service their global or Asia Pacific operations.
Singapore is today a “Global Entrepolis” – a compelling global hub for business and investment where entrepreneurs and enterprise converge, spark and realise innovations, forge partnerships, and create value in manufacturing and services industries. We encourage innovation and entrepreneurship by helping to create an environment which is conducive for start-ups and companies of all sizes to interact with each other with good corporate governance practices and where intellectual property is protected.
For more information on how EDB can help in your business and investment, please visit www.sedb.com
About Zenith Events Corporation Ltd
Zenith Events Corporation Ltd. focuses on creating powerful marketing events for buyers and sellers to connect face-to-face through major expos and conferences. Its goal is to make use of its extensive resources in the region to help customers understand and succeed in the fast changing and complex Asian markets, as well as creating new opportunities for local players to explore the global marketplace.
Established in Hong Kong, with branch offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Singapore, and a partner network that spans USA, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Malaysia, Zenith also assists government organisations, professional associations/institutions, MNCs and local companies alike to launch and manage a diversity of events from product launch, customers programs, channel conferences, training seminars, sales promotion to any tailor-designed marketing programs in Asia.
As part of Zenith Integrated Communications, Zenith Events continues to focus on the hottest and fastest developing industries in Asia, and shares with every customer our creative and marketing excellence.
