Iconomy Joins North West CDC Lohei Luncheon with Mayor Dr Teo Ho Pin

10 February 2017

Iconomy Group Chief Executive Officer Mr Boo Kok Chuon attended the North West Community Development Council (“North West CDC”) Lohei Luncheon on 10 February 2017, joining members of the local business and community network for the Chinese New Year gathering.

The luncheon was attended by Dr Teo Ho Pin, then Mayor of North West District, who shared with participants the CDC’s continuing efforts to strengthen engagement with businesses in the North West District, including through the Mayor’s Network @ North West.

Mr Boo also had the opportunity to meet Dr Teo during the luncheon.

Connecting Businesses with the Community

The Mayor’s Network @ North West formed part of North West CDC’s efforts to connect businesses with government initiatives, industry knowledge and the wider community.

According to a North West CDC media advisory issued shortly afterwards, the Mayor’s Network @ North West – SMEs had been introduced in September 2013. Its sessions introduced government schemes aimed at improving SME productivity and efficiency, while also encouraging corporate social responsibility and participation in community programmes. The programme was subsequently expanded to include sharing by industry experts and entrepreneurs.

By March 2017, North West CDC reported that 33 networking sessions had been conducted for more than 1,300 SME participants.

The initiative reflected a broader role for business networks beyond commercial exchange, bringing enterprises into closer contact with public institutions, industry perspectives and the communities in which they operate.

Supporting SMEs Through Dialogue

The programme continued the following month with the Mayor’s Network @ North West – Economic Outlook and Financial Market Insights 2017, held on 15 March 2017.

That session was designed to engage SMEs following Singapore’s Budget 2017, including discussion of government schemes, competitiveness, innovation and the challenges encountered by businesses. North West CDC also described the dialogue as an opportunity to receive feedback from SMEs and better understand the problems they faced.

Regional economist Mr Song Seng Wun, then Director in CIMB Private Banking, was invited to share perspectives on global economic trends and the implications of Budget 2017 for SMEs.

Building Relationships Beyond Business

Iconomy’s participation in the Lohei Luncheon formed part of the Group’s early engagement with business, community and public-sector networks.

Such engagements provided opportunities not merely to develop commercial relationships, but to understand the wider environment in which SMEs operate and to participate in conversations connecting enterprise, public policy and community development.

For Iconomy, these conversations would continue over subsequent years across business associations, educational institutions, professional communities and public-policy dialogues.