Productivity funding expands to green technology TACs

What will be the spending focus of these government-picked trade associations and chambers?

Two TACs in the sustainable development sector, namely the Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) and the Waste Management and Recycling Association of Singapore (WMRAS), has been awarded productivity financing for the first time under the Local Enterprise and Association Development or LEAD programme.

"SGBC will be encouraging the building and construction sector to go green through various initiatives. These include a Singapore Green Building Products (SGBP) Certification Scheme, the first for green building products, materials and solutions in the region," said International Singapore and SPRING Singapore, the two agencies managing the LEAD programme.

"The project by WMRAS will enhance the professionalism and capabilities of the waste-management industry. It will work with the Workforce Development Agency and National Environment Agency to develop a training progression framework to create career opportunities for the industry’s workforce," they said.

"The other two new TACs are the Singapore Business Federation and Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. SBF will be developing an Association Management Executive Certification (AMEC) programme to train and certify TAC managers, while SCCCI has set up a Representative Office in Shanghai to assist Singapore companies venturing into China," they added.

“I am pleased to see more TACs stepping up their efforts to help their industries and enterprises upgrade capabilities and improve productivity. Such efforts would also bring their industries closer, so that they can work together to tackle challenges, and to compete and grow in the global economy,” said Mr Png Cheong Boon, Chief Executive, SPRING Singapore.

“Trade associations are partnering IE Singapore to help companies become globally competitive. Having successfully promoted the international recognition of Singapore’s industry standards and capabilities, they are now actively connecting companies to overseas partners,” added Mr Teo Eng Cheong, Chief Executive Officer of IE Singapore.

Launched in 2005, the LEAD programme is jointly managed by International Enterprise (IE) Singapore and SPRING Singapore, to enhance industry and enterprise competitiveness through the TACs. Including this year’s new projects, the LEAD programme has supported 28 TACs on 37 industry-upgrading projects worth some $120 million, benefitting close to 38,000 local enterprises.