TACs help SMEs in many ways

In a special report on Singapore’s trade associations and chambers (TACs), SMU Vice President (Business Development) and Professor of Finance Annie Koh spoke of the LEAD programme, which was administered by SPRING Singapore and IE Singapore, and is available to the TACs to use government funds to enhance industry and enterprise competitiveness. Prof Koh, who was the moderator of the programme’s launch 10 years ago, said that TACs should collaborate with one another and not just keep within their members in the specific industry association. She also highlighted that SMU’s Business Families Institute has university partners overseas, who are affiliated to family firms. Thus, BFI can help SMEs find like-minded partners to work with. Prof Koh suggested having leading companies as partners in the LEAD programme. This is because having one or two stronger players leading the way for the rest of the members from each TAC makes a difference. She is also optimistic that in the next 10 years, the collaboration brought about by the LEAD programme will bring more benefits to all in the industry in terms of knowledge, network, talent and ideas.