19 business leaders graduated from Future China Advanced Leaders Programme 2018, Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat conferred certificates to the graduates who attended the ceremony.
Singapore, 19 July 2018 – The Future China Advanced Leaders Programme (FC-ALP) 2018 concluded its final leg of the learning journey with a commencement ceremony for the 19 FC-ALP graduates. The celebration was held on 19 July at Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Guest-of-Honour, Senior Minister of State for Education and Trade and Industry, Mr Chee Hong Tat, graced the event and conferred certificates to the graduates present. These graduates are, among others, top management and senior executives from multinational corporations and the public service sector, and established local business families. About 100 invited guests, including Business China Chairman, Mr Lee Yi Shyan, witnessed the joyous occasion.
FC-ALP, the premium business management programme exclusively for executive leaders, is on its 7th run this year and started in 2012 with the aim of equipping successful business owners and senior executives with the skills and experiences to be “China-ready” and “China-savvy”. Through a specialised curriculum, participants gain invaluable knowledge via first-hand experiences with the Chinese market, and the programme also provides a platform for like-minded business leaders to network extensively for future collaborations in China and beyond.
This year, the four-segment programme was jointly organised by Business China and NTU’s Nanyang Business School, with strong support from Enterprise Singapore. The theme for this year’s FC-ALP is “Experiencing Southern Transport Corridor”（体验南向通道）, including a learning journey in Chongqing, Guizhou and Guangxi in China.
In the first two segments, renowned NTU professors brought participants through macro and thematic lectures in Singapore. In the third segment, the participants were involved in an exciting immersive learning journey along the Southern Transport Corridor that links both the Belt and Road, running from Chongqing through Guizhou and Guangxi, to Southeast Asia through Singapore. Segment four was a one-day business clinic with personal coaching for the participants, and the grand commencement ceremony.
Highlights of the programme include exclusive networking opportunities with top Chinese officials, and company visits to traditional industries, such as the Maotai Group, and technology companies, such as Chongqing’s Panda Auto, a leading AI -powered electric vehicles hailing platform. While on the trip, Singapore’s Kinderworld Education Group also signed a strategic memorandum with Chongqing’s BOLAA to develop an innovation district and smart education system, while working together to develop the Malaysian and Vietnamese markets. A feasible business plan is also a new feature of this year’s programme, and participants presented workable business plans in groups based on themes such as education, new technology etc.
This is the third commencement ceremony that Senior Minister of State for Education and Trade and Industry, Mr Chee Hong Tat has attended. As board director of Business China, he hopes the attendees can “continue to support our programmes; provide advice and internship opportunities for young Singaporeans to learn more about China; and help us build stronger bridges with different Chinese cities and companies through your networks”.
On Sino-Singapore relations, Mr Chee noted “the relationship going forward should be built on a platform of win-win cooperation and mutual learning in different domains, to help each other discover new opportunities and find practical solutions to tackle our respective challenges.”
Chairman of Business China, Mr Lee Yi Shyan shared that “Business China’s mission is to help nurture a pool of bicultural talents familiar with the China and Singapore way of doing things and conducting business. To do so, we run a number of meaningful programs, but none is as comprehensive and intense as our ALP. We therefore take great pride in delivering the program, and in our alumni. We are working with our alumni to create more business opportunities amongst themselves, with Chinese partners, in Singapore, China and B&R countries.”
Professor Robert Kennedy, Dean of Nanyang Business School, emphasised, “The Future China Advanced Leaders Programme is an important initiative that helps reinforce Singapore’s position as a leading business hub in Asia,” and that “the programme has consistently attracted excellent candidates from diverse sectors such as banking, construction, education and the public service.” In particular, he is “pleased that the programme has been successful in helping them know the China market better and to establish business connections there.”
Detailed course dates for the FC-ALP 2018 were:
Singapore: 2 May – 4 May 2018
Singapore: 23 May – 25 May 2018
Chongqing, Guizhou & Guangxi: 25 June – 4 July 2018
Singapore: 19 July 2018 (Business Clinic and Graduation)
Individuals interested in joining the FC-ALP 2019 are welcome to visit www.futurechina-alp.sg for latest information.
