International Advocacy
SBF monitors developments in international trade and geopolitics that have the potential to impact Singapore businesses, and advocates for their interests through championing free trade and other important issues at international platforms.
SBF represents Singapore on the global stage through participation in the following international business platforms:
APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) |
SBF, as the ABAC Singapore secretariat, represents Singapore’s business interests on trade and investment issues in the region. We attend quarterly meetings to meet with other Asia-Pacific business leaders and discuss on emerging topics such as trade liberalisation, leveraging on the digital economy, climate change, and more recently, the region’s work in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. ABAC prepares annual reports which highlights policy recommendations to the APEC leaders. To read the latest ABAC report, click here. |
ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) |
Inaugurated in April 2003, the ASEAN-BAC is mandated by ASEAN leaders as the official ASEAN linkage to providing private sector feedback and guidance to boost ASEAN’s efforts on economic integration by identifying priority areas for consideration and making policy recommendations to the ASEAN leaders. SBF was appointed as the national secretariat for ASEAN-BAC (Singapore) by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, to support ASEAN-BAC (Singapore) Council Members' work.For more information on ASEAN-BAC, please visit https://www.sbf.org.sg/business-expansion/asean-bac-singapore. |
Business @ OECD (BIAC) |
BIAC is an international business network with a global membership representing over seven million companies of all sizes. In 2020, SBF became an observer member, giving us the opportunity to participate in policy group discussions on issues such as trade and the digital economy. |
Business 20 (B20) |
SBF is an Observer Member of B20 in 2020. SBF's CEO Mr Ho Meng Kit represents the business community as a Member of the Trade & Investment Taskforce. |
East Asia Business Council (EABC) |
SBF provides secretariat support to EABC Singapore in representing Singapore’s business interests on trade and economic cooperation between ASEAN and the +3 countries (China, Japan and South Korea). SBF participates in quarterly EABC meetings and related working group meetings, seminars, roundtable discussions and ministerial dialogues. We work with EABC Singapore representatives via these platforms to continuously provide private sector perspectives and feedback to deepen the economic and investment cooperation in East Asia, and to further our region’s economic growth. Click here for more details on the EABC, its regional initiatives, calendar of activities, official reports and more. |
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) |
SBF is the ICC National Committee in Singapore (ICC Singapore). We work with relevant organisations to forward Singapore's business interests in banking, sustainability, and arbitration and dispute resolution issues. |
World Trade Organisation (WTO) |
SBF monitors the developments and the reformation of the WTO. In October 2019, SBF joined the ABAC delegation to Geneva to voice our support for WTO’s rules-based multilateral trading system in conjunction with WTO’s public forum. Click here to learn more about the visit. |
Supported Media Statements
SBF works closely with these international organisations to produce policy recommendations to government leaders globally in support of free trade.
Publications & Interviews
SBF speaks on various trade issues in a number of international platforms. Here are some publications and interviews that SBF took part in to ensure that our businesses’ interests are heard.
| 19 May 2020 | CEA Media Interview on COVID-19’s Impact |
| 14 May 2020 | ICC Podcast Series: The COVID-19 Recovery |
