Mr Peter Sutton, President & Chief Executive, CMP Asia Ltd
Dr Gerald Bassleer, President, Ornamental Fish International
Dr Kenny Yap, Chairman, Ornamental Fish Business Cluster
Mr Koh Poh Tiong, Chairman, AVA

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning.

1 It gives me much pleasure to be here this morning to celebrate the 10th AQUARAMA in Singapore. I am happy to hear from the distinguished speakers before me about how the event has grown from strength to strength, and has become the world’s largest international event for the ornamental and aquatic fish industries.

Singapore – The Ornamental Fish Capital of the World

2 There are good reasons for AQUARAMA to be staged in Asia, and in Singapore for that matter. Asia is the main supplier of ornamental fish, with more than 60% share of the global exports, and Singapore is the world’s leading exporting country. Today, Singapore is one of the world’s largest producers of farm-bred fish. Its export market has a global reach of 82 countries, and is valued at US$64 million for 2006 – an increase of US$5million or 9% over the previous year. Despite keen competition, I am pleased to note that Singapore remained the “Ornamental Fish Capital of the World”.

3 Indeed, the ornamental aquatic industry is a promising one. The entire industry, including accessories and fish feed, is estimated to worth more than US$14 billion. The value of international trade has been growing at an average rate of 14% per annum since 1985. This, along with the strong international participation of more than 200 exhibitors from 27 countries at AQUARAMA 2007, reflects the economic potential and opportunities in the ornamental fish industry.

4 Singapore is also gaining prominence in the world as the place for trade conventions and exhibitions. Our air hub status, our beautiful city and our efforts to develop tourism, particularly the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) sector, will make us an even more attractive location for serious business and some serious fun. Over the next yew years, the area around this convention centre will be transformed and I envisage that the participants will have even more reasons to attend the shows in future.

Challenges

R&D & Technology

5 To satisfy the demands of traders and keen hobbyists for new fish varieties and high quality fishes, the industry here has to constantly upgrade through R&D and technological advancement.

6 The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority, or AVA, has been working closely with the industry and tertiary institutions in R&D aimed at improving production technology and fish quality for export. Some of these studies have led to new technological improvements such as improved water recycle systems, treatment protocols to eradicate fish parasites prior to export, treatment protocols to control Salmonella and Vibrio cholera, and development of new fish hybrids. AVA will continue to work closely with the industry and tertiary institutions on R&D that will support the industry.

Disease Prevention & Control

7 Vigilance in disease prevention and control is also of growing importance and concern, as importing countries are imposing increasingly stringent import requirements in fish health certification. The concern is real, as diseases such as Koi Herpes Virus (or KHV) and Spring Viraemia of Carp Virus (SVCV) have spread globally and are now listed by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) as notifiable diseases. This is where opportunities lie – the better we are in maintaining a high quality of our fishes, and in keeping diseases at bay, the greater the confidence to trade with us. Strong public-private sector partnership, a high degree of vigilance and adherence to good farm practices will help to avert potential disease outbreaks, which in turn will enable us to enjoy continuous access to the export markets.

Public & Private Sector Cooperation

8 To remain competitive in the global ornamental fish industry, the public and private sectors partnership is key to Singapore’s success. The Ornamental Fish Business Cluster initiated by AVA has been instrumental in addressing the challenges and charting fresh directions for the industry. Besides AVA, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, International Enterprise Singapore, SPRING Singapore and Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) are also represented in the committee. The industry’s representatives in the Cluster, such as the Singapore Aquarium Fish Exporters’ Association (SAFEA) and the Singapore Tropical Aquarium Fish Breeders’ Association (STAFBA), have also made concerted efforts in providing self-help to the industry through its website and newsletter. We believe that a strong private-public sector co-operation is essential to spearhead the development of the industry.

9 In particular, I would like to commend the Cluster’s efforts in working with AVA and WDA to upgrade the skills of workers in the ornamental fish industry. After two training courses, a total of 46 technicians and workers have so far been trained and upgraded, and more courses are in the pipeline.

Concluding Remarks

10 In closing, I would like to extend my heartiest congratulations to the management of CMP Asia Trade Fairs Pte Ltd, the Steering and Organising Committees for AQUARAMA 2007. I wish all participants, exhibitors and conference delegates a fruitful and rewarding event and a pleasant stay in Singapore.

11 It now gives me great pleasure to declare the AQUARAMA 2007 open.

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