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DR NGIAM TONG TAU RETIRES AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AGRI-FOOD & VETERINARY AUTHORITY

Dr Ngiam Tong Tau, Chief Executive Officer of the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA), is retiring on 9 Aug 2005. He will be succeeded by Dr Chua Sin Bin, who has been Deputy CEO of AVA since 1 Apr 2000. Dr Ngiam will remain as a member of the AVA Board after his retirement.

2 Dr Ngiam has served AVA for 36 years. He joined the Primary Production Department (PPD) in 1969 and was appointed as Director of Primary Production in 1984. He continued to be at the helm as CEO when PPD was restructured into a statutory board, AVA, on 1 Apr 2000.

3 During his term of service, Dr Ngiam provided strong leadership in the areas of food safety, veterinary science, agritechnology and agribiotechnology in Singapore. He has developed and sustained a food safety programme which provided for high food safety standards in Singapore and has also developed programmes to provide a stable supply of safe food to Singapore. He also initiated and saw to the successful development of Agrotechnology Parks in Singapore as well as a veterinary and plant health service which has maintained the health and welfare of all animals and plants in Singapore. He contributed significantly in the transfer of agrotechnology to regional countries.

4 Dr Ngiam is also the chairman of the Genetic Modification Advisory Committee of Singapore and has been an Adjunct Professor at the National University of Singapore’s Department of Biological Sciences for fourteen years.

5 For his distinguished service, Dr Ngiam has been awarded the Public Administration Medal (Gold), the Friend of Labour and the NTUC Meritorious Service Medal.

6 MND and AVA would like to express our deep appreciation to Dr Ngiam for his commitment and outstanding contributions in steering AVA to successfully fulfil its mission of ensuring a resilient supply of safe food, safeguarding the health of animals and plants, and facilitating agri-trade for Singapore.

7 Mr Koh Poh Tiong, Chairman of AVA said, “Dr Ngiam has been one of our most valuable national resources in the mission of the AVA to serve Singapore well. His quiet determination and strength of conviction has brought the organization to a new level of effectiveness. I am also convinced that Dr Chua Sin Bin, who will replace Tong Tau, will prove to be every bit as resourceful and forward looking.”

8 Dr Chua Sin Bin, who will be taking over as the new CEO, has served the organization since 1971. Dr Chua has also been appointed as a member of the AVA Board. Dr Chua is also currently Chairman of the School of Chemical & Life Sciences Advisory Committee of the Singapore Polytechnic and Deputy Chairman of the Food Standards Committee of SPRING Singapore.

Jointly Issued by : Ministry of National Development (MND) and Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA)

Date : 4 Aug 2005

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Last updated on 18 May 2006