Dezan Shira & Associates’ David Stepat Contributes to Key Briefing by Singaporean-German Chamber of Commerce

Singapore, September 9, 2024 | Dezan Shira & Associates is proud to announce that David Stepat, Country Director for our Singapore operations, recently participated in a high-level delegation briefing organized by the Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (SGC/AHK Singapore). The event, titled Discovering Singapore: A Dynamic Dive into Culture, Business, Digitization, and Governance, provided an in-depth exploration of Singapore’s evolving landscape for a distinguished delegation from Dataport AöR, Germany’s largest 100% government-owned IT service provider. 

Notable Delegates and Insights from the Briefing

The delegation included prominent figures such as the Minister of Digitization and Head of the State Chancellery of Schleswig-Holstein, the Minister of Finance of the State of Saxony-Anhalt, and the Head of the Senate Chancellery of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. Dataport expressed a keen interest in Singapore’s digitization initiatives. They had previously engaged with Smart Nation, MCI, and IMDA during an exploratory trip in April and are set to return with a full delegation in September.

Christoph Hallier and Dr. Tim Philippi Provide Key Context

Christoph Hallier, Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy, began the session by sharing valuable insights into Singapore’s political landscape and its historical commitment to multiculturalism and political partnership with Germany. Dr. Tim Philippi, Executive Director of AHK Singapore, followed with a comprehensive analysis of Singapore’s economic landscape. He emphasized Singapore’s role as a gateway to Southeast Asia and discussed critical trade agreements and industry opportunities.

David Stepat Highlights Singapore’s Governance and Digital Transformation

David Stepat’s presentation focused on Singapore’s governance and digital transformation, highlighting the Smart Nation Initiative. He detailed how Singapore’s governance system integrates technology and innovation to drive global competitiveness and economic success. The Smart Nation and Digital Government Office leads these efforts, aiming to enhance citizens’ lives and create a supportive business environment through efficient resource allocation and alignment with national goals.

“Singapore’s interconnected governance and digital infrastructure are crucial to its progress, with elements collectively supporting the nation’s remarkable journey towards digital leadership and innovation. The funding framework available for digitalization initiatives is plentiful, and businesses willing to participate can leverage these resources,” remarked David Stepat.

Acknowledgments and Ongoing Collaboration

A special thank you goes to the Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce team—Dlyal Harris, Eirik Behnke, and Kelvin Foh—for their exceptional organization of the event. This briefing underscored the shared values of innovation and sustainable growth between Singapore and Germany and reflected the ongoing dialogue necessary to advance mutual interests.

For those interested in exploring the opportunities Singapore offers to investors, our comprehensive guide, An Introduction to Doing Business in Singapore 2024, is available for free download. This resource provides valuable insights and practical information to support your business ventures in Singapore.