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HISTORY OF SINGAPORE CLOCK & WATCH TRADE ASSOCIATION (SCWTA) During the 1960s, as the Singapore economy expanded, the trade gradually became one of Singapore Under the leadership of the then Chairman Mr Lim Peng Boon, the Association embarked on a fund-raising campaign to rise funds towards the National Defense Fund in 1965, making a contribution to society and the fledging nation. In 1967, the Association invited the then Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, to its Anniversary celebrations. Since then, the Association has managed to invite Ministers to grace its Anniversaries to give their views on the economy and encourage its members. From 1971, the Association began to liaise with its regional counterparts and supported the development of the Asian Horological Trade and Industry Promotion Conference. The conference has served as a platform for the regional associations to communicate and report upon their respective business environments. It also helped to maintain and foster relationship among the associations.
The Association has had 61 executive committees to provide leadership to the horologe industry. Between 1984 and 1999, the Presidency was held by former Speaker of Parliament, Mr Tan Soo Khoon. During his term, Mr Tan made tremendous contributions towards the Association. Mr. Tan is now the Advisor cum Honorary President and Trustee of the Association. Mr Anthony Lim Keen Ban of Cortina Holdings Ltd has taken over the Presidency since the 59th Executive Committee (2000-2001) to present.
The Purchase of the new Association Premises was completed in September 2003. On the Association’s Anniversary Day on 6th April 2004, Advisor cum Honorary President and Trustee Mr. Tan Soo Khoon, Honorary Presidents Mr. Leong Lou Teck, Mr. Lim Peng Boon, Mr. Tan Yam Seng, Mr. Tan Kien Lip and Mr. Leong Lum Thye officiated the opening ceremony for the new Association premise. The Association subsequently sold its Geylang Association Building’s unit and the surplus went to the Foundation Fund. In 1984, the Association organized and hosted the 5th Asian Horological Trade & Industry Promotion Conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel from 30th November to 3rd December 1984. Participants from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and Malaysia attended the conference. Organization of the Conference was in the hands of a Committee headed by Mr Allen B C Teo. The Conference was chaired by Mr Tan Soo Khoon and was declared open by Dr Wong Kwei Cheong, Minister of State for Trade & Industry.
Mr Allen Teo headed the Organization Committee. The Conference was chaired by Mr Tan Soo Khoon and co-chaired by Mr Tan Yam Seng. Mr Mah Bow Tan, Minister of State for Trade & Industry and Communications & Information, officiated the opening of the Conference. The Association organised and hosted The 15th Asian Horological Trade and Industry Promotion Conference in Singapore from 17th to 19th October 2004 at Shangri-La Hotel. Nearly 200 delegates and observers from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, India, Thailand and Singapore attended the conference. Organisation of the Conference was in the hands of a Committee headed by Mr Harold Sun. The theme of the Conference was ‘The Changing Times of the Asian Watch Industry’. The Conference was declared open by Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, Minister of State for Finance & Transport. Mr Ted Tan, deputy CEO of International Enterprise Singapore, delivered a Keynote Speech. The International Clock & Watch Exhibition
In October 1990 and September 1993, the Association again organized the International Clock and Watch Exhibition at the Raffles City Shopping Centre Exhibition Hall. The 1990 Exhibition was declared open by Mr Yeo Seng Teck, CEO of Trade Development Board, and the 1993 Exhibition was declared open by CDRE (Res) Teo Chee Hean, Minister Of State For Finance and Communications. Both attracted more than 150,000 local and oversea visitors respectively. Technical Courses Training & Assessment The government agency SPRING initiated in 2002 an on-the-job-training scheme for the clock and watch industry under the government’s lifelong learning promotion. The National Skills Recognition System (NSRS) was devised to establish work performance standards, identify job competencies and certify skills acquired for the service industry. Now under the Singapore Workforce Development Agency, companies can formalize their in-house training, and sustain competitiveness and employability of their workforce. The Retail Academy of Singapore was launched in 2004. Its mission is to cultivate and increase the service standards of our retail trade. The Academy has also put together a course especially for the horologe trade, so as to improve our competitiveness against international competition. Counterfeit In 1986, the Association received many complaints from members and the general public about counterfeit watches trading in Singapore. Believing that the problem of counterfeit watches not only affected the horologe trade but also tarnished the image of Singapore as a shopping paradise, the Association decided to challenge the counterfeit watch traders. A Counterfeit Watches Committee was formed to tackle the problem. Throughout the years, the Association has cooperated with the relevant authorities to conduct raids on premises suspected of selling counterfeit watches. The Association also drew the attention of the authorities to the problem of touts at shopping centres harassing customers into buying counterfeit watches, and thus drawing customers away from retailer members. SCWTA has also liaised with various trade organizations and associations as well as management corporations of shopping complexes to deal with the problems of counterfeit watches and touting. The Association, spearheaded by Mr Tan Soo Khoon, also made representation to the relevant authorities on the need to strengthen existing laws to enhance the penalties so as to deter such activities. The effort resulted in new laws on touting and counterfeit goods being legislated in 1989. Furthermore, the Association has been instrumental in urging the Government to enhance the penalties for counterfeiting of Trademarks. This led to the legislation of the Trademark Bill in January 1991. In 2001, two workgroups, the Enforcement Measures Group and the Education Campaign Group were formed to work with the relevant government agencies and educate the general public against the counterfeit problem. Trade Missions & Visitations To aid its members explore more business opportunities, the Association regularly organizes trade missions. In 1992, a trade mission to Vietnam was organized. This was followed by missions to China in 1993 and India in 1995. These trips have allowed members more opportunities to establish business contacts and exchange information. In addition, the trips have enabled the Association to foster better relationships with its overseas counterparts. On a social aspect, the Association frequently sends representatives to regional counterparts’ annual events to further foster ties and build up friendship with other counterparts, The Association also receives visitors from overseas. There have been visits by the Vietnam Clock And Watch Association from Ho Chi Minh City (1993), Horologe Association of People’s Republic of China (1994), Hong Kong Watch & Clock Study Mission (1995), Taiwan Watch & Clock Industrial Association (1995), China Yantai Singapore Representative (1997), Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Ltd (1998) and Horologe Association of PRC (1999). These visits have allowed our members to exchange information and build up business contacts with these foreign visitors. Association Celebrations & Activities The Association’s Anniversary Day is on 6th April. In conjunction with Annual Balls to celebrate Anniversaries, the Association has organized sporting activities to foster better relationships among its members. This gave rise to the Golf and Bowling tournaments. To date, there have been 14 golf tournaments (since 1992) and 11 bowling tournaments (since 1995). Each event has seen both increasing number of participants and sponsorship. Educational Awards The Association also presents awards to members’ children who achieve outstanding results in their G.C.E ‘A’ &’O’ Level examination during the Annual Ball. In 2004, Honorary President Mr. Leong Lou Teck, Chairman of Leong Poh Kee Pte Ltd, agreed to setup a ‘Leong Lou Teck Award’ for the G.C.E ‘A’ Level scholars. Mr. Sunil Amrasuriya, Managing Director of The Swatch Group S.E.A. (S) Pte Ltd, also agreed to setup ‘The Swatch Group Award’ for the G.C.E ’O’ Level award winners. Internet In keeping up with the information age, the Association, on 5th July 1997, launched its official homepage www.scwta.org.sg. The move facilitates general public enquiry from around the world and allows more business opportunities for its members. Updated 16 May 2006 |
economy’s main import/export industries. As the economy flourished, the Association also welcomed more members. At the requests of its members to keep up with the times, the Association decided to purchase its own premise at 56 Waterloo Street in 1964-65. At its 36th Anniversary, the Association invited the then Minister of Finance, Mr Lim Kim San to officiate the opening ceremony of the new Association premise on 14th November 1965. The Association also renamed itself to its present name - Singapore Clock & Watch Trade Association. Other changes included the categorization of corporate members into two memberships, namely: Importers, Exporters & Manufacturers members and Retailer members.
During the AGM on 9th February 2003, a Sub-Committee for the Purchase of Association Premise was formed to search for a more centrally located premise. An Extraordinary General Meeting was then called on 19th July 2003 in which members voted and approved the purchase of 36B Seah Street. A Building Fund Committee was formed and chaired by President Mr. Lim Keen Ban. 
Asian Horological Trade & Industry Promotion Conference
In 1988, the Association again organized and hosted the 7th Asian Horological Trade & Industry Promotion Conference from 29th to 30th October at the Westin Stamford Hotel. More than 240 delegates and observers from China, Hong Kong, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Switzerland and Singapore attended the Conference.
In conjunction with the 7th Asian Horological Trade & Industry Promotion Conference, the Association organized the International Clock and Watch Exhibition at the Raffles City Shopping Centre Exhibition Hall from 29th October to 4th November 1988. Seventy-six brands participated in the exhibition. The exhibited timepieces were valued in excess of S$40 million. The exhibition attracted more than 100,000 visitors from China, Brunei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Switzerland, Singapore, the Middle East and other countries.
Since 1963, the Association has acknowledged educational achievements by members’ children by giving out monetary awards to those who excel in their studies during the AGM cum Lunar New Year reception. In 1998, the Awards were enlarged to include Junior College. Association members have sponsored all awards.