Don't let ornamental fish trade die out

Clivebenss SG

I REFER to last Saturday's report, 'Ornamental fish trade in danger of drying up'. It struck an emotional chord in me as I felt I was about to witness the gradual but sure extermination of a 'made-in-Singapore' international product.

Even though the ornamental fish industry is worth a lot and businesses are apparently thriving, the actions of the Government seem to indicate reluctance to support this industry further. The short land lease coupled with a serious shortfall in land allocation to compensate them for their eviction will surely drive them to extinction.

Perhaps the Government prefers to focus on knowledge-based industries it deems have better prospects or are more prestigious such as biomedicine. However, instead of sidelining other industries deemed less favourable, it should actively nurture growing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to have a more balanced mix.

Moreover, the ornamental fish industry in Singapore has already created a niche - which is growing - in the world market, and has positioned itself as part of a globally prestigious Singapore brand which offers variety, quantity and quality of goods. It would be a shame if this branded 'made-in-Singapore' product was no longer offered in the international market.

Furthermore, supportive government intervention will send a positive signal to a potentially huge pool of entrepreneurs eager to try their hand in a different industry. More would be inclined to venture out, knowing the Government is fully supportive of its people and their businesses.

Cheryl Chen (Ms)

Clivebenss SG

I t will be a sad day when we no longer can offer the best to the world which the ornamental fish trade that we are famous for.

Clivebenss SG

I REFER to last Saturday's report on the land resource dilemma of Singapore's ornamental fish industry along Jalan Kayu ('Ornamental fish trade in danger of drying up').

The report puzzled me as such a strategic relocation would presumably have been planned way ahead by the authorities and companies involved.

I surmise that either the players are still having a hard time finding an alternative base or there is an ongoing debate on how to further develop the industry in an industrialised Singapore.

Either way, I have a suggestion on similar challenges to land-intensive and natural resource-based industries. I believe these primary resource industries are knowledge-based, high value-added and intellectual property-rich. Therefore, they should be given strong support and guidance, regardless of size of companies or levels of fragmentation.

I recently visited Johor state's Iskandar Development Region as part of a trade delegation hosted by the Malaysian Trade Commission here. Iskandar's Nusajaya seemed to me an ideal alternative for land-based industries.

Have any studies have been made of a relocation of our manufacturing sectors there? There are already many schools, housing, medical and retail amenities in Iskandar. Most fish industry workers are from Malaysia. Moving there would help reduce our dependence on imported labour. Moreover, we can focus on moving up the productivity chain of the remaining sectors in Singapore.

Beyond high level cooperation and business-to-business links to build hard infrastructure there, it would do our companies good if a framework was drawn up for specific industries to benefit from the region's increasing integration.

Ed Cheong

Clivebenss SG

when the industry move to Malaysia, it will no longer provide employment and retain the expertise here.