The winners of the 2008 Singapore Business Awards were announced today, with Mr Roland Ng, President and CEO of Tat Hong Holdings, the largest crane company in Asia, winning the top Businessman of the Year award.

The awards were presented by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and Second Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, who was the Guest-of-Honour at the Singapore Business Awards 2008 gala dinner at The Ritz Carlton, Millenia Singapore.

The other winners were:

Outstanding CEO:
Mr Chew Choon Seng, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Airlines

Outstanding Chief/Senior Executive (Overseas):
Mrs Dorothy Ng, Chief Executive, Beijing Smart Garments

The Enterprise Award
Rotary Engineering Limited

Currently in its 23rd year, the Singapore Business Awards have grown to become one of Singapore's most prestigious awards in recognising outstanding achievers in the business community who have helped shape Singapore's economy. Comprising four awards - the Businessman of the Year, the Outstanding CEO of the Year, the Outstanding Chief/Senior Executive (Overseas) of the Year and The Enterprise of the Year - it is jointly organised by The Business Times, Singapore Press Holdings' leading business daily, and DHL, the world's leading express and logistics company.

Mr Dan McHugh, CEO of DHL Express - Asia Pacific, said: "Through the Singapore Business Awards, we aim to promote entrepreneurs as role models and celebrate their success. This year's winners have demonstrated exemplary commitment to the growth of Singapore's economy through outstanding performances in their respective industries, and have continuously displayed leadership, dedication to innovation and quality – all values highly shared by DHL."

Mr Alvin Tay, Chairman of the SBA organising committee and Editor of The Business Times, said that this year's winners reflect the spirit of entrepreneurship which the Awards hope to encourage.

He said: "The Singapore Business Awards recognise the contributions of these business individuals and companies to the Singapore economy. The awards also serve to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit and enhance the standards of corporate management in Singapore and abroad. All four of our winners deserve our congratulations for their achievements in bringing their companies to a much higher level."

Winners of the - Singapore Business Awards 2008

Businessman of the Year
2007
Mr Roland Ng
President and Group Chief Executive Officer
Tat Hong Holdings

In three decades, Tat Hong has grown from its humble beginnings as a battery and tyre shop, to become Asia Pacific's largest crane company with operations in Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Since taking over the helm from his father fifteen years ago, Mr Roland Ng, 56, has expanded the company regionally and beyond.

The company now boasts operations in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Japan, Vietnam, Australia and the Middle East. It was rated Number 1 in Asia in terms of aggregate tonnage in the annual survey conducted by UK-based publisher "International Cranes". Worldwide, Tat Hong ranks Number 1 in terms of fleet size of crawler cranes and Number 7 in terms of aggregate tonnage.

Tat Hong is now listed on the Singapore Exchange, while its subsidiary Tutt Bryant Group is listed on the Australian Exchange. Turnover for the Group stood at $482.5 million for the year ended March 31, 2007, a gain of 18.3 per cent on the year before.

Riding on the rising number of oil and gas and infrastructure projects in Asia Pacific and the construction boom in the Middle East, Tat Hong looks set to maintain its position as the market leader for many years to come.

Citation: "For his vision and outstanding entrepreneurial drive in transforming Tat Hong Holdings from a small family import-export business to the world's Number 1 crane company in terms of fleet size of crawler cranes, with a geographical footprint stretching from SE Asia to China, Australia and the Middle East."

Outstanding CEO of the Year
2007
Mr Chew Choon Seng
Chief Executive Officer
Singapore Airlines

One of the world's leading carriers, Singapore Airlines is well known for its innovation and excellent service. Under Mr Chew's stewardship, SIA continues to break new grounds.

SIA pioneered, and still operates, the world's longest non-stop commercial flight across the Pacific Ocean from Singapore to Los Angeles, followed by the non-stop service from Singapore to New York. Recently, the Airline made aviation history when it became the first to operate the world's largest passenger aircraft in history, the A380.

Innovation in its products has kept the Airline ahead of its competitors. The number of passengers carried for last year at 18.346 million was the highest achieved in the Company's history, and produced a record revenue of $14,494 million for the Group, up $1,153 million (+8.6 per cent) from the year before.

Citation: "For his vision and exemplary leadership in setting new trends in global aviation and guiding Singapore Airlines through challenging times to become one of the world's most innovative and profitable airlines.''

Outstanding Chief/Senior Executive (Overseas) of the Year
2007
Mrs Dorothy Ng
General Manager
Beijing Smart Garments

When Mrs Dorothy Ng took over the China operations of Bejing Smart Garments in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis, the company had made a loss of more than 12 million renminbi. Mrs Ng took the plunge to restructure the company, disposing of its non-core businesses, and turning the company around. Since then, the company has been growing steadily and profits in the last two years were more than 16 million renminbi each year, while annual sales were close to 400 renminbi.

Under Mrs Ng's leadership, the company was awarded the "Excellent Foreign Investment Enterprise" by Beijing People's Government and China Association of Foreign Investment Enterprises. In 2006, BSG was awarded the "China well-known trademark" as well as "Beijing Famous Brand" by the China authorities. The company is now ranked among the Top 100 enterprises of the garment manufacturing industry in China.

Citation: "For her steadfast leadership and passion in establishing Beijing Smart Garments Co as one of China's leading textile producers and best known trademarks, thus serving as an exemplary role model for Singaporeans working overseas.''

The Enterprise Award
2007
Rotary Engineering Limited

Mainboard-listed Rotary Engineering was started in 1972 with capital of just $15,000. Today, the engineering, procurement and construction company that serves the rich oil and gas industry is worth some $500 million on the stock market. Annual sales hit $510 million for the year ended Dec 31, 2007.

Under Mr Chia Kim Piow, founder, chairman and managing director, the group has gained the recognition as one of the region's leading players in the oil and gas, petroleum, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries.

The Rotary Group, with a total workforce of over 4,000 employees, has subsidiaries, associates, affiliates and representative offices in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, India, China, Azerbaijan, Australia and the Middle East.

Citation: "For its enterprise and dynamism in transforming itself from a small electrical and instrumental sub-contractor to a multi-national turnkey engineering design and construction group, with operations in SE Asia, India, China, Australia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.''