The Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI) was first established in 1906 as the
General Chinese Trade Affairs Association by prominent members of the Chinese community. Its original purpose was to look after the trading interests of the Chinese business community, resolve and mitigate differences among the different
clans and champion the
Chinese community in Singapore. The first president was
Goh Siew Tin. In 1951, the chamber lobbied the
British colonial government to grant citizenship to Chinese immigrants who had stayed in Singapore for eight years and in 1957, the government approved the proposal. In February 1962, remains belonging to civilian victims of the Japanese occupation were unearthed in areas like
Siglap,
Changi and
Bukit Timah. The chamber undertook the responsibility of gathering the remains. It also helped in establishing the
Civilian War Memorial at
Beach Road in 1967. In 1962, the Chamber started constructing their building at
Hill Street and the building was officially opened on 20 September 1964 by Prime Minister
Lee Kuan Yew. In 1977, it added the “& Industry” to its original name as “Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry”, to reflect its expanded scope of both commerce and industry. In 1991, the SCCCI organised and held the inaugural
World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention (WCEC) in Singapore which was attended by more than 700 delegates from 30 countries. During the second WCEC in 1993, Singapore's prime minister
Lee Kuan Yew suggested an Internet enabled network of ethnic Chinese businesses worldwide accessible to the various Chinese chambers of commerce in the world. With the help of
Institute of Systems Science and Netcentre and a financial grant from the
National Science and Technology Board, the SCCCI created the
World Chinese Business Network (WCBN). The WCBN was launched on 8 December 1995. •
2006: The SCCCI 100th Anniversary Commemorative Stamp Issue is launched. It is the first ever set of postage stamps issued by
Singapore Post on behalf of a local business organisation. The Chamber also changed its logo. • 2017: The SCCCI relocated to Jurong Town Hall while its building in Hill Street underwent major renovations. • 2022: The opening of the SCCCI Chinese Business Culture Hub (新加坡中华总商会华商文化馆）in the refurbished SCCCI building. SCCCI Chinese Business Culture Hub exhibits the centennial history, artefacts and culture of the Chamber, promoting the heritage and culture of the Chamber. This is the first time the Chamber set up a permanent exhibit within its building to promote the heritage and culture of the Chamber. The Hub was graced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on 10 September 2022, coinciding with Mid-autumn festival. ==SCCCI Building==