DBS to provide comprehensive financial services for the third China-Singapore G-to-G project

Singapore, China, Regional.08 Jan 2016

Inks four strategic partnerships; amongst the first Singapore companies to participate


Singapore, China, Regional, 08 Jan 2016 - DBS Bank Limited (“DBS”) announced today that it has inked four strategic partnerships at the MOUs Signing Ceremony of the “China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity”. DBS is amongst the first Singapore companies to participate in the third China Singapore Government-to-Government (“G-to-G”) project, signing strategic agreements with Chongqing Municipal People's Government, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd. (“ICBC”), China Construction Bank Corporation (“CCB”), Chongqing Liangjiang New Area Administrative Committee and Chongqing Yufu Assets Management Group Co. Ltd (“Chongqing Yufu”). DBS is committed to provide comprehensive financial services for the development of China-Singapore’s new economic partnership.

Following the footsteps of the Suzhou Industrial Park and the Tianjin Eco-City projects, China and Singapore signed an agreement on 7 November 2015 to launch a third G-to-G project in Chongqing Municipality in Western China, based on the theme of modern connectivity and modern services. The collaboration will focus on four priority areas: (i) financial services; (ii) aviation; (iii) transport and logistics; and (iv) information and communications technology (ICT).

The inaugural “China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity” Joint Implementation Committee Meeting was held in Chongqing today. Mr. Sun Zhengcai, the Communist Party Secretary of Chongqing, Mr. Chan Chun Sing, Minister in the Singapore Prime Minister’s Office, Ms. Gao Yan, Vice Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and Mr. Huang Qifan, Mayor of Chongqing witnessed the signing of the first batch of partnerships.

DBS Bank (China) Chief Executive Officer Mr. Neil Ge represented DBS to sign four strategic partnerships, namely:

  1. Tripartite Strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Chongqing Municipal People's Government, ICBC and DBS
    Chongqing Municipal People's Government intends to innovate new policies and operating models to facilitate trade and investment and contribute to the success of the project. ICBC and DBS will provide financing solutions and various other financial services. All three parties intend to share information, resources and facilitate business synergies to jointly promote connectivity among governments, banks and businesses.

    Mr. Wang Bairong, Head of Chongqing Regional Headquarters said, “In recent years, ICBC has provided comprehensive financial services to many Chongqing companies for their overseas expansion and to Singapore companies investing in Chongqing, demonstrating our strengths in comprehensive and international services. The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity will deepen cooperation between the two countries and we are committed to providing quality cross-border financing services to both Singapore and Chongqing companies.”

    "As China's largest bank and Singapore's sole RMB clearing bank, we have amassed a wealth of experience through our extensive work in various cross-border financial reform pilot projects, including the provision of financial services such as cross-border direct loans in China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park and Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city," said Mr. Zhang Weiwu, General Manager of ICBC Singapore. "For the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity, the third G-to-G project between Singapore and China, we are excited to be bringing to the table our expertise and experience in cross-border finance and investment, especially in cross-border RMB services. We look forward to leveraging these strengths in our partnership with DBS, Singapore’s largest bank, to provide businesses and individuals in both countries with a full suite of integrated financial services, including more diversification and convenience in their investment options."
  2. Tripartite Strategic MOU between Chongqing Municipal People's Government, CCB and DBS
    The three parties intend to jointly establish long-term mechanisms and legislation to promote effective market operations and cooperation. Leveraging their respective strengths, DBS and CCB intend to jointly innovate new service models and financing channels, promote the globalisation of Chinese and Singapore enterprises as well as establish a project financing platform to support the development of Southeast Asia and the “Belt and Road” initiative.
  3. Bilateral MOU between DBS Bank (China) and Chongqing Liangjiang New Area Administrative Committee
    Liangjiang New Area Administrative Committee will encourage its subsidiaries and companies in Liangjiang New Area to prioritise DBS as its main bank for their China-Singapore projects’ cross-border financing needs. Both parties will also jointly develop new financial products.

    “As the third national development area approved directly by the State Council, Liangjiang New Area looks forward to broad based collaborations with Asia’s leading financial institution DBS,” said Mr. Tang Zongwei, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Working Committee of Chongqing Liangjiang New Area and Executive Deputy Director of Chongqing Liangjiang New Area Administrative Committee. “Leveraging our respective strengths for mutual benefit and achieve tangible results, we hope to become a role model amongst the first batch of projects signed.”
  4. Bilateral MOU between DBS Bank (China) and Chongqing Yufu Asset Management Group Co. Ltd
    Chongqing Yufu Group will prioritise DBS as one of its main banks for its financing needs while DBS will provide high quality, efficient and customised financial services. Both parties will collaborate on financial innovation.

    Chongqing Yufu Group Chairman Mr. Li Jianming said, “As a representative Chongqing state-owned enterprise, Yufu Group’s strategic partnership with Singapore’s leading financial institution DBS is an alliance of strength. Both parties endeavour to collaborate extensively in the financial sector. The partnership will help to catalyse the China-Singapore third G-to-G project by taking the China-Singapore strategic connectivity to the next level, as well as contribute to the advancement of the “Belt and Road” initiative and promote regional economic development.”

Committed to China for over 20 years, DBS is amongst the first foreign banks and the first Singapore bank to locally incorporate in China. DBS Bank (China) Chongqing branch was established in January 2012 and is the bank’s first foray into Western China. In the last four years, DBS has actively supported many Western China and Chongqing companies in their overseas expansion, diversification of their funding bases as well as helped them reduce financing costs.

DBS Bank (China) Chief Executive Officer Neil Ge said, “With our Development Bank of Singapore lineage, we have extensive experience in supporting developmental projects in the region. We are honoured to participate in the China-Singapore third G-to-G project and partner key government institutions and companies in its initiatives. DBS is committed to leveraging its experience and expertise from developed financial markets such as Singapore and Hong Kong, to explore financial innovation with its partners as well as strengthen economic ties between Singapore, Chongqing and Western China.”

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About DBS
DBS – Living, Breathing Asia

DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia, with over 280 branches across 18 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS has a growing presence in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The bank's capital position, as well as "AA-" and "Aa1" credit ratings, is among the highest in Asia-Pacific. DBS has been recognised for its leadership in the region, having been named “Asia’s Best Bank” by The Banker, a member of the Financial Times group, and “Best Bank in Asia-Pacific” by Global Finance. The bank has also been named “Safest Bank in Asia” by Global Finance for seven consecutive years from 2009 to 2015.

DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking activities across Asia. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region’s most dynamic markets. These market insights and regional connectivity have helped to drive the bank’s growth as it sets out to be the Asian bank of choice. DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers, and positively impacting communities through supporting social enterprises, as it banks the Asian way. It has also established a SGD 50 million foundation to strengthen its corporate social responsibility efforts in Singapore and across Asia.

With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. The bank acknowledges the passion, commitment and can-do spirit in all of our 22,000 staff, representing over 40 nationalities. For more information, please visit www.dbs.com.

About DBS Bank (China)
DBS Bank (China) Limited (DBS China) is a subsidiary of DBS, one of Asia’s leading financial services groups. Formerly the Development Bank of Singapore, DBS opened its first representative office in Beijing in 1993 and was among the first group of foreign banks and the first Singapore bank to incorporate in China in May 2007. Since then, DBS China has rapidly expanded its franchise across the country, currently operating out of 11 branches and 23 sub-branches and has more than doubled its staff strength to over 2,300. DBS China’s business focuses are institutional banking, global transaction services, treasury and markets, SME banking as well as consumer banking targeting the affluent segments.

DBS China is among the first batch of financial institutions and one of the first two foreign banks, to obtain approval for setting up an outlet, receive operational approval and the first foreign bank to open for business in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

China is DBS’ key priority market. The strengths of our franchise in China have been recognized by esteemed regional and local media, government bodies and industry associations such as being conferred the ‘2014 Top 10 Successful ASEAN Companies in China’ award by the China-ASEAN Business Council (CABC); Global Finance (Stars of China: 2014 Best Corporate Bank, 2015 Best Consumer Bank, 2011 -2015 Best Treasury and Cash Management and 2014-2015 Best Trade Finance Provider among foreign banks) and The Asset (Best Wealth Manager, China, Best Structured Trade Finance Solution, China, 2014-2015). For more information, please visit www.dbs.com.cn.