With a new patron and a three year roadmap that will bring the industry to greater heights, the Year of the Dog certainly shows great promise.

The festive spirit was clearly in the air at the One Farrer Hotel Ballroom on 22 February with the attendance of over 190 guests. What better way to introduce our new patron, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Ms Sim Ann, than the SFIC CNY Luncheon? Having graciously accepted our invitation late last year, SMS Sim has since visited the recent International Furniture Fair Singapore/ASEAN Furniture Show/NOOK Asia show at the expo and met with the SFIC leadership to get to know the industry better. A vocal advocate who has been promoting the interests of the lifestyle industries including furniture, we are indeed blessed.

Good things come in pairs and besides a delicious meal, the proverbial icing on the cake came in the form of a new roadmap for the industry, as shared by SFIC President Mark Yong in his CNY address. The culmination of long intensive sessions with both internal and external stakeholders over the course of six months, the industry dream ”To be the Asian Hub Influencing Tomorrow’s Urban Living” offers clarity as to where we are headed.

Lending her support to the roadmap, SMS Sim urged industry players, agencies and business associates to support the test-bedding of city living solutions and also complimented SFIC on its past achievements in leading the Singapore furniture industry as well as fostering collaborations.

The two-hour event ended with satiated appetites and much to ponder about as well as to look forward to in the coming months.