Dear Members, Friends, Business Associates, Board and Committee

Greetings from the Food & Beverage Managers’ Association!

Looking back at 2010 from a food and beverage perspective, 2010 has been a pretty good year. I want to thank all our Board and Committee members, including our business associates, for working hard to make a good year for FBMA in 2010.

Much has been accomplished last year and some of our achievements include setting up the judging panel and the logistics for the Dream Team Competition during Food and Hotel Asia 2010, helped in the organization of Wine for Asia series from its Media launch to the exhibition and F&B Workshops held at the Marina Bay Sands, and partnership with Singapore Press Holdings CATS Classified in organising the Amazing Waiters’ Race. However, our key achievements for last year was expanding our Allies globally and having signed a Memorandum of Understanding for Global Alliance with Food and Beverage Association Presidents from Malaysia, Germany and Cambodia.

Much lies in store for 2011 as this year is going to be full of challenges and opportunities for FBMA. Our main focus for this year will be the judging of the Singapore National Restaurant Skills Competition Final as well as the planned dinner for this great event on 29 March 2011. At the same time, we will continue to develop and strengthen our partnerships and synergies within FBMA Hospitality and Global Alliances and also reaching out to other organizations in particularly to promote new food and beverage trends and products as well as good service in Singapore.

The food and beverage scene will likely see more fine dining restaurants and high concept roof top bars surface. The two casinos opened early this year should continue to draw visitors to our shore and provide a massive boost to the tourism-related industries with the spillover impact to hotels, food and beverage business and other tourism-related industries in general. It has also been reported that services sector will be the key contributor to economic growth as well as the key driver for job creation for this year. Singapore inflation rate is also forecasted to rise between 3% - 4% this year. With the booming tourism sector and positive outlook on Singapore’s economy, food and beverage businesses in Singapore can look forward to a bountiful year ahead.

Meanwhile, thanks to the strong growth and positive economic outlook on China and India which is leading the way to economic recovery in Asia and the world. On the other hand, the United States and Europe has not made much progress and especially Europe ever since it was beleaguered by the debt crisis. Nonetheless, East Asia economy is on the firm path to recovery and it is good news to all of us.

Once again, thank you for friendship and support. Please receive my personal wishes for a healthy, peaceful, happy, and prosperous Year 2011.

Happy New Year!

Cheong Hai Poh
President