FURNITURE ASSOCIATIONS AND CONTROLLING BODIES

SINGAPORE FURNITURE INDUSTRIES COUNCIL

The Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC), incorporated in 1981, has since become the representative body of the Singapore furniture industry. SFIC’s mission is to promote the interest of the Republic’s furniture manufacturers and exporters. Its current president is Mr. Bert Choong who is also Group Managing Director of Nobel Design Holdings. The Council also represents Singapore in the ASEAN Furniture Industry Council (AFIC) as a constituent member to champion regional furniture manufacturing issues. In recent years, SFIC with the support of the Singapore Trade Development Board and Economic Development Board, commenced on new initiatives to raise standards and shape the future of the Singapore furniture industry. SFIC is actively working towards making Singapore the centre of excellence in the world furniture market. The International Furniture Fair Singapore is organized annually by SFIC, in conjunction with the Asean Furniture Show and Office International, is now The Singapore Furniture Industries Council is the representative body of Singapore furniture industry. Asia-Invest Furniture project recognized as Asia’s premiere furniture tradeshow.

To enhance the export of Singapore-made furniture, SFIC organizes frequent trade missions for members to explore investment opportunities to countries such as

China, India, Myanmar, Russia and the USA. The Council also plays a pro-active role in further strengthening activities in traditional markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. To ensure quality in furniture workmanship, SFIC initiated the Singapore Furniture Test Centre in collaboration with the Singapore Trade Development and the Singapore Productivity and Standards Board. The testing facility challenges manufacturers to meet international quality standards in furniture design and manufacturing. Certification issued by the test centre gives manufacturers a comparative advantage when competing in the international markets. To upgrade design standards and meet the industry’s need for quality designers, SFIC organizes regular seminars and workshops run by international designers and consultants. To arouse interest in furniture design and build a pool of local talent, SFIC organizes annual design competitions in collaboration with polytechnics, design colleges and tertiary institutions. 

SINGAPORE FURNITURE DESIGN CENTRE

SFIC’s commitment to the furniture industry was further enhanced with the setting up of the Singapore Furniture Design Centre (SFDC) at IMM Building in 1992. It is one of the largest furniture display centres in the Asean region and it provides a convenient one-stop quality furniture centre for both local consumers and overseas buyers. With the rise in economic sophistication and demand for quality furniture in the Asia Pacific, furniture manufacturers are now encouraged by the Council to set

up subsidiary production plants in the region. With the active support and assistance of the Council, more than 50 per cent of SFIC’s manufacturing members have

established production facilities in countries such as China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. A major milestone was achieved with the setting up of the 350.000 sqm Singapore Furniture Industry Park in Kunshan, China. It is the first private-sector led specialised industrial park in China, with the participation of 20 SFIC members and it is targeted to cater to both domestic and export markets. To meet the demand for high quality furniture in China, the Council also embarked on the setting up of the Furniture Design Centre in Shanghai, which was modelled after the SFDC in Singapore. To take advantage of new advances in Information Technology, SFIC with the assistance of the National Computer Board (NCB) of Singapore jointly initiated the Furniture Manufacturing Information System for its members. The integrated information system helps furniture manufacturers upgrade their manufacturing, administrative, financial and logistic operations.


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Singapore Furniture Industry
The demand for furniture
Furniture Associations And Controlling Bodies
International Furniture Centre In Singapore