Global Entrepolis @ Singapore 2005 to discuss Islamic enterprise

Notes and media contacts

More information on GES 2005 can be found at www.globalentrepolis.com

Annexe 1: Other Highlights of Global Entrepolis @ Singapore

About Global Entrepolis @ Singapore 2005
Global Entrepolis @ Singapore (GES) is world-class event held annually to encourage enterprise, innovation and technology. GES is a marketplace, which provides a unique opportunity for crafting deals, raising funds, exchanging and creating ideas as well as forging new partnerships and enterprises. It is also an umbrella event comprising more than 30 conferences and a mega-exhibition showcasing the latest in technology and innovation. Through the many business networking events and official functions, delegates from the various conferences will be encouraged to interact with one another.

GES is expected to attract leading executives, CEOs, CTOs, COOs, entrepreneurs, technopreneurs, start-ups, business angels and venture capitalists from Asia and the world.

About the Singapore Economic Development Board
The Economic Development Board (EDB) is Singapore's lead agency responsible for planning and executing strategies to sustain Singapore's position as a global hub for business and investment.

We work closely with local and foreign companies across a diverse range of activities in both manufacturing and services to help them move towards higher value-creating operations in an increasingly knowledge-based and innovation-driven environment. We also encourage companies to use Singapore as their headquarters and total business centre to manage their global or regional functions to service their global or Asia Pacific operations.

Singapore is today a "Global Entrepolis" - a unique marketplace where deals are made, funds are raised, creative ideas are exchanged and realised, and new innovative enterprises incorporated and partnerships forged. EDB acts as a catalyst and facilitator to ensure a thriving "enterprise ecosystem" in Singapore. We encourage innovation and entrepreneurship by helping to create an environment which is conducive for start-ups and companies of all sizes to interact with each other with good corporate governance practises and where intellectual property is protected.

About Singapore Business Federation
The Singapore Business Federation is the apex business chamber in Singapore. SBF aims to advance and promote business opportunities and networking within the business community both in Singapore and abroad. At the national level, SBF works closely with the government and labour organizations in a tripartite relationship to create a conducive business environment in Singapore. At the international arena, SBF represents the Singapore business community in multilateral, regional and bilateral business organizations to advance and promote their interest in trade expansion.

For more information, please visit our website: www.sbf.org.sg

About Zenith Events Corporation Ltd
Zenith Events Corporation Ltd. focuses on creating powerful marketing events for buyers and sellers to connect face-to-face through major expos and conferences. Our goal is to make use of our extensive resources in the region to help customers understand and succeed in the fast changing and complex Asian markets, as well as creating new opportunities for local players to explore the global marketplace.

Established in Hong Kong, with branch offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Singapore, and a partner network that spans USA, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Malaysia, Zenith also assists government organizations, professional associations/institutions, MNCs and local companies alike to launch and manage a diversity of events from product launch, customers programs, channel conferences, training seminars, sales promotion to any tailor-designed marketing programs in Asia.

As part of Zenith Integrated Communications, Zenith Events continues to focus on the hottest and fastest developing industries in Asia, and shares with every customer our creative and marketing excellence.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Miss Satvinder Kaur (Dubai)
HP: +971 050 508 1969

Mr Lim Seng Jin (Singapore)
Economic Development Board
DID: +65 6832 6868
HP: +65 9681 1395

Ms Linda Lim (Singapore)
Hill & Knowlton
DID: + 65 6390 3325
HP: + 65 9620 9814

Ms Pamela Tor Das (Singapore)
Hill & Knowlton
DID: + 65 6390 3330
HP: + 65 9765 2971

Annexe 1
Other highlights of Global Entrepolis @ Singapore
26 - 29 September 2005
Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre

Networking Events
Three networking evenings hosted by Singapore Business Federation will be organised to help match-make participants with corresponding agenda. Taking one night each from 27 to 29 September at The Enterprise Exchange, the sessions are themed "Market Connexions" - opening doors to new markets, "Power Partnerships" - introducing potential business partners, and "Money Matters" - linking innovators to investors.

Business Matching Portal
Introduced during Global Entrepolis @ Singapore (GES) 2004, the online Business Matching Portal continues to provide virtual business community for participants to match, meet and network before and during GES. The Portal is an online application, which allows participants to make contact with fellow participants with matching business and investment interests. It enables delegates to take a more targeted approach while at the GES thus saving time and effort to connect with potential partners.

More innovation adds buzz to mega exhibition
The Enterprise Exchange is specially designed to encourage entrepreneurs to network, interact and create business opportunities with some of the world's most successful and innovative players, and to facilitate enterprise formation, both established and emerging. The diversity of the Enterprise Exchange enables exhibitors and participants to explore partnerships that they may not have previously thought were possible.

About 170 exhibitors from different industries and markets are expected to gather at this year's Enterprise Exchange. Middle Eastern trade visitors can also find a new cluster of booths that highlights the creativity of Singapore-based utility innovations, some of which have won international awards. Utility innovations are inventions that solve problems associated with day-to-day applications in a creative and effective manner, even if some may not be high-tech in nature.

HOT Events
The popular HOTPitch, HOTSource and HOTDate events are back as well. HOTPitch lets entrepreneurs and innovators take to the stage to pitch their ideas in two minutes. HOTSource lets multinational companies, large corporations and government agencies share their technology and procurement roadmaps with smaller companies with the view to creating joint business opportunities. HOTDate allows sellers to rotate among buyers at seven-minute intervals to sell their ideas and innovations.

Announcements during GES 2004
The presence of a global audience has made GES an attractive platform for announcing deals, investments and research findings. Last year, over S$500 million worth of funds, investment and deals were announced during GES 2004, whilst some 17 projects, partnerships and companies publicised their commitment to start operations and businesses in Singapore.

More information on GES 2005 can be found at www.globalentrepolis.com