IDEM Minister Speech

GUEST OF HONOUR SPEECH
Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Minister for Trade & Industry
HPB's School Dental Service showcases at IDEM Singapore 2008
4 April 2008, at 12 noon

Singapore Dental Association President, Dr Benjamin Charles Long,
FDI President, Dr Burton Conrad, Koelnmesse, Vice President, Mr Oliver P. Kuhrt, Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, a very good morning.

It gives me great pleasure to be here today to witness and be part of International Dental Exhibition & Meeting 2008. Held in Singapore for the 4th time, IDEM Singapore is growing at an astonishing rate and is the leading dental exhibition and meeting platform in the Asia Pacific. Having shown a stellar growth of more than 100% since it was first held in year 2000, IDEM has continued to attract new and established exhibitors from around the globe, making IDEM an important fixture in the trade fair calendars of exhibitors worldwide and of dental professionals from the Asia Pacific region.

This year, IDEM 2008 will host more than 340 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions. This is more than double the number of exhibitors that participated in the first IDEM in 2000. 10,000 m²of exhibition space has been allocated for this year's IDEM, as compared to the 4000 m 2 utilized in the year 2000, making this the biggest IDEM to date.

As Singapore continues to develop the infrastructure and establish our reputation as a strategic MICE Hub is Southeast Asia, it is encouraging to note an increasing trend of professional body organizing meetings of an international scale, with dentistry as one of the pioneer leading profession. Since its inauguration in 2000, IDEM Singapore has helped to rally the industry partners in the region as well as globally, to boost our growth and caliber of business events held locally. Singapore is a centre of synergistic value, where talent, innovative technology and ideas combine. This is the reason why we are the destination of choice for large scale congresses and exhibitions, such as the upcoming World Dental Meeting - FDI Congress 2009.

Besides boasting a spectrum of innovative products and technology, the IDEM is held in conjunction with a well established conference. With world class researchers and speakers conducting comprehensive seminars on a wide variety of topics and hands-on courses, all dental professionals should visit IDEM 2008 to keep abreast with the latest technological advances that will shape the practice of dentistry by leaps and bounds. Indeed, IDEM is an unique opportunity where Science meets Trade as delegates get to find the best in both worlds. As part of the push for continuing education in Singapore, credits will also be awarded to dentists who take part in the Scientific Conference.

This will give new momentum to Singapore as a dental business hub, allowing the global market to explore and recognize the potential of an exciting growth market. This will make IDEM Singapore even more attractive as a trade show, congress and business platform in the Asia Pacific region, as well as to reaffirm our growing status towards becoming the exchange capital of the world and the gateway to Asia Pacific.

Although IDEM is attended mostly by dental professionals and the trade businesses, the public will not be left out. The Singapore Dental Health Foundation will be conducting free dental screening and advise for the general public, being held in the foyer of the convention hall. This event is an initiative of the organizers, as we strive for an all-rounded excellence in dental health that benefit the patients and society.

IDEM 2008 is an excellent opportunity for interaction between dentists and to learn the scientific basis of clinical practice. I am honored to be a part of this major event and in closing, I hope that you all have a successful meeting and that IDEM 2008 will be a fruitful and enriching experience for all of you.