Last updated: 7 July 2007

Singapore Chamber of Commerce

The Singapore Chamber of Commerce was founded on February 8th, 1837 [M05 p35] [B05p314]

“On 8th February 1837, at a meeting of the merchants, agents and other interested in the trade of Singapore, convened by circular and held at the Reading Room for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of establishing a Chamber of Commerce at this Settlement, A. L. Johnston in the Chair, it was proposed ... That an Association be formed under the designation of ‘The Singapore Chamber of Commerce’ for the purpose of watching over the commercial interests of the Settlement.”

“The Singapore Chamber of Commerce is formed for the protection of the general interest of the trade of the settlement, for the collecting and classifying of mercantile information, for establishing a court of arbitration to adjust commercial differences which may be referred to it, and for communicating with the public authorities on all subjects aff ecting the common good.”

The original Committee was comprised of: A. L. Johnston (Chairman), T. McMicking, R. C. Healey, E .J. Gilman, Syed Abubakar, Kim Guan, I. Zechariah, E. Boustead, J. Balestier, Gwan Chuan and A. Guthrie.

The Board in 1862

1. J. d’Almeida & Sons
2. Geo. Armstrong & Company
3. Behn, Meyer & Company
4. ***The Borneo Company Ltd.
5. Busing, Schröder & Company
6. B. H. Cama & Company
7. Cumming, Beaver & Company
8. ***Guthrie & Company
9. Hamilton, Grey & Company
10. Hinnekindt Frères & L. Cateaux
11. A. L. Johnston & Company
12. Wm. Macdonad & Company
13. Maclaine, Fraser & Company
14. Martin, Dyec & Company
15. Middleton, Harrison & Company
16. ***Paterson, Simons & Company
17. Puttfarcken, Rheiner & Company
18. Rautenberg, Schmidt & Company
19. Reme, Leveson & Company
20. Shaw, Walker & Company
21. Smith, Bell & Company
22. Wm. Spottiswoode & Company
23. ***Syme & Company
24. Zapp, Ritterhaus & Company
25. The Oriental Banking Corporation
26. ***The Chartered Bank of India, London and China
27. The Chartered Mercantile Bank of India and Australia
28. ***The P. & O. Steam Navigation Company
29. T. O. Crane, Esq.
30. Byramjee Pestonjee, Esq.

By 1921 all but the six firms marked "***" had disappeared. For some unknow reason the firm of Boustead and Co. (still active in 1921) was not a member.

In 1964, the Singapore Chamber of Commerce changed its name to Singapore International Chamber of Commerce.

© Michel Houde
Home | Site Map | Contacts