Li Jianhui Elected as New Chairman of the Singapore Business Federation

Lee Kian Hwee, president of Starland Holdings, has been elected the new chairman of the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), succeeding former chairman Zhang Songsheng, who had earlier stepped down temporarily and chose not to seek re-election.

The federation held its 24th Annual General Meeting on Wednesday (June 24) and elected the 13th Council, whose term runs for two years until the end of 2028.

In a statement, the federation said the new council has 24 members, including 12 elected councillors, 11 representatives from industry associations and chambers, and one co-opted councillor.

The new council includes six new councillors, among them Adam Click, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (AmCham Singapore); Mo Shi Xiang, president of the Singapore Restaurant Association; Lee De Ming, president of SGTech; and Suhaimi Zainul-Abidin, chief executive of hedge fund Quantedge Capital.

During the AGM, the federation also held the fifth Future Ready Business Dialogue, with Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing as guest of honour.

Li Jianhui: Ensure Companies Stay Competitive and Resilient for the Future

The dialogue, themed "Whole-System Preparedness: What Changes Must Governments and Businesses Make?", brought together many corporate executives and policymakers to discuss how companies can strengthen resilience, build future-ready capabilities, and cope with growing uncertainty.

New chairman Li Jianhui is also a Nominated Member of Parliament. In the statement, he said geopolitical tensions, the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), and shifts in trade patterns are reshaping the global economy, creating both challenges and opportunities for businesses.

Li said: "My top priority is to ensure companies remain competitive, resilient, and future-ready. We will work closely with businesses, the government, and industry partners to develop practical solutions, create an environment that supports business growth, and help companies build the capabilities needed for innovation, internationalization, and sustainable growth."

He also noted that Singapore will chair ASEAN next year, which offers a chance to deepen regional economic integration and reinforce ASEAN as a key engine of global growth. The federation will work with regional partners to turn these opportunities into concrete business outcomes and help ASEAN become more connected, more innovative, and more sustainable.

Li previously served as vice chairman and treasurer of the federation. While Zhang Songsheng was temporarily stepping down as chairman, Li also acted as chairman.

Seventy-one-year-old Zhang Songsheng issued a statement in May saying he would not seek re-election after his term as federation chairman ended on June 24. He had earlier temporarily stepped down from several roles, including chairman of the federation and executive chairman and director of Pacific International Lines, to deal with charges brought against him by the U.S. Department of Justice. Earlier, Lianhe Zaobao reported that the U.S. had accused him of allegedly being involved in rigging dry freight container prices.