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Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry
2. Speeches

Speech by Minister of State for Energy, Trade and Industry Gan Siow Huang at the Singapore Fashion Council Be the Change Summit 2026

1 October 2026

Ms Sharon Lim, President, Singapore Fashion Council,

Ms Zhang Ting-Ting, CEO, Singapore Fashion Council,

SFC Council Members,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

  1. Good morning. I am pleased to be joining this Summit for the first time.

  2. Speaking about change, today is an important milestone for the ministry I come from. Today, we are renamed the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry. We have added the word “energy” to the ministry name because energy has become an increasingly important part of the economy for trade and investments.

  3. This year’s theme, “Fashion Futures: Resource Stewardship and Business Resilience”, is timely. Businesses across fashion and retail are navigating massive changes, including rising costs, global uncertainty, tariffs and rapid technological changes, even as consumers and markets expect more sustainable practices.

  4. Sustainability is therefore no longer simply the responsible choice; it is increasingly becoming a business need. Companies that adapt early can become more competitive, more resilient, and unlock new markets and business opportunities. Today, I will highlight three priorities for the industry.

Recognising Sustainability

  1. First, technology, including artificial intelligence, is creating new possibilities across the fashion value chain. Better traceability can give businesses and consumers greater visibility into where and how products are made, repaired, resold, rented and recycled. This can create new services, while at the same time improve materials and productivity. Taken together, these shifts can strengthen existing products and services, and create entirely new business lines.

  2. We see this spirit among the IMPACT Award recipients, whom we are honouring today. The award recognises individuals and businesses for their contributions towards sustainability in fashion. Their achievements show that it is possible when innovation benefits businesses, society and the environment. I congratulate all recipients in advance.

Building Capabilities

  1. Second, we must help our businesses become more sustainable and respond to the changing global standards and requirements. Businesses, especially SMEs, face increasingly complex sustainability standards across different markets and some may not know where to start. By strengthening these capabilities in Singapore, we can also contribute to broader sustainability efforts across ASEAN.

  2. The Singapore Fashion Council will be launching the Sustainability Readiness Intelligence (SRI) framework at this Summit. The SRI will help companies assess their sustainability readiness, navigate relevant standards, identify practical actions and resources, and develop their sustainability roadmap.

  3. The goal is to help businesses move beyond just compliance with standards and become ready to seize the new opportunities. Strong sustainability practices can help companies enter new markets, attract investments and become stronger partners for global businesses.

  4. This matters not only in Singapore but across ASEAN. Our region already combines strong manufacturing capabilities and supply chains, with creativity and innovation. By demonstrating progress on sustainability, companies in our region will become better placed to compete and grow internationally. I encourage interested companies to learn more about the SRI, and engage the Singapore Fashion Council on the next steps.

Strengthening Connections

  1. Third, Singapore will continue our commitment to advancing sustainable fashion and global best practices by strengthening our connections with international partners.

  2. I am pleased to note that the Singapore Fashion Council has joined the Fashion Cities Coalition, or FCC, representing Singapore in this global partnership. Singapore is honoured to be the only Asian city represented in the Coalition, and we hope that our representation will be able to pull along our partners in Southeast Asia.

  3. The Singapore Fashion Council is going to host the Singapore Relay in January 2027. I look forward to hearing about the workshop and the fruits that will bear in time to come.

Partnerships to Take Industry Further

  1. Let me close with one point: change at this scale does not happen in isolation. It requires the ecosystem to work together. Businesses can lead by example. Industry groups can help companies build capabilities and international networks can open doors to new ideas and markets.

  2. The Be The Change Summit is the platform that I hope will help build capabilities, forge partnerships and create new ideas.

  3. I wish you a fruitful summit. Thank you.