The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and International Enterprise Singapore (IE Singapore) have launched a partnership providing career development opportunities through internships and specialized education  

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and International Enterprise Singapore (IE Singapore) have today launched a groundbreaking partnership between business, government, and higher-education institutions to support skills development in the areas of international trade and financing.

The International Trade Associate Programme (ITAP) will give students at four leading Singaporean polytechnics the opportunity to gain industry-accredited professional certification, together with tailored career development opportunities, through internships and outreach activities such as career talks and roadshows. The programme has been developed to help meet the growing need of companies and banks for skilled employees in trade-related roles.

ITAP is also supported by 17 companies from the trading and financial industries, including Bunge, Charles & Keith, Chinese National Offshore Oil Company, IKEA, DBS, Dole, INTL FC Stone, Kaybee, Lobb Heng, OCBC, Raduga, Sing Lun, Sportmaster, Texline and Valency, and Wilmar.

Students enrolling in the programme will take courses under the ICC Academy’s newly-launched Global Trade Certificate, which provides a comprehensive understanding of trade finance products —from letters of credit through to supply chain financing techniques. The programme is specifically designed to build up the required skills of the workforce through relevant and practical business education.

Commenting on the launch of the ITAP, Thierry Senechal, Senior Director, ICC Academy – Digital Learning, said: “The International Trade Associate Programme delivers on the ICC Academy’s vision to enable trade by ensuring that companies can access skilled talent for specialist roles.”

Mr Senechal added: “In recent years, we’ve seen a growing skills shortage with respect to international trade and financing operations — with significant knock-on effects for companies’ productivity and competitiveness. We’ve been delighted to partner with IE Singapore to develop a programme that couples industry relevant training with tailored career development opportunities. We see this as a model that can be replicated in other economies in the future.”

The ITAP forms an important part of IE Singapore’s efforts to build workforce skills for the economy of the 21^st Century.

Gina Lim, Trade Services and Policy Group Director at IE Singapore, said: “The ITAP is yet another extension of IE Singapore’s commitment and support to nurture a specialized and global-ready workforce. The robust programme supported by ICC and four polytechnics, enables trading companies to have direct access to a pipeline of specialized talent. This complements Singapore’s connectivity and strong capital advantages, in enhancing our role as the trading hub for Asia.”