The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) launched the five-year S$20 million Maritime Enterprise IT Development (MERIT) Programme in February 2004 to help maritime Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) defray costs incurred when modernising and upgrading their operations through the use of Information Technology (IT). This in turn will help to increase their productivity and competitiveness as well as strengthen Singapore's competitive edge as a global hub port and international maritime centre.

Since its launch, MERIT has been well-received by the maritime SMEs. Some 70 applications with a total grant amounting to S$2.35 million have been committed. These committed grants are expected to spur the development of new IT systems that can generate over S$50 million of new sales and productivity cost savings annually for the SMEs receiving the MERIT grants.

The successful applicants come from different sectors of the industry, including ship owners/operators, ship agency, ship chartering, ship brokering, ship chandelling, bunkering, marine engineering, ship repairs, ship survey and stevedoring. Some of the approved projects cover the design, development and upgrading of systems for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Supply Chain Management, Financial Management, Vessel Management and Tracking, Enterprise Information, Portal and e-Commerce.

Representatives of the MERIT recipients and other maritime companies shared their experiences in using IT to upgrade, improve their operational efficiency and provide better customer services at a half-day seminar today. Entitled 'MERIT Reloaded', it was organised by the MPA and supported by the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) to also allow the maritime players to network and learn from each other on how to further enhance their operations and grow their business through the use of IT. Some 260 participants from 180 companies attended the Seminar, which was held at the Meritus Mandarin Singapore and marked the first anniversary of the MERIT Programme.

In his opening address, Guest-of-Honour, Mr Patrick Phoon, Councillor, Singapore Shipping Association, said: "In today's competitive and rapidly changing business environment, companies have to use and exploit IT as a business tool; and SMEs are no exception in the use of IT." He urged the SMEs to identify their IT needs and put in place a good IT system by leveraging on the MERIT programme in order to reduce their operation costs, provide better customer service, increase revenue and grow the business locally and globally.

End of Release.

Attached:
Background and Details on MERIT Programme
An introduction on Sentek Marine & Trading Pte Ltd (SMTPL):The First Successful MERIT Applicant