Tang I-Fang
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Tang I-Fang (, September 16, 1924 – September 26, 2013) was a China-born Singaporean veteran public servant, economic strategist for developing countries and businessman.


Education and career

Tang graduated from National Central University (
Nanjing University Nanjing University (NJU; ) is a national public research university in Nanjing, Jiangsu. It is a member of C9 League and a Class A Double First Class University designated by the Chinese central government. NJU has two main campuses: the Xianl ...
), Chongqing, China and earned a B.Sc. in mechanical engineering in 1944. During the Second World War, Tang worked as a translator for the U.S. Army. Subsequently, the U.S. military sent him to the U.S. for officer's training and to work on translating training manuals. After the war, Tang attended Harvard Business School and he graduated in 1948 with an MBA. Following graduation, Tang joined the United Nations under the United Nations Industrial Study and Advisory Group for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE). He was assigned to various developing nations (Somalia, Thailand, Philippines and Myanmar) to give advice on their economic development. Tang's involvement with Singapore began in 1959 when he arrived as deputy leader of a United Nations delegation led by Dr. Albert Winsemius, a renowned expert in development economics. At the invitation of the Singapore government, Tang became the Chairman of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) which was instrumental in transforming Singapore into a key regional and global hub for companies to do business. Singapore's Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, described Tang as a “sharp, shrewd and a good negotiator” who “enabled the EDB to attract leading MNCs (multinational corporations) and investors from around the world.” Lee credits Tang with devising the initial plans for a regional industrial estate in Singapore, now known as Jurong Town Corporation (JTC), but a serious economic recession forced the government to postpone construction. Lee added “As it turned out, Mr. Tang was absolutely right about the strategic direction, but was ahead of his time. Our current efforts to transform Jurong into the Jurong Lake District, including regional offices and an integrated work-live-play environment, reflect many of his original ideas.” Lee highlighted Tang's vision to expand JTC's role from infrastructure developer to a catalyst for new industries. Lee cited Tang as being “instrumental” in establishing Singapore's first Science Park and developing the Southern Island into a petrochemical hub. Tang's vision for the Republic's Science Park was to develop a research center that would cater to special industries and companies that were in the forefront of promoting research and high technology industries. His goal was to bring Singapore into a new stage of industrial development. Tang also recognized the importance of reclaiming land to expand the island. Under his direction, JTC reclaimed 650 hectares of land that now houses Tuas Biomedical Park. Lee stated that Tang's passion for Singapore was “beyond doubt, and that Singapore was lucky to have had Mr. Tang.” From 1960 to 1963, Tang was chief of the United Nations Industrial Study and Advisory Group for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) which assisted in designing and implementing industrialization programs for developing countries. Tang led the ECAFE industrial missions to India, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Myanmar. From 1963 to 1967, he became a consultant for the United National Development Program (UNDP) and was chief consultant for the United Nations Industrial Conference for Asia (1963-1972). In the early 1960s, Tang I-Fang was a member of the UNDP Mission which played a key role in spearheading Singapore's economic development programs. He was chairman of the Economic Development Board of Singapore (EDB) from 1968 to 1972 and served as chairman of the Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) which authorized the development of industrial parks and the industrial port in Singapore from 1979 to 1986. Tang continued as a leading member of the EDB, serving as deputy chairman and chairman of the executive committee of EDB until 1986. In 1985, Tang was appointed chairman of Sub-Committee on Service Sector, Economic Committee by the Singapore government. In recognition of the critical role he played in furthering these development programs, the largest Singapore-based, Chinese language newspaper, ''Lian He Zao Bao'', described Tang I-Fang as a "major contributor to Singapore's industrialization". In 1972, the Singapore Government awarded him the Distinguished Public Services Award. For his contribution to the economic development of developing countries, he was awarded the Distinguished Services Award by the American-Chinese Institute of Engineers, New York, (1978) and in 1989, Tang was voted Singapore Businessman of the Year. In 1978, Tang I-Fang was appointed director and subsequently served as chairman of WBL Corporation Limited (formerly Wearnes) from 1983 until his retirement in May 2006. Under Tang's direction, WBL was successfully transformed from a local automotive distributor into a high-tech and diversified multinational group. He was described as a "visionary strategist, charismatic leader, trouble shooter and corporate treasure." In its 1989 centennial edition, the ''
Wall Street Journal ''The Wall Street Journal'' is an American business-focused, international daily newspaper based in New York City, with international editions also available in Chinese and Japanese. The ''Journal'', along with its Asian editions, is published ...
'' listed 66 companies worldwide, including WBL, as the "select few poised to lead business into the 1990s". WBL was the only company in this list from the Southeast Asian region. Commenting on Tang's corporate development strategy, the ''Wall Street Journal'' citation read: "WBL is among those that could make our world different tomorrow. ... that will lead advances in technology, find new ways to make and market products and services and elevate the science of management to an art". As a director and chairman of United Engineers (UE) from 1987 to 2005, Tang's "visionary leadership" had "over the years enabled the group to grow tremendously ... in particular, he sowed the seeds for the group's growing business presence in China and was also instrumental in the development of the group's flagship building UE Square." noted UE's chairman, Mr. Tan Ngiap Joo. Recognizing China's potential as an emerging economic power, Tang spearheaded WBL and UE's foray into China in 1991 and invested in companies that deal in high-tech, bio-tech, agro-tech, infrastructure construction and housing developments. Among these companies, Huaxin International Development Company established a reputation in China as a quality housing developer, and won more than 40 national, provincial and city government awards for its high standards of design, construction and property management. In a joint venture in 2000 with the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation and Singapore Power Ltd, UE completed the construction of a power plant in
Hefei Hefei (; ) is the capital and largest city of Anhui Province, People's Republic of China. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, and cultural center of Anhui. Its population was 9,369,881 as of the 2020 census and its built-up ( ...
which was one of the major suppliers of electricity for Anhui Province and eastern China. Tang's other private sector directorships included, The Straits Trading Company Ltd (director 1981-2001; deputy chairman 1989-2007 and chairman from August to December 2007). He was also a founding board member of Singapore Press Holdings Limited (1984–2004) and a director of Times Publishing Ltd. (1988–2001). In the finance sector, he was deputy chairman of
Dresdner Bank Dresdner Bank AG was a German bank and was based in Frankfurt. It was one of Germany's largest banking corporations and was acquired by competitor Commerzbank in May 2009. History 19th century The Dresdner Bank was established on 12 Novemb ...
(SEA) Ltd (1975–1990) and a director of Overseas-Chinese Banking Corporation Ltd (OCBC) (1990–2000). During the 1960s, Tang I-Fang participated in the formulation of development programs for several territories and countries in Asia. In the 1970s the Government of Jordan contracted with Tang to design the kingdom's industrial estates and advise the nation's leaders on the development of an industrial port. In the early 1980s, Tang was involved in the preparation of
Shenzhen Shenzhen (; ; ; ), also historically known as Sham Chun, is a major sub-provincial city and one of the special economic zones of China. The city is located on the east bank of the Pearl River estuary on the central coast of southern province ...
city's development plan. In 1990, as chief of UNDP Economic Mission to Yingkou city, China, he assisted in the preparation of Yingkou city Economic Development Plan and paved the way for the establishment of the National Yingkou Economic and Development Zone. At the invitation of the UNDP and the
World Bank The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. The World Bank is the collective name for the Interna ...
, Tang took part as a consultant in the International Workshop on the Economic Development of Shanghai
Pudong Pudong is a district of Shanghai located east of the Huangpu, the river which flows through central Shanghai. The name ''Pudong'' was originally applied to the Huangpu's east bank, directly across from the west bank or Puxi, the historic city ...
in 1991. In 1992, he was a keynote speaker at the Senior Policy Seminar on Macroeconomic Management of Reform for Vietnam and the consultant for the UNDP Workshop on Guangdong's 20 year Economic and Social Development Plan. In the roles of director on the board of the Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship and pro-chancellor of
Nanyang Technological University The Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is a national research university in Singapore. It is the second oldest autonomous university in the country and is considered as one of the most prestigious universities in the world by various inte ...
Tang became an active advocate in the promotion of intellectual exchange and education. He was also an advisory professor of
Peking University Peking University (PKU; ) is a public research university in Beijing, China. The university is funded by the Ministry of Education. Peking University was established as the Imperial University of Peking in 1898 when it received its royal charter ...
and honorary professor of Central China University of Science and Technology. Under Tang's direction, WBL's subsidiary in Shenyang, China, established the Huaxin International School (1994), which became a model school in North East China.


Personal life

Tang I-Fang was born in Tongcheng County of Anhui Province in China. His father, Tang Zhe Ming (1908-1978), was the Major General, Principal of the Military School, and Chief of Staff of the Central Command, Nanjing Military School. His mother was Sun Zhen Jing (1898-1973). In 1948, he married Dolly Kolling Wong and they had four children, Brian, Lily, David and Maryann. Tang adopted Singapore as his home and became a naturalized citizen in 1972.


Awards and honors

*In 1972, the Singapore Government awarded Mr. I-Fang Tang, the Distinguished Public Services Award. *In 1978, the American-Chinese Institute of Engineers, New York conferred their Distinguished Services Award. *In 1989, Tang was awarded Singapore Businessman of the Year.


Death

Tang died on September 26, 2013. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong sent a letter of condolence to Tang's wife.


Further reading


Books and articles

*Chan Chin Bok (August 2002) Heart Work, Lemon or a Rolls Royceauthored by Tang I-Fang, Published by Singapore Economic Development Board and EDB Society, Authors and Singapore EDB Society 2002, *Peters, Ann, (2006) “Hundred Short Stories that Makes Us Wearnes: celebrating 100 years of WBL Corporation, ne Man's VisionPublished by Singapore WBL Corporation, 2006, *"Chinese Pride - Century Edition 【中华骄子 – 世纪珍藏版】" uly 2000published by Zhong Guo Yan Shi Publisher, Beijing, China, pages 8–11 *The Founding Marshals and Generals of the People's Republic of China RC People's Liberation Army Records 1955-1964ditor: Song Guo Tao Publisher: Central Compilation & Translation Press, People's Republic of China. Date: Sep 2004 irst Print page 569 *Challenge and Response: Thirty Years of the Economic Development Board, (1993) he Economic Development BoardAuthor Linda Low Publisher: Times Academic Press, (limp), (cased), pages 73 –93 *New Frontiers: 25 Years of the Jurong Town Corporation (1993), Author Colin Cheong, Publisher: Times Editions Pte Ltd. *ASEAN WHO’S WHO Volume III, Publisher: Kasuya Publishing SDN BHD , page 1690


News reports

* “Wearnes’ Tang wins the honour", Business Times, January 20–21, 1990 * “Mr. Tang has established a solid foundation for the group to build on”, The Business Times, November 26, 2004 * “Quality Control: The Chosen Five”, The Straits Times, January 6, 2000 * “Ambitious, enterprising and leaders. Entrepreneurs are both born and bred.” The Business Times, April 1, 2002 * “WBL stuns with nine-fold rise in profit, giving 1-for-2 bonus” “Our Order book is so good that we can't take all.” The Business Times, December 17, 1999 * “Wearnes: One of Singapore's New Breed”, The Herald International Tribune, March 9, 1990 * “Invaluable lessons from a visionary”, The Straits Times, October 1, 2013 * “Quiet mastermind behind Wearnes’ transformation", The Business Times, September 27, 2013 * “Wearnes among Wall Street Journal's 66 companies of the future”, The Straits Times, June 27, 1989 * “Tang I-Fang a man ahead of his time: PM”, The Straits Times, September 28, 2013


Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tang, I-Fang Economists from Anhui Singaporean economists Chinese emigrants to Singapore Naturalised citizens of Singapore 1924 births 2013 deaths National Central University alumni Nanjing University alumni Harvard Business School alumni Businesspeople from Anhui People from Tongcheng, Anhui Chinese expatriates in the United States