The Chinese business history of textile trade in 20th century Singapore : local, regional and global dimensions

• Main Author: Koh, Ernest Kah Wee
• Other Authors: Koh Keng We
• Format: Thesis-Master by Research
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2022
• Subjects: Arts and Humanities
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/154935
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The textile industry, pivotal in the industrialization of Asian nations like Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, has significantly influenced economic growth from the 19th to the 20th century. Singapore, as a central hub, thrived in this era but saw a decline by the century's end as Southeast Asian countries developed their manufacturing capabilities and trading networks, reducing Singapore's entrepôt relevance. Central to this narrative were the ethnic Chinese merchants in Singapore, who experienced a "Golden Era" in textile trading from the 1970s to 1990s. This paper aims to explore the nature of these merchants' success and the subsequent challenges within the shifting trade, industrial, and geopolitical landscapes. Through case studies of these merchants, it will examine factors like kinship, networks, and trust systems, contributing to the understanding of Chinese business success against the backdrop of global economic dynamics. This study seeks to bridge economic and business history, focusing on Singapore's textile industry, and contribute to the broader discourse on Chinese and entrepreneurial history in Southeast Asia.