SINGAPORE, 20 April 2026 (Monday) - Singapore Management University’s Sim Kee Boon Institute for Financial Economics (SKBI), together with World Scientific Publishing, has released the Chinese version of ‘Sim Kee Boon: The Businessman Bureaucrat 沈基文：亦官亦商’, a biography of SKBI’s namesake.
The biography traces the life and legacy of Mr Sim Kee Boon, one of Singapore’s pioneer generation leaders who played a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s economic and institutional foundations. The biography was first published in English and was unveiled in 2022. This new Chinese edition seeks to extend these reflections to Chinese-speaking audiences, contributing to broader conversations on leadership and governance across the Chinese-speaking world.
Key roles in Singapore's pivotal nation-building moments
As a key civil servant hand-picked by the colonial government, Mr Sim participated in the merger talks with Malaysia. He also headed Intraco, the national trading company that was one of the drivers of the economy of a newly independent Singapore, and later became the Head of the Civil Service.
Mr Sim is acknowledged as a highly versatile and astute public officer who oversaw the development of Changi Airport, making it the world’s best airport in 2026, according to London-based research firm Skytrax. That Changi Airport has won this title 14 times since 2000 is no accident. The biography details, in Chapter 4, the drive and passion he felt to connect Singapore with the world seamlessly, with a clean, comfortable, and relaxing airport that would deliver baggage in a matter of minutes.
He also turned Keppel – a name closely tied with the maritime history of Singapore as a strategic port – into a diversified, visionary Singapore corporation. As co-chairman of the Singapore-Suzhou Industrial Township Development, a prominent government-to-government project between Singapore and China, from 1993 to 2000, Mr Sim worked with the Suzhou mayor on major agreements.
Co‑authored by Mr Sim’s granddaughter, Ms Leanne Sim, and biographer Ms Low Shi Ping, the 250-page book offers insight into the principles, values and leadership philosophy that guided Mr Sim’s career. More than an historical account, the biography offers reflections on decision-making and leadership in public service guided by strong values, and sheds light on the man behind the public figure, through the eyes of his granddaughter and on his life at home.
Impact beyond Singapore
Professor Hong Zhang, Director of SKBI and Keppel Professor in Financial Economics, said that as he was growing up in Suzhou, China, he witnessed the profound transformation brought about by the China–Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park.
He said: “Mr Sim’s leadership as Co-Chairman was instrumental to this achievement. The Chinese edition of this book stands as a fitting tribute to his enduring contributions to Singapore–China cooperation, alongside his many achievements in Singapore. His legacy continues to shape the mission of the Sim Kee Boon Institute for Financial Economics as we advance knowledge and foster international collaboration.”
‘A heart for the nation’
Ms Leanne Sim, Mr Sim’s granddaughter and co-author of the biography, said that the extensive interviews led her to see how her grandfather’s legacy has transcended his achievements. She said: “What strikes me most is this: people may forget what you say, but they will never forget how you made them feel. My grandfather embodied this truth. He had an unwavering heart for the nation, an unshakeable integrity, and an upright character that inspired those around him.”
To her, the book is more than a biography. “It is a values roadmap I hope to pass down to my children and future generations. It's a testament to how one person's commitment to purpose, principle, and people can shape an entire generation,” she said.
“The values that SKB stood for transcend culture, language, geography and time,” said Ms Low Shi Ping, the co-author. “I am glad that the Chinese-speaking world will now be able to learn about them through this book. His story deserves to be read by as many people as possible.”
The foreword is penned by Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and the book comprises personal accounts of Mr Sim from 40 distinguished individuals, including Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and former Minister S. Dhanabalan. In 2022, it was launched by then Minister for Education and Minister-in-charge of the Public Service, Mr Chan Chun Sing.
The Chinese edition of Sim Kee Boon: The Businessman Bureaucrat ‘沈基文：亦官亦商’ is available at: Books Kinokuniya Singapore (Takashimaya S.C. & Online Store), Maha Yu Yi and Union Book Co Pte Ltd. The e-book is available here.