Qian Hu began as a guppy breeder in Sembawang in the early 1980s, and expanded their business to include the import and export of fish after they moved to Jalan Kayu in 1989. In February 1995, the company moved once again, this time to Sungei Tengah Agrotechnology Park, with a 10-fold increase in space. At the new site, Qian Hu engaged in both trading and farming activities, breeding high-value fish such as the dragonfish, also known as arowana, and the South American suckerfish.[1]
In 1996, Qian Hu became the first ornamental-fish farm in Singapore to be awarded the ISO 9002 certification by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for following strict industrial standards. The ISO code for fish exporters aimed to keep more fishes alive while they are being transported and to ensure quality exports.[2] In 2000, Qian Hu became the first fish farm to be listed on the Singapore Exchange.[3]
In August 1995, then Minister for National Development Lim Hng Kiang said at the opening of the 17th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) that Singapore had developed unique and sustainable intensive farming systems suited for the urban environment.[4] In 1995, Qian Hu was one of the companies that contributed to Singapore becoming the single largest exporter of ornamental fish in the world – with a 35 percent share of the world market.[5]
References
1. Seah, L. (1995, May 24). Fortune shines on fish farms. The Straits Times, p. 3. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
2. Vasoo, S. (1996, December 20). New PPD guide for ornamental fish exports. The Straits Times, p. 45; Fish farm bags first ISO award for the industry. (1996, December 20). The Straits Times, p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
3. Fish farm clinches Sesdaq nod. (2000, October 13). The Straits Times, p. 87. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
4. Chia, Y. P. (1995, August 27). Asean farm ministers to share expertise. The Straits Times, p. 15. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
5. The Straits Times, 24 May 1995, p. 3.
The information in this article is valid as at 2014 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.