The Commercial Press

Since its establishment in 1916, the Singapore Branch has been an important supplier of Chinese books, textbooks in particular, to the Singapore market. During the 1950s the company made a significant impact by participating in the publication of textbooks for local primary and secondary schools. From the 1970s onwards, besides marketing Chinese books from China and Hong Kong, business had extended to the sale of Chinese stamps.

In 1986, The Commercial Press (Singapore) Ltd. set up its book distribution centre for locally produced books, as well as books from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. It now acts as an agent for the distribution of publications produced by the Sino United Publishing Group, as well as Mainland Chinese publishers and other publishers in the region.

With more Chinese people immigrating to Singapore, the demand for quality Chinese and English language books has risen. In response to this need, the company's flagship IMM retail outlet was opened in 2002. In addition to supplying Chinese books, it has separate departments for English books and children's books to satisfy the needs of readers old and new. A further retail outlet is located in the North Bridge Centre, where a continuous supply of new titles and CD-ROMs from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan is offered. The Singapore Branch also provides books required by local universities, libraries and museums.

Besides marketing books, The Commercial Press (Singapore) Ltd. also publishes dictionaries, such as the CP Students' Chinese Dictionary and the CP Dictionary of Chinese Idioms, to assist local students in their learning of the Chinese language.

K.L. Commercial Book Company (M) SND BHD

Originally set up in 1956 as the Kuala Lumpur Branch of The Commercial Press (Singapore) Ltd., the K.L. Commercial Book Company (M) SND BHD was re-registered in Malaysia in 1987. Since that time, it has operated independently.

The company has been supplying books in Chinese, chiefly reference books, as well as selling stationery. In addition, it has been publishing dictionaries of different languages to meet the needs of this multi-cultural country. In 1991, it entered the philatelic retail business, after obtaining the franchise to distribute Chinese stamps in Malaysia.

Because the Malaysian population is widely scattered, the company organizes mobile book exhibitions throughout the country as a means of reaching out directly to readers in different localities. Book displays held in independent Chinese secondary schools constitute an important aspect of the Company's business, complementing the wholesale and retail distribution side of the business.