Commentary

Singaporean property investors: Look down under for higher returns

Over the past six months, Australia's property market trends have had investors, including those in Singapore, rethinking their plans. In December 2015, harsher punishments for violating foreign investment rules were implemented. Figures for Q1 2016 showed a marginal quarter-on-quarter increase of 1.6 percent for home values in Australian capital cities compared to Q1 2015 which saw a 3 percent increase (CoreLogic).

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Singaporean property investors: Look down under for higher returns

Commentary

Are the Sports Hub and National Gallery white elephants?

The Sports Hub in Singapore was built at a vast cost of at least $1.3 billion with a promise of a packed program of concerts, sports events, and community events. Currently it is used to show pictures on the top of the roof and giving up 10 prime Saturdays for National Day Parade practice sessions as it has no other significant content booked in.

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What you need to know when buying a business in Singapore

The value of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in Singapore rose to S$142 billion in 2015, almost double that in 2014. Many Singaporean businesses are also dealing in outbound acquisitions to broaden their interests overseas. However, buying a business is more than just a game of dollars and cents – there are many legal considerations and processes involved which are must-knows if you are looking to strengthen your hand at the negotiating table.

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State of the industry: The rise of self-storage in Singapore

Singapore has become a hot spot for investments in the self-storage sector lately. With the rise of urban dwellers and demand for more residential and commercial space, more consumers are turning to self-storage services, as an alternative to holding valuable items at home or in the office.

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Makings of our Ideas Nation

Now is the time to inspire people to pursue rainbows and rally around ideas – big and small.

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Is Singapore still attractive for Western expats?

Singapore represents the only case of a nation that did gain independence against its will when it was expelled back in 1965 from the then Federation of Malaysia.

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Why Singapore companies should be thinking Narrow-Deep-Broad and not Broad-Shallow-Narrow

An irresistible phenomenon has been looming large over all developed countries and, given the size of Singapore, its effects are likely to be felt very sharply here over the next few years.

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How creativity can solve SMEs' woes

This is a season where much focus is placed on SMEs again. At SME events and through the media, we hear various ministers speak of plans to help SMEs. Besides monetary assistance through the Budget, what do SMEs really need to raise productivity and value?

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Trade Associations and Chambers must stay nimble and neutral to truly benefit members

More help for small and medium businesses (SMBs) – that was a ringing hymn from the chorus of trade associations and chambers (TACs), as each offered their own stanza of suggestions to steer Singapore through a more uncertain future, since the national Budget was unveiled in March.

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Drive, data, and disruption: Who would make the transition?

Would the functional manager/director of today be ready to become a C-suite leader of tomorrow?

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The rise of Singapore's contingent workforce, and what it means for talent attraction

Economic uncertainly is pushing more employers towards increasing their contingent workforce, so what does this mean for talent attraction?

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Even a small salary increase could be your best business expense

Businesses have many assets that contribute to the growth and competitive advantages of the company, but none are more important than its human capital. Every night the human resources that drive the productivity of a company walk out the door and in the morning they choose to come back. Business owners and leaders that are conscious of this choice understand that employees need to be treated well enough that they continue to contribute the majority of their waking hours to greater good of the company.

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Singapore hotels keeping up with the changing business travel experience

The latest Asian Business Travellers report commissioned by the Singapore Tourism Board finds that Asian corporate travellers desire and expect more autonomy. Rather than relying on personal secretaries, many of them are taking ownership of their own travel itineraries and are more comfortable with personally managing their travel.

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Temporary workers may hold the key to alleviating Singapore's skills shortages

According to a recent Hays survey, 40 percent of candidates in Singapore are now more open to temporary/contract work than they were in recent years.

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Managing healthcare inflation in Singapore

At the official opening of Farrer Park Hospital on March 16, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said that as Singapore's population increases in age, the private healthcare sector must offer services at a lower cost to meet their needs. He called on private hospitals to upgrade their IT systems in order to provide improved services.

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7 success lessons your degree failed to teach you

Recently, a friend of mine had the good fortune to meet Grace Ho, Chief Commercial Officer of SingPost, through a mentorship and networking session organised by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) for Professionals, Managers, and Executives (PMEs) under its Future Leaders programme.

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The basics of Employee Share Option Plans (ESOPs) in Singapore

In Singapore, start-ups compete for talent with multinationals and cannot offer large paychecks compared to their large competitors. Recruiting the right talent and retaining motivated talent is vital for any company that seeks to innovate.

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