Commentary

Are the days of banker-client secrecy over?

On November 17th, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) published a "Summary of Responses - Public Consultation on Draft Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 2016". In the annex, the fifth point under the "Summary of key public feedback received on the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 2016 ", was to Amend the provisions relating to implementation of Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).

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Are the days of banker-client secrecy over?

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What the haze and the FTC mean for Singapore directors

On the surface, the Indonesian haze and the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have very little in common. But for Singapore-based company directors, they highlight the increasing risk of running a domestic or international company at the highest of levels. For Singapore directors, company risk is becoming personal—no matter where the problem manifests.

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Singapore's 6 key growth industries in 2016

Singapore is the world's leader in the ease of doing business. The city-state's unmatched global and regional connectivity, its highly productive workforce with a mix of local and foreign talent, and a business-friendly regulatory environment have made Singapore the go-to destination for global businesses.

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3 types of leaders for improved organisational competitiveness

Singapore was ranked the second most competitive country worldwide, in the World Economic Forum's "Global Competitiveness Report 2015-2016" released on 30 September.

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100 years of innovation and counting – can a company live forever?

It is remarkable how rapidly Singapore has advanced in the past five decades. As the year draws to a close, Singapore is on the cusp of entering a new half century of development and change.

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The changing nature of the wealth management client

A new breed of wealth management client is forcing change in a traditional industry.

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Changi Airport – The lesson for us all

After passing through Singapore for the first time in May 1996, I was left with the impression that if I was going to suffer a long layover, Changi Airport was the place to have it!

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4 things you must know before raising capital through crowdfunding

Just a few weeks ago, Pirate3D made headlines, with reports saying that the company has hit a major cashflow issue and has only delivered 40% of orders.

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Taking your company from local to global – what Singapore entrepreneurs can learn

In the world of small business, the value of successful peer role models and shared best practices can't be overstated: already facing challenging odds of success (about 50% of new companies fail in their first five years), the keys-to-success wisdom shared by a fellow entrepreneur can make the difference between your chances of failure or flourishing.

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What are Singaporean property investors buying in London now?

With prices in central London on the slide, albeit, a gradual one, central London is losing its shine.

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What Singapore almost forgot about success

On Monday, Singapore played a proud host to international delegates wanting to learn more about Singapore's success formula of SG50.

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The haze: Is it time to boycott Indonesia and its companies?

Directly and indirectly brand Singapore and the Singaporean economy are taking a battering from the haze. According to both the Singapore Tourism Board and the Association of Singapore Attractions, there has been a 10% drop in visitor numbers to Singapore and its attractions and a 40% drop in outdoor attractions and outdoor eatery usage. I think that's the tip of the iceberg.

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The rise of virtual office and coworking in Singapore

Singapore is rapidly growing as a business hub, making it attractive for local startups and SMEs to kickstart their business and expansion plans into the region. According to the Startup Ecosystem Ranking 2015 report, Singapore's startup ecosystem is now ranked 10th globally, jumping seven places from 2012.

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Renegotiating insurance and benefits in Singapore

As we move to the end of 2015, many human resources professionals across Singapore are finding themselves in the unfamiliar, or at best irregular, position of having to arrange health insurance for their company's employees. In Singapore more than 70% of the employee benefits renewals happens in January, and this means that carriers are faced with the demand of generating quotations for brokers or agents.

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From Start-Up to Scale-Up: How Singapore companies can make the jump

There is a lot of focus on creating a start-up culture in Singapore, and that is good. However, there is a bigger question that should be answered, and that is whether Start-Ups who survive the brutal birth pangs of entrepreneurship can become Scale-Ups.

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Life Sciences recruitment activity heats up

Singapore's life sciences sector is experiencing a boom in recruitment activity as overseas-based pharmaceutical companies continue to set up regional head offices here. This is leading to a spike in demand in the sector for regularly affairs, sales, and marketing professionals.

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What Singaporeans need to know when buying UK residential property

The rising wealth of Asia Pacific nations, including Singapore, means more and more people have looked internationally for opportunities to invest in overseas property markets. Recent stock market events have shown the importance of a diversified portfolio capable of riding out the storm when economic conditions put immense pressure on share values.

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