Commentary

South East Asia is a unique and vibrant region, culturally diverse and historically rich – the 10 countries of ASEAN consistently amaze and never fail to enchant.

A Close-to-Heart Investment Becomes Heavy Residential properties have always been very close to heart of many investors. However, the consistent run up in prices have prompted the Singapore government to impose severe cooling measures twice in 2011, the most recent in December, leaving private residential properties as a heavy topic for many.

Have you ever cursed under your breath because a colleague just tendered his resignation and you have to pick up the mess? Or have you ever asked yourself, “If only I knew that person was so lazy, I would never include her in my team!”

The International Energy Agency predicts that global energy demand would increase by one-third from 2010 to 2035, with Asia leading this demand. Asia-Pacific, Brazil and the Gulf of Mexico will help meet much of that demand. In Singapore this growth is reflected in the annual turnover of the offshore marine industry, with over $8 billion in 2010 and which continues to remain buoyant.

The Facebook IPO was, without a doubt, the most widely anticipated and eagerly discussed topic this month. From Singapore to San Francisco, in meeting rooms and over coffee tables, across university campuses and next to office water coolers, millions of people eagerly discussed and discoursed the highly anticipated IPO filing… and I was certainly one of them.

Is it time for Singapore to adopt a national mobile payments system?

Singapore, the “little red dot” in Southeast Asia, has a landmass of just 714 km2—barely larger than Chicago.

The proliferation, promise and potential of social media have grasped the attention of many enterprises in Singapore.

A majority of consumers are uncomfortable with the amount of commercial messages they see on social networks, a large global survey has found.

The flash floods that impacted several parts of Singapore recently serve as a stark reminder that businesses of all sizes face increasing uncertainty and risks.

Going green has been given greater impetus if the latest developments concerning Singapore’s construction industry are an indication.

As more and more Superyacht owners discover Singapore as a luxurious gateway to the most glorious cruising waters in the world, the potential for the local economy to benefit from the development of a stronger yachting infrastructure and more waterside developments is exciting.

Dwindling CTR’s, High CPC’s and lesser ROI’s are a common trend in the online Campaigns in Singapore. We talk about digital advertising as the next big thing after TV, print and other traditional media, but it’s time to move beyond the traditional online advertising methods (CPM, CPC, banner adverting etc).

Is it my imagination, or have most Marketing Directors become Marketing Coordinators?

One of the many things that makes working in Singapore a uniquely enriching experience is the number of different cultures that one finds working together, particularly in the large MNC’s. There are many cities that are more cosmopolitan than Singapore – London for instance apparently has over 250 languages spoken on a daily basis. In terms of people working closely together however it is not, in my opinion, as multi cultured as Singapore. When one has so many different people from different countries communicating and work together it is important to understand how the different cultures may see each other and to be aware of the “cultural minefield” that may exist within a large organization.

Tobacco, Alcohol and Gambling are sometimes referred to as the ‘sin industries’. Not withstanding the theological implications of that word, these industries are sometimes presented in an unfavorable light because, if not properly regulated, they can provide the context for undesirable behavior.