Business Times Online - Special Focus

LME's Abbott may soon be dealmaker

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(LONDON) MARTIN Abbott has been a fashion journalist, advertising salesman, pub manager, security guard and coal miner.

Rebuilding of damaged towns poses critical test

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(ONAGAWA) At age 39, Yoshiaki Suda, the new mayor of this Japanese town that was destroyed by last March's tsunami, oversees a community where the votes, money and influence lie among its large population of greying residents.

Legacies of disaster to last for decades

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

BEWARE the Ides (15th day) of March, the soothsayer warned in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, but it was not on the Ides that disaster struck Japan a year ago.

A tale of two cities: great expectations in hard times

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

HONG KONG unveiled its Budget last week, while Singapore will do the same this Friday. Did the proposals put forth by the Hong Kong financial secretary pose fresh challenges for Singapore in an increasingly competitive economic landscape, and are there lessons we can learn from our neighbours in the north?

Tax breaks to mitigate effects of rising costs

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

SINGAPORE continues to punch above its weight in many areas - a world-class infrastructure, highly competitive tax structure, safe and clean environment and a well-educated workforce.

Staying ahead in tax competition

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

FOR the sixth year in a row, Singapore has maintained its No 1 position in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Rankings.

How to manage different types of company crises

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

Business continuity is important for any business. What are some crisis management and crisis communication lessons that SMEs can draw from recent events in Singapore?

Launching the next big thing

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

FOR start-ups looking for a launch pad that will take them from zero to tech hero, few conferences generate as much buzz and anticipation as DEMO.

2,000 expected at first YPO summit to be held in Asia

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

PERSONALITIES such as Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, as well as Eduardo Saverin, co-developer of Facebook, will be present at this year's Young Presidents' Organization's (YPO) Global Leadership Summit that will be held in Singapore.

Family asset distribution: process is key

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

ONE of the first phrases that every child says is 'it's not fair' and that may also be the same phrase that is used when it comes to distribution of the family assets.

Rebounding with extra spring

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

GIVING up a business is usually the last thing on an entrepreneur's mind but that was exactly what Yeo Poh Seng had to consider at the end of last year.

Standing out from the pack

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

KOP Properties looks to provide an extra 'something special and iconic' when it designs and builds high-end residential projects under its luxury Hayden Properties brand, says its CEO, Leny Suparman.

A stronger Europe, euro from crisis

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

DOOM and gloom about the euro are abundant. An increasing number of commentators and economists have started to question whether the common currency can survive.

GTS and the new global economy

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

BUSINESSES today face a challenging environment both internally and externally. The global economic downturn has simultaneously constrained their growth and placed considerable stress upon their operations. On the one hand, say specialists, businesses need to continue growing; on the other hand, they need to control their costs and manage their finances more stringently than ever.

Keeping a well-honed edge

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

A KNOWLEDGE-BASED economy is one in which the production, distribution and use of knowledge are the main drivers of growth, wealth-creation and employment for all industries.

Six steps to global sales success

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

AS any CEO or business owner knows, good salespeople are a rare commodity, effective sales managers are even harder to find, and an outstanding sales director is the proverbial needle in a haystack.

Singapore geared up to be leading innovation hub

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

SINGAPORE has what it takes to be a hotbed for entrepreneurship and innovation, says Michael Song, professor of marketing at the Bloch School of Management, University of Missouri-Kansas City.

All in a day's work

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

LOCAL premium produce supplier Freshdirect is a perfect example of how mechanising seemingly simple processes can go a long way to raising efficiency.

Fresh property curbs not expected

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

FRESH property curbs are unlikely in the upcoming Budget, especially with the market still digesting the hefty additional buyer's stamp duty (ABSD) on foreign buyers, introduced in December.

Budget in a year of pain and change

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

BUDGET 2012 comes at a time when the economy is overcast with uncertainty. However, the five participants of The Business Times' Pre-Budget Roundtable think this year's Budget will be one focused on the long-term, one that will not spare businesses the pain necessary for Singapore to transition into a new phase of productivity-driven, sustainable growth. Here is an edited transcript of their discussion.

Good design a balancing act

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

SINGAPORE-BASED Axis Architect Planners' work can be described in three words - simple, functional, and durable - says its executive chairman William Ong.

The route to a global brand

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:00:00 GMT

IN a world where supply chains reach around the globe and competition is no longer about the shop across the street, but about international brands from across the continent, going international has become a necessity for many companies and going global, their ultimate aim.

COMMENTARY Navigating a whole new set of possibilities By now, most will acknowledge social media is here to stay. What can we expect and how do companies stay ahead?

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:00:00 GMT

YOU only need to look at the numbers to know that social media is here to stay. Two hundred million new users joined Facebook in the last year alone, growing the massive social networking site to 800 million active users.

New hope for kidney patients

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:00:00 GMT

FOR many kidney patients afflicted with end stage renal disease (ESRD), having to sit through dialysis treatments for hours on end is an inconvenient but necessary part of life. But the development of a portable artificial kidney device by locally-based AWAK Technologies could change that.

Developing capabilities to grow

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:00:00 GMT

IN TODAY'S competitive environment, SMEs and start-ups have to establish themselves and scale up their businesses from day one. These companies need to identify their niche competencies and develop their capabilities to meet the demands of the global market.