有幸出席“2026临沂外贸优品(新加坡)经贸对接会 #173
| | | | | | | | |

有幸出席“2026临沂外贸优品(新加坡)经贸对接会 #173

昨晚承蒙学强邀请,我有幸出席“2026临沂外贸优品(新加坡)经贸对接会”,与来自临沂和新加坡的企业家及各界朋友交流。#173 席间最难得的,是与一桌背景各异的新老朋友畅谈——既有在新加坡扎根的第一代华人,也有传承至第四代的新加坡华人,还有正在新加坡工作、并积极探索东盟商机的中国朋友。不同的人生经历与商业视角汇聚在一起,让这个夜晚格外丰富。 跨境合作不只关乎产品与市场。真正决定一段关系能走多远的,往往是信任、物流、安全与信誉。机会可以促成一次会面,但唯有可靠的履约、清晰的责任和长期建立的互信,才能让合作跨越地域与周期。 新加坡与临沂之间的双向联系,可以成为更广阔区域合作的起点:从中国与新加坡出发,延伸至东南亚,并进一步连接美国、欧洲及其他国际市场。重要的并非一开始就定义所有可能,而是先把正确的人、可信的能力与共同的长期视野连接起来。 感谢学强的盛情邀请,也感谢当晚每一位新老朋友的真诚交流。许多有意义的合作,往往始于一张餐桌、一场坦诚的对话,以及彼此愿意长期同行的信任。 — Grateful to 学强 for inviting me to last night’s 2026 Linyi High-Quality Export Goods (Singapore) Economic & Trade Matching Conference. One of the evening’s highlights was sharing a table with people whose connections to Singapore span remarkably different journeys—from first-generation Chinese immigrants to fourth-generation Singaporean Chinese, alongside friends from…

Robots, speed dating and an unmanned booth: notes from The Business Show Asia and AIMX 2026 #172
| | | | | | | | | |

Robots, speed dating and an unmanned booth: notes from The Business Show Asia and AIMX 2026 #172

Robots, speed dating and an unmanned booth: notes from The Business Show Asia and AIMX 2026 #172 The Business Show Asia promised scale—8,000+ visitors and 250 exhibitors—while AIMX focused on real-world and embodied AI. For The Thousand Ships, I found potential collaborations across Singapore, Japan, China and the Philippines. “Speed Networking” was business’s answer to…

When home becomes a real distance of our own creation and karma #170 当家园成为我们亲手与因果共同造就的真实距离
| | | | | | | | | | | |

When home becomes a real distance of our own creation and karma #170 当家园成为我们亲手与因果共同造就的真实距离

What makes a place feel like home—its landmarks, its stories, or the people who remember them with us? I was recently invited to a screening of That Girl in Pinafore (《我的朋友、我的同学、我爱过的一切》), Chai Yee Wei’s 2013 Singaporean comedy-musical, at the Tanglin Club. In that nostalgic setting, the film felt like a time capsule. It preserved many…

Franchisng Licensing Association event at Marina Bay Sands 2026
| | | | | | | | | | |

It was inspiring to be part of Franchising & Licensing Asia 2026 at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre. #169

It was inspiring to be part of Franchising & Licensing Asia 2026 at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre. #169 Across F&B, education, fashion and other sectors, one message came through clearly: as brand owners expand into Southeast Asia, they are seeking trusted partners who can drive sustainable revenue while creating meaningful benefits for…

Beyond Partnerships: Where Growth Comes Next #168
| | | | | | | | |

Beyond Partnerships: Where Growth Comes Next #168

Beyond Partnerships: Where Growth Comes Next #168 I had the privilege of attending the SMEICC Conference Series 2026, organised by the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI). The conference reinforced that we are navigating a world that is increasingly fragmented, geopolitically contested and being reshaped by AI. Yet amidst these challenges, ASEAN continues…

Are We Ready for a New World? | Reflections from the 7th Annual GEX Conference 2026 #167
| | | | | | | | | | | | |

Are We Ready for a New World? | Reflections from the 7th Annual GEX Conference 2026 #167

Are We Ready for a New World? | Reflections from the 7th Annual GEX Conference 2026 #167 It was a privilege to attend Dr Patrick Liew’s 7th Annual GEX Conference 2026, where diplomats, economists and business leaders shared their perspectives on navigating an increasingly uncertain world. A key takeaway was that today’s geopolitical landscape bears…

#166 When Subsidies Fail to Reach the Vulnerable: Why Public Healthcare Vendor Relationships Deserve an Independent Audit 当补贴无法惠及弱势群体:为何公共医疗机构与供应商的关系值得接受独立审计
| | | | | | | | | | | | |

#166 When Subsidies Fail to Reach the Vulnerable: Why Public Healthcare Vendor Relationships Deserve an Independent Audit 当补贴无法惠及弱势群体:为何公共医疗机构与供应商的关系值得接受独立审计

Outsourcing may transfer work, but it must never transfer accountability Outsourcing is frequently promoted as a solution. It is supposed to reduce costs, bring in specialist expertise and allow public institutions to focus on their core responsibilities. But outsourcing can also become a convenient way to move responsibility out of sight. The contractor blames the…

HR Learning Fest 2026 Executive Masterclass at Singapore Polytechnic #165
| | | | | | | | | | |

HR Learning Fest 2026 Executive Masterclass at Singapore Polytechnic #165

Spent the morning at the HR Learning Fest 2026 Executive Masterclass at Singapore Polytechnic on the theme:“Work, Reimagined. People, Elevated.” A few takeaways stood out: #165 🔹 Only 28.5% of firms in Singapore have adopted AI, while just 3.8% have actively integrated it into business processes. 🔹 Among firms adopting AI, more are redesigning roles,…

ST Engineering Cybersecurity Event and SIGEP 2026. Good to see familiar faces.
| | | | | | | | | |

Some business conversations take an hour. Others take only a few minutes. Both can create meaningful opportunities. #164

Some business conversations take an hour. Others take only a few minutes. Both can create meaningful opportunities.#164 Yesterday, I attended two very different events: SIGEP 2026 and the SME Cybersecurity Symposium with ST Engineering. SIGEP brought together businesses exploring franchising, food, hospitality, technology and regional expansion. The cybersecurity symposium focused on a different but increasingly…

#162 Digital First, But Are We Truly Integrated and First-class? 数码优先,但我们头等体验的系统真的已经整合了吗?
| | | | | | | | |

#162 Digital First, But Are We Truly Integrated and First-class? 数码优先,但我们头等体验的系统真的已经整合了吗?

Singapore prides itself on being a digital nation. We digitise forms. We digitise appointments. We digitise payments. We digitise applications. But digitisation is not the same as integration. Recently, a reader shared an experience that raised an uncomfortable question: Are our systems talking to one another? Or are citizens still acting as couriers between departments…