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

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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
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Beyond Partnerships: Where Growth Comes Next #168

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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…

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

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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,…

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

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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…

#161 AI Disrupted My Career. Is Singapore’s Legal and Professional Ecosystem Ready for Independent Consultants? AI 改变了我的职业生涯。新加坡的法律与专业生态系统，是否已经准备好迎接独立顾问时代？
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#161 AI Disrupted My Career. Is Singapore’s Legal and Professional Ecosystem Ready for Independent Consultants? AI 改变了我的职业生涯。新加坡的法律与专业生态系统，是否已经准备好迎接独立顾问时代？

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中文版在下方 Singapore is entering a new era. Artificial intelligence, automation and corporate restructuring are reshaping the workforce. Thousands of experienced professionals—engineers, transformation specialists, project managers, consultants and executives—are leaving corporate employment, whether voluntarily or through retrenchment, to build independent consulting practices. Government agencies encourage lifelong learning. SkillsFuture encourages us to reskill. Industry bodies encourage us…

Polymer Compression May Trigger the Next Consolidation Wave #160
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Polymer Compression May Trigger the Next Consolidation Wave #160

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📉 Southeast Asia’s plastics market is now showing deeper signs of stress. Recent regional data suggests PE and PP prices continue moving sharply lower, driven by weak downstream demand, aggressive US / Chinese / South Korean cargoes, falling crude and feedstock costs, and buyers maintaining hand-to-mouth purchasing strategies. For manufacturers and converters, cheaper virgin resin…

#159 Lee Hsien Loong’s Twenty Years: Leadership, Information and the Greatest Challenge of Governance
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#159 Lee Hsien Loong’s Twenty Years: Leadership, Information and the Greatest Challenge of Governance

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For two decades, Singapore was led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong through one of the most challenging periods in modern history. He inherited a nation already admired for its stability and transformed it through the Global Financial Crisis, the rise of China, increasing geopolitical competition, digital disruption, an ageing population, COVID-19, and an increasingly…

#158 When Public Service Starts Looking Like Public Relations 当公共服务开始看起来像公共关系
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#158 When Public Service Starts Looking Like Public Relations 当公共服务开始看起来像公共关系

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There is a growing frustration among ordinary Singaporeans and small business owners: public-facing institutions are becoming very good at marketing themselves, but increasingly uneven at delivering the help they claim to provide. The issue is not that every officer is bad. That would be unfair. Many public servants still work hard, and many agencies remain…

#157 When Good Introductions Break Down: Trust, Records and Cross-Border Real Estate
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#157 When Good Introductions Break Down: Trust, Records and Cross-Border Real Estate

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In cross-border real estate, relationships often begin warmly — meetings, meals, introductions, group chats, brand names and referral chains. But serious work begins only after the deal is done. A recent Manila condominium administration matter reminded me why overseas property ownership cannot rely on goodwill alone. This matter involved a Robinsons Land Corporation-linked sales agent,…

#156 We are pleased to share that iMerv Digital Pte Ltd is now a Green 100 SME
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#156 We are pleased to share that iMerv Digital Pte Ltd is now a Green 100 SME

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#156 We are pleased to share that iMerv Digital Pte Ltd is now a Green 100 SME, TR 149 Essential aligned, issued by the Singapore Environment Council (SEC). For us, this is not just a badge. It is a practical step in strengthening our sustainability governance as we continue developing The Thousand Ships ecosystem across…