#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

Byw3382467

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

Byw3382467

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…

#154 Many Singaporeans still have SkillsFuture Credit available.
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#154 Many Singaporeans still have SkillsFuture Credit available.

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Many Singaporeans still have SkillsFuture Credit available. #154 The question is not only: “What course should I take?” The deeper question may be: “What human skills will remain valuable in an age of AI, automation and digital transactions?” One area worth paying attention to is customer experience excellence. At its best, luxury thinking is not…

When Cost Support Breaks #153 The ASEAN polymer market is no longer just soft.
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When Cost Support Breaks #153 The ASEAN polymer market is no longer just soft.

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📉 When Cost Support Breaks #153The ASEAN polymer market is no longer just soft. It is testing its floor. Recent market signals show a sharper deterioration across both PE and PP chains. C2 has fallen heavily. C3 has resumed weakness. PE film grades continue compressing. PP categories, including BOPP, injection, yarn, block and random, are…

#152 Right time, right moment
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#152 Right time, right moment

Byw3382467

Right time, right moment; a candid shot turns out just right. How candid can family, business and pleasure be? Depends on who you are with. How right a time can a business be? At the cusp of the next 100 years trend. Be onboard and set sail. The Thousand Ships This post is also published…

Cheap Plastics, Expensive Consequences #150
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Cheap Plastics, Expensive Consequences #150

Byw3382467

Across ASEAN, polymer prices continue facing mounting compression pressure. 🌏 US cargoes.🌏 Chinese exports.🌏 South Korean producers re-entering aggressively.🌏 Middle Eastern suppliers cutting prices to defend market share. At first glance, cheaper plastics may sound beneficial for businesses and consumers. But there is a hidden downstream risk few are discussing. When virgin polymer prices fall…

#149 The Polymer Compression Is Accelerating
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#149 The Polymer Compression Is Accelerating

Byw3382467

Over the past few weeks, stakeholders and market participants connected to The Thousand Ships ecosystem have been observing a growing convergence reshaping ASEAN’s plastics landscape. What began as isolated pricing softness is now evolving into a broader regional compression cycle. 🌏 US cargoes.🌏 Chinese exports.🌏 South Korean producers re-entering aggressively.🌏 Middle Eastern supply disruptions no…

#147 Professionalism, Restraint, and the Standards We Choose to Uphold 专业、克制，以及我们选择维护的标准
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#147 Professionalism, Restraint, and the Standards We Choose to Uphold 专业、克制，以及我们选择维护的标准

Byw3382467

In recent years, Singapore has worked hard to strengthen regional business connectivity across ASEAN. Professional institutions, chambers of commerce, engineering bodies, startup ecosystems, and sustainability communities are increasingly interconnected. This is a good thing. However, with growth also comes an important question: Are we preserving the standards that made these institutions respected in the first…