| National Affairs
MPs laud Pioneer Generation Package at Budget Debate CNA 3rd Mar 2014
Members of Parliament lauded the Pioneer Generation Package on Monday -- the first day of the Budget Debate in Parliament. They called it a symbol of gratitude to the first generation of Singaporeans, even as the nation looks to the future. But there was also a reminder that the needs of the elderly go beyond healthcare. A total of 25 MPs took turns to speak -- calling this year’s Budget generous, caring and extraordinary -- while Minister for Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam listened intently. The star was the Pioneer Generation Package -- S$8 billion set aside by the Singapore government -- to give some 450,000 elderly Singaporeans special benefits for life.
MOM to explore minimum quota for higher-skilled construction workers CNA 3rd Mar 2014
Construction companies may face the prospect of having a minimum percentage of higher-skilled workers in their workforce. Speaking in Parliament on Monday, Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin added that the government will consult the industry on such a requirement. Improving productivity in the construction sector has been a continuous challenge. And, contractors have been encouraged to recruit more skilled and experienced construction workers. To reduce dependency on lower-skilled workers, the levy for these workers will be raised in 2016. In addition, companies may be required to have a minimum percentage of higher skilled workers. "These higher-skilled R1 workers will naturally command a higher salary than R2 'Basic Skilled' workers. But moving towards having a smaller pool of higher skilled and higher paid workers is the right direction for Singapore, rather than towards having a larger pool of more
Labour movement welcomes anti-harassment Bill CNA 3rd Mar 2014
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has welcomed the Protection from Harassment Bill, which was tabled in Parliament on Monday by Senior Minister of State for Law Indranee Rajah. The Bill seeks to provide a range of self-help measures, civil remedies and criminal sanctions to better protect people from harassment, distress and related anti-social behaviour. The labour movement said it is heartened that this protection will also be extended to "workers who deliver public service". This may include workers in public healthcare, public transport and other services essential to the well-being of the public or functioning of Singapore. NTUC said it has been advocating better protection for workers, and it will work with its tripartite partners to educate employers and workers on the topic of harassment.
MPs recognise initiatives in Budget to help companies CNA 3rd Mar 2014
While recognising the Pioneer Generation Package as the centrepiece of this year's budget, Members of Parliament (MPs) who debated the Budget on Monday also raised other issues, such as the various initiatives to help Singapore companies. In particular, some MPs joined in the call for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to accelerate productivity, through the employment of technology. "The introduction of the PIC+ scheme for the SME is a big tax change in the Budget and sends a signal that the government will support SMEs who want and can make sustainable investments to restructure their businesses,” said East Coast GRC MP Jessica Tan. One MP also pointed out that expectations from Singaporeans of government agencies will continue to rise, especially with growing affluence, and that a little bit more could be done to meet these expectations.
Singapore Budget 2014: WP supports Budget and 'unique emphasis' on pioneer generation Straits Times 3rd Mar 2014
he Workers' Party (WP) supports this year's Budget, said party chairman Sylvia Lim (Aljunied GRC) on Monday. The first opposition MP to speak during the Budget debate in Parliament, Ms Lim said the WP agrees with the Budget's "unique emphasis" on the pioneer generation; helping businesses to restructure, the move towards strengthening social safety nets, particularly in health-care; and giving more recognition to people with disabilities. The Government's move to set aside $8 billion from this year's Budget to fund the Pioneer Generation Package marked a "refreshing departure" from public conversations of the past, Ms Lim added. Instead of merely urging respect for the elderly as a virtue, public monies are being set aside to help the pioneers, she said. And instead of "attributing Singapore's success mainly to visionary leaders", the package recognises the contributions of all - from followers, mothers to labourers - on "equal footing".
Singapore falls behind when it comes to women in management: Survey Today Online 3rd Mar 2014
The number of women in management positions in Singapore is just below the average found across Asia and significantly behind China, according to a survey of employers conducted by recruiting expert Hays in Singapore. The survey of 2,600 employers, conducted as part of the 2014 Hays Salary Guide, found that just 27 per cent of management roles in Singapore are held by women. The Asian average is 28 per cent. In China, 36 per cent of management roles in China are held by women. According to Hays, the results suggest that China has made remarkable progress in developing and promoting its female workforce into management positions. China was followed by Hong Kong (33 per cent), Malaysia (29 per cent), and then Singapore (27 per cent).
Singapore Ups Sin Taxes Amid Higher Social Spending WSJ 24th Feb 2014
Indulging in drinks, smokes or even a wager are about to become pricier in this strait-laced island state. Singapore increased duties levied on tobacco and liquor products on Friday, and will raise taxes on lottery betting from July, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam told Parliament his annual budget speech. He said the move was “in line with our social objective of avoiding excessive consumption or indulgence in these areas.” Analysts, however, say the government might be upping so-called sin taxes in lieu of wealth taxes to help fund greater social spending—such as improved health-care benefits for elderly citizens, which were also announced Friday.
Singapore Diplomat Jailed for Inflating Tarts The Diplomat 21st Feb 2014
Singapore has long been ahead of its neighbors within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on several fronts. Finance, technology and standards of living have been first world since the late 1990s and the island-state has profited handsomely as a result. But perhaps its greatest achievement was in curtailing and prosecuting corruption. This was rammed home this week when a diplomat was jailed for 15 months after pleading guilty in court to inflating the costs of pineapple tarts and alcohol acquired as gifts for foreign dignitaries. Lim Cheng Hoe, 61, the former head of protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, pleaded guilty to 10 charges of submitting falsified claims. It was alleged he bought gifts for foreign officials during overseas visits worth more than $70,000. In another case, an assistant director at the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, Edwin Yeo Seow Hiong, was jailed for 10 years after pleading guilty to misappropriating $1.4 million worth of government funds. This came after Peter Lim – former head of the civil defense force – was jailed for six months for receiving oral sex from a female executive of a defence supplier in return for favors. Their arrests and subsequent jailing followed a tightening of rules and a get tough stance by the Singapore government designed to deter graft.
Singapore’s Foreigner Problem The Diplomat 21st Feb 2014
Does Singapore have a problem with xenophobia? It seems that barely a month goes by these days without news reports highlighting friction between Singaporeans and foreign workers in the tiny, multi-ethnic city-state. The population has increased dramatically in recent decades thanks to an influx of foreigners, who now make up around two out of five residents. This has put a growing strain on jobs, housing and infrastructure, and raised fears about the dilution of the Singaporean national identity. It has also—predictably—resulted in an angry backlash, with many taking to social media to disparage foreign workers, from highly paid “foreign talent” to heavily exploited laborers from China and the Indian sub-continent. The abuse is often so vicious that in his 2012 national day rally speech, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted the proliferation of posts “tormenting and berating” foreigners, adding: “Very few people stand up to say this is wrong, shameful, we repudiate that. I think that is no good.” In the latest high-profile incident, British banker Anton Casey lost his job and was forced to flee the island last month with his wife — a former Miss Singapore Universe — and son. The hapless Casey received death threats after making sneering comments on Facebook mocking the “poor people” using public transport, though his comments probably had more to do with social class — a subject rarely discussed in Singapore — than with race per se.
Singapore widens battle against toxic haze from forest fires FT 20th Feb 2014
Singapore is proposing a new law that would allow it to fine foreign companies for causing cross-border toxic haze, eight months after Indonesian forest fires blanketed the city-state in a hazardous pall of smoke. The move, announced by Singapore’s environment minister, takes direct aim at companies operating large palm oil plantations in Indonesia. Widespread illegal “slash and burn” forest-clearing on the island of Sumatra last year sent pollution levels in Singapore soaring to their highest recorded level. The timing of the proposed law also comes as relations between Singapore and Indonesia, its much larger neighbour, have turned frosty. Earlier this month the Indonesian navy named one of its new warships after two Indonesian marines who bombed a building in Singapore in 1965, killing three people. The incident sparked unusually charged rhetoric from Singapore government officials, with Dr Ng Eng Hen, the defence minister, threatening to ban the British-made vessel from its ports. Marty Natalegawa, Indonesia’s foreign minister, said in Singapore’s Straits Times that his country had “no ill intent” nor any “malice”, and called on both sides to put the row behind them. Last year’s haze caused widespread anger in Singapore, where the “pollutant standards index” hit record highs.
Singapore Revises Fourth-Quarter GDP to Growth From Contraction WSJ 19th Feb 2014
Singapore's economy expanded in the fourth quarter, the government said Thursday, revising data from last month that had showed a contraction. The city-state's gross domestic product rose 6.1% on an annualized, seasonally adjusted basis in the fourth quarter, besting the 2.7% on-quarter contraction estimated in January and accelerating from 0.3% on-quarter growth in the third-quarter. Year over year, the Singapore economy grew by 5.5% in the fourth quarter of 2013, easing slightly from the 5.8% growth in the preceding quarter, the Ministry of Trade and Industry said in a statement. The government had previously estimated that the economy grew 4.4% on year in the fourth quarter. The improvement largely came from a 7.0% on-year expansion in the manufacturing sector, helped by a stronger electronics cluster and continued strong growth in transport engineering, it said. The government revised 2013 GDP growth to 4.1% from 3.7% reported in January and maintained the forecast of growth between 2% and 4% in 2014.
Market Development
More active start-ups in Singapore Channel NewsAsia 18th Feb 2014
The number of active start-ups in Singapore jumped by more than 58 percent -- from 2005 to 2012 -- to 39,000, according to a study of Singapore's entrepreneurial landscape by the Entrepreneurship Review Committee. The study also showed that more youths are thinking of becoming entrepreneurs. The number of successful start-up exits has also increased.
Defense & Security
Is a Light Carrier in Singapore's Future? Defense Studies 3rd Mar 2014
For years, Singapore’s ST Engineering Marine has been parading a ship model of a landing helicopter dock (LHD) vessel that could handle the jump-jet variant of the F-35 joint strike fighter. The model was most recently on display at last month’s Singapore Airshow. And while Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) won’t confirm that it has plans to build such a vessel, it’s also not denying it. The model shows a variant of the Endurance-160 multirole support ship configured as an LHD. MINDEF confirmed that Singapore has expressed an interest in the F-35B, as illustrated by the recent inspection of the aircraft by Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen during his visit to Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., in December.
Singapore Announces SGD12.56 Billion Defence Budget Defense Studies 26th Feb 2014
Singapore has announced a 2014 defence budget of SGD12.56 billion (USD9.93 billion), a 3.2% increase over spending in 2013, the government said on 21 February. The allocation amounts to 22% of total annual government expenditure and about 3.3% of GDP. Both figures are in line with the country's long-term approach to defence spending, which is geared towards maintaining the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF's) relative high degree of military capability. While expenditure as a percentage of GDP is higher than the global average of around 2%, it remains significantly below the Singapore government's sanctioned cap of 6%. The reduction from 3.4% of GDP in 2013 to 3.3% in 2014 follows a general trend of decline with regards to this particular metric since 2009.
Singapore could ultimately decide SABR/RACR showdown in SE Asia IHS 22nd Feb 2014
The story of which industry team will capture the lion's share of the business to upgrade the Lockheed Martin F-16 has taken a new turn, with a decision by Singapore potentially now a 'game winner', while rumours continue to circulate about the US Air Force's (USAF's) future plans for modernising its own F-16 fleet. The USAF's Combat Avionics Programmed Extension Suite (CAPES) programme was originally intended to involve 300 US F-16 aircraft, all of which would be upgraded with Northrop Grumman's Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) and a set of other onboard systems integrated by Lockheed Martin, the aircraft's original manufacturer. Both the SABR and its competitor, the Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar (RACR), are active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars designed to replace the F-16's existing Northrop Grumman AN/APG-68 mechanically steered array (MSA) radar set. For its proposed upgrade Raytheon is paired with BAE Systems, which performs the role of integrator and supplier for a new set of cockpit displays, an electronic warfare suite, and a main mission computer. Taiwan (the Republic of China - ROC) had elected to join the USAF in a joint effort focused on the SABR radar, with Lockheed Martin as the programme integrator, and would have 146 of its aircraft upgraded with this package. The island nation is one of the three near-term export customers for an F-16 modernisation, along with South Korea, with 130 F-16s to be modernised, and Singapore, which i
Northrop Aims to Pitch Drone Sales to Singapore WSJ 13th Feb 2014
U.S. defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. NOC +0.05% hopes to pitch its high-altitude military drones to Singapore to help the city-state better monitor air and sea traffic at the Strait of Malacca, one of the world's busiest trade corridors. The 500-mile Strait of Malacca, a channel that separates Indonesia's Sumatra Island and the Malay Peninsula, is the shortest sea route between the Persian Gulf and Asian markets. More than 70,000 vessels a year ply the channel, carrying a third of global trade and almost half of the world's oil shipments. "The need to be able to have very long-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability to monitor all that traffic…suggests that [Singapore] needs a…system that could stay up in the air for a very long period of time and cover a very large ocean area," said David Perry, Northrop's chief global business-development officer, at the Singapore Airshow. Mr. Perry said Northrop is eager to talk to Singapore about providing that monitoring capability through the company's advanced drones.
Economics
Real income up for most working households Channel NewsAsia 18th Feb 2014
The gap between the rich and poor in Singapore narrowed to its smallest in years, according to an annual report titled "Key Household Income Trends, 2013" by the Department of Statistics. Last year, real income also went up for all working households, except for those in the top 10 per cent income bracket. In 2013, Singapore's median monthly household income was S$7,870. Taking into account inflation, this is a 1.6 per cent increase from the year before. For per household member, the increase is 3.2 per cent. However, for the top 10 per cent of earners, the income per household member fell 5.2 per cent.
Energy
Singapore Bids for Role as LNG Hub With Second Terminal Bloomberg 25th Feb 2014
Singapore plans to build a second receiving terminal for liquefied natural gas as it pursues a long-term strategy to become Asia’s LNG trading hub. The city-state, which generates more than 90 percent of its electricity using natural gas, is studying locations in the eastern part of the country for a new facility to support industries and power plants, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday at the official opening of Singapore’s first terminal. Singapore is trying to take advantage of its geography and stature as Asia’s oil-trading center to also become a leader in LNG. Asia has overtaken Europe as the world’s biggest gas importer, accounting for 46 percent of global trade, according to the International Energy Agency, which cites Singapore as best-placed to be the hub for liquefied natural gas. “It is signaling a confidence that the government feels it can play a role in the regional LNG market,” said Tony Regan, a Singapore-based energy consultant at Tri-Zen International Inc. “Just talking about it is to capture the attention of the traders and say, look, Singapore’s serious.”
Singapore LNG terminal officially opened LNG Industry 26th Feb 2014
Singapore’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal has been officially opened by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at a ceremony held at the Terminal on Jurong Island. The S$1.7 billion terminal is owned and operated by Singapore LNG Corp. Pte Ltd (SLNG). The LNG terminal allows Singapore to import natural gas from around the world, thereby ensuring the security of supply sources to meet Singapore’s current and future energy demand. In 2013, more than 90% of the electricity in Singapore was generated using natural gas. To date, some 18 LNG vessels have called at the LNG terminal, delivering more than 56 million Btu (approximately 1.08 million t) of LNG to Singapore. The LNG, from BG Group’s portfolio, has been supplied from a number of sources including Equatorial Guinea, and Trinidad and Tobago.
LNG terminal to enhance energy security: PM Today Online 26th Feb 2014
The energy sector in the Republic reached another milestone yesterday as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong officially opened the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal here, a key facility that will enhance energy security and boost the country’s status as an oil and gas hub in the region. The S$1.7-billion terminal will help in the diversification of Singapore’s energy sources and ensure that there will be enough supply to meet rising demand at competitive prices. Currently, about 90 per cent of electricity here is generated from natural gas, with the bulk of the supply coming from Malaysia and Indonesia through pipelines. “As a small country without any natural or energy sources, Singapore imports almost all our fuel. So, we are vulnerable to supply risks and fluctuations in prices,” Mr Lee said at the official opening of the terminal.
Singapore Bids for Asia’s LNG Hub Role With Second Terminal Businessweek 26th Feb 2014
Singapore plans to build a second receiving terminal for liquefied natural gas as it pursues a long-term strategy to become Asia’s LNG trading hub. The city-state, which generates more than 90 percent of its electricity using natural gas, is studying locations in the eastern part of the country for a new facility to support industries and power plants, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday at the official opening of Singapore’s first terminal. Singapore is trying to take advantage of its geography and stature as Asia’s oil-trading center to also become a leader in LNG. Asia has overtaken Europe as the world’s biggest gas importer, accounting for 46 percent of global trade, according to the International Energy Agency, which cites Singapore as best-placed to be the hub for liquefied natural gas.
Singapore Government serious about oil spills The Star 23rd Feb 2014
The Transport Ministry said it takes a “serious view” of the three recent oil spills in Singapore waters and will continue to work with local and international organisations to prevent a recurrence. Such work will include submitting marine safety investigation reports to the International Maritime Organisation, sharing investigation findings with the shipping industry and working closely with environmental groups. Those who are guilty of causing the oil spills due to “a culpable act or omission” will be charged under the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act. Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim also pointed out that “swift action” had been taken by the authorities and stakeholders in cleaning up the oil spills. He also assured Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Faizah Jamal that environmental concerns will be taken into account.
Financial Services
Singapore: Life sector grows by 28% in 2013; uptrend to continue Asia Insurance Review 13th Feb 2014
The life insurance industry posted strong results for 2013, hitting S$2.8 billion (US$2.2 billion) in weighted new business premiums, a gain of 28 percent over the previous year's record, says the Life Insurance Association (LIA). “Despite a slight dip in the fourth quarter, we maintained sales momentum to end the year with improved growth over the previous year,” said Dr Khoo Kah Siang, LIA President, Life. “Annual premium products were the biggest drivers of growth for the year, echoing a more stable market environment and improved consumer sentiment.” Sales of annual premium products totalled S$2.1 billion for 2013, up by a sizeable 31 percent over the same period in 2012. Sales of single premium products increased by 20 percent to reach S$700 million in weighted single premiums.
ICT
Govt to provide financial assistance for low-income families to migrate to digital TV Channel NewsAsia 18th Feb 2014
The government is expected to provide financial assistance for up to 170,000 households to make the transition to digital TV. Communications & Information Minister Yaacob Ibrahim said on Tuesday that low-income households will be assisted with nearly all of the cost of migrating to digital TV.
New Singapore Budget will boost tech industry: SiTF Digital News Asia 26th Feb 2014
The recently announced Singapore Budget 2014 would boost the ICM (Information, Communications and Media) Industry. “The various measures and assistance schemes mentioned by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Feb 21 would boost businesses for ICM companies and also encourage more IT adoption among companies,” said Shirley Wong, chairman of the Singapore infocomm Technology Federation (SiTF). With the extension of the Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) scheme up to 2015 and the new PIC+ scheme, more companies would be motivated to seek productivity improvement and to invest in research and development investment, SiTF said in a statement. This in turn would boost Singapore companies’ competitive edge, it added. The ICT for Productivity and Growth (IPG) programme, which promotes the adoption of proven ICT-based productivity solutions by subsidising 70% of the qualifying costs and reimbursing the vendors directly, would be a key push for SMEs (small and medium enterprises) to be more willing to adopt technology in their business as the outlay investment cost would now be lower, SiTF said.
Data centres in Malaysia and Singapore just too cool for words Digital News Asia 26th Feb 2014
A Recent survey conducted by intelligent power distribution unit (PDU) provider Enlogic has revealed that data centre operators in Malaysia and Singapore are running their facilities at far below the recommended temperature range. According to Ashrae, formerly known as the American Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning, the recommended high-end temperature range for class one data centres ranges from 25 to 27 degrees Celsius, with an upper limit of 32 degrees Celsius, Enlogic said in a statement. The survey of 55 data centre professionals, conducted at Datacentre Dynamics in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, revealed that 82% were running their data centres at temperatures below 25 degrees Celsius. In fact, a full 15 per cent of respondents were running their facilities at even lower temperatures, below 20 degrees Celsius, Enlogic said in its statement.
Singapore Aims to Become Southeast Asia's Silicon Valley The Wall Street Journal 26th Feb 2014
Singapore is pulling out all the stops to build its own version of Silicon Valley as it attempts to create a startup hub for Southeast Asia. Excited by deals such as Facebook Inc.'s FB +1.43% $19 billion agreement last week to buy messaging company WhatsApp Inc., Singapore's policy makers and technology entrepreneurs are betting that one day a tech giant could swoop down to grab one of its own homegrown startups. Venture-capital tech investments in Singapore last year outstripped those in Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong. The city state, with its population of just 5.4 million, isn't quite Silicon Valley. Singapore has yet to produce anything like a Google GOOG +0.44% or Facebook, much less a service like China's messaging app Wechat, with 272 million monthly active users. It has had mixed success in trying to kick start innovation in various industries including biotechnology, media and entertainment.
Singapore Government Enables Mobile Workforce Future Gov Asia 21st Feb 2014
Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and the National Library Board (NLB) have jointly launched three Smart Work Centres (SWC) to enable Singapore companies to have more flexible work arrangements. These Centres are equipped with print and copy facilities, video conferencing services and high-speed connectivity. Employers who want to offer flexible work arrangement can now arrange for their employees to work at any of the SWC near their homes. These Centres aim to encourage employers to adopt New Ways of Work (NWoW), an initiative developed in consultation with Employer Alliance, Ministry of Social and Family Development, Ministry of Manpower, National Trades Union Congress - Women’s Development Secretariat and Singapore National Employers Federation.
Singapore to give local companies even more money to adopt new tech Tech in Asia 21st Feb 2014
In Singapore’s Budget 2014 address, Finance minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam announced a new raft of measures and extensions of existing ones aimed at modernizing the economy and promoting the adoption of new technologies. Here’s a summary of what he announced: S$1 million (US$790,000) to be given to firms that pilot groundbreaking tech. The government wants to subsidize the adoption of technology like data analytics and robotics. It plans to fork out up to 80 percent of the qualifying costs for firms implementing these solutions, capped at US$790,000 in total spending per company.
Massive hacking spree in Singapore, possibly over 180 websites defaced Tech in Asia 21st Feb 2014
Dozens of Singapore websites, possibly more than 180, have been defaced by hackers in two separate occasions this week. The latest batch of defacements, which occurred at 11am yesterday, affected over 80 websites, reported SingCERT, a cyber security organization started by government agency IDA. Some of those sites belong to the Reform Party (RP), an opposition political party in Singapore. The RP has alleged on its Facebook Page that hackers compromised its site by inserting a webpage with an image of a defaced Singapore flag. The word ‘looser’ was written across it. Kenneth Jeyaretnam, secretary general of the RP, confirmed that the perpetrators claimed to be from Anonymous Indonesia. Jeyaretnam added that IDA has ordered the party to take the site down. It is still offline as of 12.30am today. SingCERT has notified hosting providers about the intrusions. It said that no government websites were affected. An earlier set of incidents may have affected at least 103 websites, according to Zone-H.org, which archives online defacements. A group called Lopht Crews is apparently responsible, and many of the digital graffiti are still present on the websites.
PDPC Takes Action Against Organisations for Breaching Do Not Call Registry Requirements PDPC 14th Feb 2014
The Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) has censured multiple organisations for breaching the Do Not Call (DNC) Registry requirements under the Personal Data Protection Act. Investigations have been taken in response to 1,500 valid complaints from the public on 580 organisations since the DNC provisions took effect on 2 Jan 2014 and the PDPC had commenced taking enforcement action. The organisations are from sectors such as private education, property, banking & finance, retail, insurance and telecommunications.
Indonesia
Singapore and Indonesia: An Uneasy Coexistence? The Diplomat 15th Feb 2014
The latest tensions to emerge between Singapore and Indonesia—this time after Indonesia named a naval warship for two marines executed for a 1965 bombing in Singapore—caught many political observers by surprise. Relations in recent years had remained cordial despite several noteworthy incidents, such as the transboundary haze caused by Indonesian forest fires (for which Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono memorably apologized), and Singapore’s sand reclamation works on Indonesian islands. The political fallout from both incidents seemed to have been contained by both sides. Yet in the recent days following Indonesia’s decision to name its new frigate the KRI Usman Harun, no fewer than five Singaporean ministers have spoken up against Indonesia’s actions, with the latest development being Indonesian defense officials pulling out of the Singapore Airshow (according to some reports, after Singapore canceled invites to junior officials). As with many other political events, the role of discourse has been central to the development of these tensions. Underlying these discursive tensions are structural factors that have made this conflict to be particularly intractable. However, structure and discourse have often become intertwined.
Infrastructure
Singapore's Tiger Airways could pull out of Indonesia - sources Reuters 3rd Mar 2014
Singapore's Tiger Airways Holdings Ltd (TAHL.SI) may be forced out of Indonesia, Southeast Asia's biggest domestic airline market, as its unprofitable joint venture is squeezed out of routes dominated by big-spending local carriers. Tiger might sell or close Tigerair Mandala in the absence of any signs of the airline turning around this year, such as a significant reduction of losses, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT ADVERTISEMENT POWERED BY Powered by dianomi The father of microfinance Find out more >> Understand the future trade trends, brought to you by HSBC Trade Forecast Tool Tiger has been streamlining its business to prevent a third straight year of loss, with its latest move being the January sale of Tigerair Philippines in a market where a sharp increase in available seats pushed down ticket prices.
Singapore Airshow: The race to become the world's best airport BBC 18th Feb 2014
Among the things that people dislike about travelling, queuing up at airports is arguably the most common. Luckily for passengers travelling through and from Singapore, the city-state's airport realises this and says its new terminal will tackle the problem. Changi airport's Terminal 4 will not only have automated self-check-in facilities, but passengers will also be able to tag and drop their bags themselves and there will be self-boarding gates - all aimed at cutting waiting times. "We want to offer a stress-free and smooth experience to those going through Changi," says Tan Lye Teck, executive vice president of Changi Airport Group. And the airport has a lot to gain from travellers in a happier mood. "Shorter time spent in queues means passengers will have more time to spend in retail outlets," Mr Tan adds. Last year, passengers spent 2bn Singapore dollars ($1.6bn; £955m) at retail outlets inside the airport. Economic impact Continue reading the main story “Start Quote How successful a regional hub you become is dependent on what services you can offer to make the transit experience better” David Kuo The Motley Fool And it is not just about keeping the travellers happy. A good airport, or the lack of one, can also have a big impact on a country's economy. To begin with, an airport capable of handling large numbers is key to boosting tourism - a big driver of the economy in the case of Singapore and other countries in the region. Marc Kramer, senior vice-president at HVS Global Hospitality Service, says the number of arrivals is a key area the consulting firm looks at when advising clients on potential investments. "Airport arrivals are a key gauge for us to ascertain the strength of a destination's economy and growth in demand for hotels in the area," he told the BBC. Singapore's airport handled more than 50 million passengers last year and with the new terminal it will have the capacity to handle a further 16 million. The ability to handle large numbers of arrivals is also important to business travel and the catchily named meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice) sector.
Manufacturing
Singapore Feb PMI hits 4-month high on production, inventory Reuters 3rd Mar 2014
Singapore's manufacturing activity in February hit a four-month high as production and inventory grew, an industry survey showed on Monday, even though regional economic power houses suffered slower expansions. The Singapore Institute of Purchasing & Materials Management's Purchasing Managers' index (PMI) rose to 50.9 last month, the highest since October. That compared with 50.5 in January. The institute's PMI for the electronics sector, however, fell to 51.2 in February from 52.0 in January. A reading above 50 indicates that manufacturing sector activity is generally expanding, while levels below that point to a contraction. "The increase in the overall PMI was attributed to expansion in new orders and new export orders as well as production output and inventory," the institute said in a statement.
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