The strategists shaping Singapore of the future have to focus on one central question. How do we play up our geopolitical convenience and centrality within Asia and to capitalize on our stable infrastructure to become hubs for education, healthcare, pharmaceutical, clean-energy and technology innovation or any innovations that can become our core economic pillars?
Our small physical size belies our great economic strength and resilience. We can be that small heart connected to all parts of Asia through different veins and arteries forming different supplies chains for critical industries.
I think our approaches to go China whether is it the Suzhou Industrial Park, Tianjin Eco-city or Nanjing Eco-Island or the Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore growth triangle or the Singapore-Johor Iskandar Development Region, they are all part of our hub-hinterland growth strategy. We go the hinterlands to enhance economic competitiveness with exploitation of comparative advantage, economics of scale and clustering. We exploit synergies with the different countries from geographical proximity and economic complementarities.
Forming transnational economic zones and regions will extend Singapore’s physical space and resources so that we can grow beyond Singapore. Collectively the whole of Asia will give us a larger market and consumer access.
The push for a larger hub-hinterland framework must be hinged on Singapore playing a lead in the supply chains- be they in pharmaceutical research and development or in cleantech innovations.
To be credible, Singapore should be a living demonstration and test-beds and be the vanguard of knowledge creation for example in cleantech solutions. The world is moving into the cleantech space, including cleantech clusters and industries. Singapore should quickly leverage our strengths in systems integration and implementation. With governmental leadership we can differentiate ourselves, including developing globally distinctive cleantech parks.
China and India are giants and they are already among the world’s top carbon emitters. They need clean technologies – energy-efficient buildings, renewable energy sources, alternative energy, clean water and waste management and recycling. They are our hinterlands of opportunities.
Combining capital, people, technology with a supportive government, I am sure we can work towards a successful hub-hinterland framework. With China and Indonesia or even Malaysia, we are standing on the shoulders of giants to win in this world.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Work Life Balance in Recessionary Times?
The current economic recession heightened many workplace pressures and gave rise to a sense of long-term job insecurity and loss of general well-being. During good economic times, issues of work-life balance roll off the lips of HR practitioners and it is a must-have for the contest of talents, brains and brawns. In this climate, it may seem frivolous to talk about work-life balance since it is on the backburner and in fact may be a “kiss-of-death” if asked
Given the difficult economic times, many people are feeling the pressure to work harder than ever. Yet, whatever the climates, I think many companies still demonstrate fairness and equity when it comes to discretionary work-life arrangements. However, I am not surprise if we hear more and more people saying they are under pressure from employers and their families to keep up, often at the cost of life balance. In really depressed time, when companies are restructuring and examining every expense item, it is unavoidable if the cuts at the welfare and staff benefits are ferociously deep. If the company is going to the extent of layoffs and reorganization, which puts even more pressure on employees, how can they in the same breath talk of work-life balance?
The pains in any recessionary contraction are felt everywhere but companies can adopt flexible working practices largely to try and retain those within the organization who escape the blades of cuts and retrenchment. Their morale, motivations and productivity are at the abyss. Family friendly practices may not be firm policies but discretionary practices. Like giving unpaid day-offs or sabbatical leave for parents to spend more time with family with the assurance of keeping their job when they return or allowing the employees to pursue SPUR courses to improve their skills and competencies. They are ad hoc arrangements to accommodate individual circumstances. Small firms’ preference is for informality and they are means of developing employee commitment and retaining valued staff although they rarely formed part of an explicit employee commitment strategy or precedents.
As of now, there was a conspiracy of silence when it comes to family-friendly work life balance -for obvious reasons.
Welcome, life's toil! In this hard, harsh times;
who dare ask of work-life balance;
that work to be done still multiplies all the time.
With retrenchments taking tolls, bonuses in furnace!
I pity those who sit down belaboring and repining,
Bound in idleness, belabored the world has done him wrong;
That such plight should not befall him, always opining;
what life should have been __for empty days are long.
For those whose mental frames are right, their lives on a mission;
Whose work is never hard and it is always “Can!”
Accepting tasks that spring from any conditions__
Doing, as best they can, the work at hand.
Welcome, life's toil! In this hard, harsh times;
Never ask for more than is given;
Economic rhythm will return to its peak time
O’ bonuses will no more be shaven!
Given the difficult economic times, many people are feeling the pressure to work harder than ever. Yet, whatever the climates, I think many companies still demonstrate fairness and equity when it comes to discretionary work-life arrangements. However, I am not surprise if we hear more and more people saying they are under pressure from employers and their families to keep up, often at the cost of life balance. In really depressed time, when companies are restructuring and examining every expense item, it is unavoidable if the cuts at the welfare and staff benefits are ferociously deep. If the company is going to the extent of layoffs and reorganization, which puts even more pressure on employees, how can they in the same breath talk of work-life balance?
The pains in any recessionary contraction are felt everywhere but companies can adopt flexible working practices largely to try and retain those within the organization who escape the blades of cuts and retrenchment. Their morale, motivations and productivity are at the abyss. Family friendly practices may not be firm policies but discretionary practices. Like giving unpaid day-offs or sabbatical leave for parents to spend more time with family with the assurance of keeping their job when they return or allowing the employees to pursue SPUR courses to improve their skills and competencies. They are ad hoc arrangements to accommodate individual circumstances. Small firms’ preference is for informality and they are means of developing employee commitment and retaining valued staff although they rarely formed part of an explicit employee commitment strategy or precedents.
As of now, there was a conspiracy of silence when it comes to family-friendly work life balance -for obvious reasons.
Welcome, life's toil! In this hard, harsh times;
who dare ask of work-life balance;
that work to be done still multiplies all the time.
With retrenchments taking tolls, bonuses in furnace!
I pity those who sit down belaboring and repining,
Bound in idleness, belabored the world has done him wrong;
That such plight should not befall him, always opining;
what life should have been __for empty days are long.
For those whose mental frames are right, their lives on a mission;
Whose work is never hard and it is always “Can!”
Accepting tasks that spring from any conditions__
Doing, as best they can, the work at hand.
Welcome, life's toil! In this hard, harsh times;
Never ask for more than is given;
Economic rhythm will return to its peak time
O’ bonuses will no more be shaven!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Singapore-Malaysia Relationship
The beauty of “Dendrobium Najib Rosmah” named after Malaysian Prime Minister Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah, lies in its mixed heritage. The hybrid orchid plant symbolizes the sharing of bonds of kinships and friendships between Singaporeans and Malaysians.
The relationship has not always been marked by constant bloom of flowers so beautiful in its hues and colors; it is occasionally left to wither because of difficult relationships on issues like water, bridge and rails and the Pedra Blanca.
Singapore and Malaysia with a historical link and bounded by common history will mean that for any synergy to be meaningful for both sides, we need enduring and predictable relationships between the governments. Cooperation must be based on a multi-faceted level - bilaterally, regionally and internationally.
Our bilateral trade was more than S$110 billion in 2008, accounting for over twenty percent of total trade within ASEAN and the flow of Singaporeans to Malaysia is a staggering 11 million visits last year. Both countries are globally plugged to the world with their export oriented economies vulnerable to any global uptick or downturn. We must rely on an open and stable neighborliness for us to grow in each other turfs with free flow of trades and investments.
Whether is it in Iskandar which can benefit both our countries we should have many bridges, definitely not crooked one, to spur investments across our porous borders. The point is to really create a special economic corridor with freer access of capitals and people. Magic can happen.
Pragmatism must prevail and the benefits must flow both sides. With that common understanding, synergies can be tapped and maximized for mutual benefits and growth. We must grow into each other to become larger than what we are singly to eventually merge into an integrated ASEAN framework where multilateralism will be in full play. A big dream for a small country.
Dendrobium Najib Rosmah, painstakingly made;
Tis’ an orchid of no ordinary heritage.
Like Singapore and Malaysia link by common history
Kinships and friendships with many colorful stories.
Relationships is not borne out of that flower;
Our ties are forged through trials and fire,
Difficult as it sometimes may, we’ll put our mind together
With a new Prime Minister Najib, we’re to write a new chapter
Confidence, trust and comfort
Comes from both sides in joined effort
Holding common stakes
Joined by the same fate
Let us be linked by the many bridges that be built
Our destinies by closeness of shores be sealed
Let the common strait and a common corridor
Flow with capital, people and prosperity for all.
The relationship has not always been marked by constant bloom of flowers so beautiful in its hues and colors; it is occasionally left to wither because of difficult relationships on issues like water, bridge and rails and the Pedra Blanca.
Singapore and Malaysia with a historical link and bounded by common history will mean that for any synergy to be meaningful for both sides, we need enduring and predictable relationships between the governments. Cooperation must be based on a multi-faceted level - bilaterally, regionally and internationally.
Our bilateral trade was more than S$110 billion in 2008, accounting for over twenty percent of total trade within ASEAN and the flow of Singaporeans to Malaysia is a staggering 11 million visits last year. Both countries are globally plugged to the world with their export oriented economies vulnerable to any global uptick or downturn. We must rely on an open and stable neighborliness for us to grow in each other turfs with free flow of trades and investments.
Whether is it in Iskandar which can benefit both our countries we should have many bridges, definitely not crooked one, to spur investments across our porous borders. The point is to really create a special economic corridor with freer access of capitals and people. Magic can happen.
Pragmatism must prevail and the benefits must flow both sides. With that common understanding, synergies can be tapped and maximized for mutual benefits and growth. We must grow into each other to become larger than what we are singly to eventually merge into an integrated ASEAN framework where multilateralism will be in full play. A big dream for a small country.
Dendrobium Najib Rosmah, painstakingly made;
Tis’ an orchid of no ordinary heritage.
Like Singapore and Malaysia link by common history
Kinships and friendships with many colorful stories.
Relationships is not borne out of that flower;
Our ties are forged through trials and fire,
Difficult as it sometimes may, we’ll put our mind together
With a new Prime Minister Najib, we’re to write a new chapter
Confidence, trust and comfort
Comes from both sides in joined effort
Holding common stakes
Joined by the same fate
Let us be linked by the many bridges that be built
Our destinies by closeness of shores be sealed
Let the common strait and a common corridor
Flow with capital, people and prosperity for all.
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