How to rely less on foreign labour & more on automation...

Media reports recently have been harping on how businesses in Singapore better get used to the new reality: the Singapore Government is firm in reducing the country's reliance on foreign labour. One example of these reports was written by Straits Times Economics Correspondent, Aaron Low, who wrote in a Review article "Tightening the flow of foreign workers" (10th June 2011 pg A25).

Excerpt: "Businesses, especially smaller firms, will also suffer, with the supply of cheaper foreign workers drying up." It is predicted that the manufacturing and services sectors will be hit and CIMB economist, Song Seng Wun, was quoted as saying, "For many entrepreneurs, setting up a restaurant was one of the easiest ways of going into business.With labour costs rising and a lack of workers, it is going to be much harder to take that route." The article said those who persist are likely to pass on the higher cost to customers.

One area in the F&B business that has been particularly hit by manpower supply problems is the cleaning of dishes and cutlery. It is the most unattractive job in the kitchen and restaurants are already facing problems finding (and keeping) workers to perform this job.

The article predicts once it comes to the crunch we will be paying more for our meals outside. Synnovate Solutions Pte Ltd, an  innovative home grown Small Medium Enterprise (SME) is offering another solution to this problem - how you can go for greater productivity with automation AND it will be cheaper, better and faster!  More information, case studies and practical examples on how it is doing this will be posted on its Facebook page: Synnovate Solutions

 

Jacob's Creek Joins the Club

What has Australian wine Jacob's Creek has in common with brands like Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Rolex? It joins a long list of many exclusive brands of goods that have been counterfeited.

According to the brand owner, Pernod Ricard, the fake wine is not harmful to health. However, it is of a very low quality and substandard taste. Luckily the contraband is easy to spot. The lower back label reads "Wine of Austrlia" missing the 'a'.

Hundreds of the fake bottles were seized in UK earlier this year. According to press reports, the fake wines are thought to have originated from China.

Source: http://www.couriermail.com.au/lifestyle/food-wine/wine-of-austrlia-how-bogus-bottles-of-jacobs-creek-were-caught-out-by-poor-spelling/story-e6frer5f-1226035051347

Congratulations! WFA 2011 SE Asia Wine Pioneers of THAILAND

The awardees from Thailand has been announced and we give a toast to the following successful luminaries of Thailand’s wine scene.

Mr Michel Conrad (Independent Wine and Spirits)

Mr Nantachai K Kollert (World Class Wine)
Mrs Nuanwan Rujimongkol (Ambrose Wine Co Ltd)
Ms Orada Nonthasignh (Silom Cellar)
Mr Pairach Intaput (Thai Sommelier & Gastronomy)
Mrs Patcharee Musikul (The Best Cellar)
Ms Patchaya Soonthonchote (Italthai)
Mr Piya Bhirompakdee (PB Valley, Khaoyai Winery)
Mrs Sanita Na-Chiangmai (Maison du Vin)
Mr Sanjog Modgil (F&B Association of Thailand)
Mr Thakul Kijadech (BB&B Co Ltd)
Mr Visooth Lohitnavy (GranMonte Wines)

Congratulations! WFA 2011 SE Asia's Wine Pioneer Recognition Awardees of Indonesia

A veritable Who's Who of wine experts and industry leaders from Indonesia will be in Singapore during WFA 2011. We salute them all for their passion, drive and success in promoting wine as a business and as a cause in the country:

Mr Alex Effendi (PT Danisa Texindo)
Mr Bernard Haymoz (PT lndowines)
Mr Eddy Sugiri (Peak Connoisseur)
Mr Hermansyah Rasyid (PT Jaddi)
Mr IB Rai Budarsa (Hatten Wines)
Mr Jaya Sukamto (PT Bogacitra Nusapratama)
Mr Kamal Bhojwani (PT Kaybee Interindo)
Mr Marjuky (PT Dima)
Mr Reimer Simorangkir (PT Jaddi)
Ms Simone Baldwin (Boga Fine Wine)
Mr Soegianto Nagaria (Indonesia Sommelier Association)
Mr William Wongso (Jakarta Wine Society)
Mr Yohan Handoyo (Decanter Wine House)

Entrepreneurs Encouraged to Widen their Horizons

The message to Indian businesses to widen their base was given by Mr Hernaikh Singh, the CEO of the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI). He was speaking at the media briefing on its annual Singapore Indian Entrepreneurs Awards. According to a Straits Times report  of 22 June 2011, a spokesperson from DBS, one of the main sponsors of the award, said the bank can help minimise the “risk factor and uncertainty” to provide market information and link them with businesses with similar experience.

Here is another thought: Start with South Asia. Tap into and build on South Asian ties first.  Not just traditional Indian channels but across other South Asian neighbours from around the world. At the South Asian Diaspora Convention (21-23 July), business people and corporations from the East are also coming to Singapore to see how they can Link with the Diaspora (the theme of the convention).

In fact, there is a greater case for being more open to commercial ties within the South Asia market. Building up one’s business abroad can also lead to building bridges of friendships and understanding. Can we somehow start or show how this can happen at the convention e.g. feasible to put forward an initiative like a South Asian Business Association? Too idealistic or too soon?

Ferry Cross the Mannar

After almost 30 years, India and Sri Lanka has re-launched a ferry service between the two countries this month. In a reverse of “gunboat diplomacy”, this “ferry service” initiative is an excellent move to provide access for a greater number and strata of people from both nations to interact and business opportunities to be developed. However, a BBC report on the new ferry service (source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13756633) also reported on tensions between Tamil Nadu state and Sri Lanka. I noticed for such a milestone maiden voyage of the Scotia Prince to (I presume) Colombo shown in Singapore’s Today newspaper (see above) only about a dozen travellers were shown disembarking…  More needs to be done. Suggestions? 

The Buzz Today - Tahmima Anam

Received wonderful news that writer, Dr Tahmima Anam has been invited to the South Asian Diaspora Convention this July. She adds another interesting dimension to the event which might otherwise be dominated by geopolitical-economic topics. She is speaking on The Importance of Creativity in Emergent South Asia.  

Her Bio: Paris, New York to Bangkok and finally Britain
which I gleaned from the Internet : Tahmima Anam was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in 1975 and grew up in Paris, New York and Bangkok, due to her father's career with UNESCO.  Her father, Mahfuz Anam, actively participated in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, and is currently the editor and publisher of the Bangladesh Daily Star - Bangladesh's most prominent English language newspaper. He is also chairman of a Bangladeshi NGO called the Freedom Foundation. Her grandfather, Abul Mansur Ahmed, was a renowned satirist and politician.


Tahmima Anam attended Harvard University, where she earned a Ph.D. in Social Anthropology. In 2005 she completed an MA in Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, London, and is the recipient of a Writing Fellowship from the Arts Council of England.  A Golden Age is the first in a planned trilogy that brings to life the creation of her native country.

Her Book: A Golden Age
Arriving at a venue that will pool people from all points of the diaspora, it would be interesting to see if she will make comments, provide observations or answer questions related to her book "A Golden Age" (check out the review at http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/005077.html Her novel is well known also as  one of the first to be put out by a western publisher to have the Bangladesh war of independence as a backdrop.