Asia Outlook Issue 5 by Outlook Publishing

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JAPAN asia outlook takes a closer look at Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business and investment potential.

2013

SUNHUAN

a review of the last 12 months

Construction firm sunhuan celebrates its 20th anniversary

HWA SENG BUILDER PTE LTD

TRENDS

a guide on what to look out for in 2014

a closer look is a leading civil engineering and construction provider

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W E l C O m E 2014 is here and asia outlook is ringing the changes...

PRODUCTION Production Manager: Daniel george daniel.george@outlookpublishing.com

Regular readers will know that this page is usually reserved for the thoughts and words of our editor. However, i, as managing Director, wanted to launch the first issue of 2014 with a few words of my own. asia outlook has gone from strength to strength since its launch in early 2013. we have featured some amazing companies, reported on some of the biggest news stories and we look forward to doing more of the same in 2014. we are what we are because of our readers across the Asia Pacific region and I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for this year and in advance for your continued support. this issue of asia outlook takes a look at some of the major players operating in the construction and infrastructure sectors. In-depth profiles on companies such as Hwa seng Builder Pte ltd, sunhuan Holdings to name a few show how firms in the region are consistently coming top of the pile and being awarded major projects on a regular basis. we take a look back at the year that was 2013. there were many positives and with the china moon landing, the first country to achieve the feat in 37 years, and india’s attempt to land a probe on mars, it seemed to be a focus on the space age! on the flipside, we had typhoon Haiyan devastating the Phillipines and leaving its mark on the whole of south east asia, and the ever-present threat of an unpredictable north korea. as part of this issue we look at the trends set to shape asia in 2014. every year we see new technological advances that continue to amaze and this year looks no different. 2014 also sees the Winter Olympics taking place in Russia in february, followed in June by the world cup in Brazil, for which Japan and Korea Republic have both qualified. finally, we look at the investment potential in Japan. Despite previous attempts to rescue the failing economy there is a strong belief that the next few years will be the bounce back era. as always, there is a great deal more to the magazine than the editor’s page so keep turning and enjoy this issue of asia outlook…

MAGAZINE DESIGN: optic Juice ltd martin mitchell alex cole nick Bond katherine Robinson

BUSINESS Sales Director: nick norris nick.norris@outlookpublishing.com Sales: eddie clinton eddie.clinton@outlookpublishing.com Sales: Donovan smith donovan.smith@outlookpublishing.com Projects Director: James mitchell james.mitchell@outlookpublishing.com Project Managers: sheridan Halls sheridan.halls@outlookpublishing.com stuart shirra stuart.shirra@outlookpublishing.com tom cullum tom.cullum@outlookpublishing.com Ben wigger ben.wigger@outlookpublishing.com arron Rampling arron.rampling@outlookpublishing.com

ACCOUNTS Finance Manager: suzanne welsh suzanne.welsh@outlookpublishing.com Office Administrator: Daniel george daniel.george@outlookpublishing.com IMAGES: getty DIGITAL & IT: Hamit saka HELPDESK: James lemay

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In this issue of Asia Outlook... 06

NEWS All the latest news from across Asia

TRENDS

Review Of The Year: 2013 Our look back at the stories which hit the headlines in 2013 TRENDS

What’s New For 2014 Keep ahead of the pack… FINANCE

LEADING IN INFRASTRUCTURE Singapore-based Hwa Seng Builder Pte Ltd is a leading civil engineering and construction provider focused on an integrated range of services

THE FULL SPECTRUM Incorporated Builder Group offers a one-stop integrated delivery of real estate and construction related services

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS Securing major contracts with the Singapore Government and winning major industry awards – all in a day’s work for Huationg Holdings

Investment Profile: Japan

Asia Outlook takes a closer look at Japan’s business and investment potential

MINING FOCUS THE GOLD RUN Jon Dugdale, Managing Director of Red Mountain Mining, tells Asia Outlook all about the early success of the Batangas project and their plans for 2014

HEALTHCARE FOCUS S E R V I N G T H E N AT I O N Asia Outlook profiles one of oldest hospitals in India, CMC Vellore, helping around 7000 people every day

Q&A TUNG SHIN H O S P I TA L The Malaysian-based Tung Shin Hospital with their own hospice, Pooi Shin Thong

CONSTRUCTION FOCUS

20 – NOT OUT Asia Outlook profiles Sunhuan Holdings celebrating their 20 year anniversary

M + W G roup A leading global engineering, construction and project management company, we take a closer look at their operations in Singapore

MANAGING AMBITION Awarded the “Best Managed Company in the Phillipines 2013”, Robinsons Land Corporation specialise in property development

TOP OF THE PILE In a highly competitive industry, CHC Construction has gained a competitive edge and a reputable name in the civil engineering industry

EVENTS

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B USINESS

Daimler takes 12% stake in its Chinese partner BAIC Mercedes-Benz owner Daimler AG has taken a 12 percent stake in its Chinese partner Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC Group), one of China’s biggest car makers. Daimler said it would pay 625 million euros for the stake and two seats on the board. The two firms have had a joint venture for ten years. Under the deal, BAIC will increase its stake in the production joint venture Beijing Benz Automotive Corporation (BBAC) by one percent to 51 percent while Daimler will increase its stake in the integrated sales joint venture Beijing MercedesBenz Sales Service Corporation (BMBS) by the same amount.

“This strategic investment proves our long-term commitment to both the key market China and our trusted partner BAIC Motor. Going forward, the cooperation between Daimler AG and BAIC Motor will contribute towards increasing our footprint in China and so enable us to actively participate even better in the huge opportunities the Chinese automotive market

Business

Google’s first data centres in Asia ‘up and running’ Internet giant Google has opened its first ever data centres in Asia. The firm said that the centres will help provide users with faster and “more reliable” access to its tools and services. The two new centres are based in Taiwan and Singapore. “Two years after we announced our plans to keep up with Asia’s Internet growth with our first data centres in the region, our facilities in Taiwan and Singapore are now up and running. Thank goodness they are,” Joe Kava, vice president of data centres at Google, said in a blogpost. “While we’ve been busy building, the growth in Asia’s Internet has

been amazing,” he added. “The number of Internet users in India doubled, from 100 million to 200 million. It took six years to achieve that milestone in the U.S. Between

offers,” said Daimler’s Chairman of the Board of Management and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Dr. Dieter Zetsche, in a statement. Beijing Auto Chairman Xu Heyi had described the deal as historic. “This is another historical milestone in a partnership that has already seen great success in the past, with joint production and sales activities ranging from passenger cars to trucks. By further deepening our cooperation on a strategic level, the partnership between our two companies will face an even more prosperous future,” he said. As one of China’s largest automakers, BAIC sold over 1.7 million vehicles in 2012.

July and September of this year alone, more than 60 million people in Asia landed on the mobile Internet for the first time. That’s almost two Canadas, or three Australias. And this growth probably won’t slow for some time, since the majority of people that have yet to come online also happen to live in Asia. “Today, our facilities in Taiwan and Singapore are online and serving these users in Asia and around the world with faster, more reliable access to our tools and services”. Google said it plans to invest $600 million in the long run in its Taiwan data centre – the bigger of the two facilities in the region. “Our local team chooses a theme for each of our facilities. In this case, they decided on robots - complete with a 400kg centerpiece designed by a Thai artist from scrap metals,” Kava said.

go to www.asiAoutlookmag.com/news for all of the latest news from asia

Business

U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm faces China antitrust probe China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has begun an antitrust investigation against U.S. firm Qualcomm, one of the world’s biggest chipmakers. Qualcomm said the investigation involved China’s anti-monopoly law (AML). “The NDRC has advised that the substance of the investigation is confidential. The Company is not aware of any charge by the NDRC that Qualcomm has violated the AML. We will continue to cooperate with the NDRC as it conducts its confidential investigation,” it said. Qualcomm is a world leader in 3G, 4G and next-generation wireless technologies and the investigation comes at a time when China is gearing for the launch of 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) Networks. Business

BT targets growth in Africa, Middle East and Asia British multinational telecommunications services company BT has announced a new phase of investments into the rapidly growing economies of Asia Pacific, Turkey, the Middle East and Africa (AMEA) with the objective of accelerating its expansion in high growth markets. In a statement, the company said that by hiring more people in the region, launching more competitive capabilities across a larger number of countries and delivering a differentiated service experience, it will be in a “strong position to capture opportunities in a total AMEA market evaluated at around £32 billion”. “This new phase of investments builds on the success of earlier programmes announced in 2010 for the Asia Pacific region and in 2012 for Turkey, the Middle East and Africa. Earlier this year, BT brought those regions together into a single

integrated market unit to better address the needs of a new generation of regional multinationals and big domestic players that are increasingly expanding from China and India into the Middle East and Africa,” BT said. “The combined geography is expected to generate 44 percent of the global GDP growth by 2025, with 3 billion people expected to enter the middle class over the next decade”. BT said it will hire more than 400 new people – in addition to 600 positions announced earlier this year for BT’s Global Development Centre in Bangalore - to focus on regional

business growth across “all key markets”, including Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Turkey. New hires will include industry specialists focused on sectors such as logistics, healthcare, consumer packaged goods and financial services, and professional services experts based in 11 countries. Charles Anderson, Associate VP and Head of Telecoms & Mobility at IDC Asia Pacific said: “BT has been very committed to continuing to invest and enhance its capabilities in the region. Over the past 12 months, BT has launched numerous new offerings and service enhancements to its already broad portfolio of services in Asia Pacific. The new investments announced today across the wider AMEA region show that BT does not rest on its laurels but continues to strive for service excellence to better serve its customers”. BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries.

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travel

Singapore Airlines profits rise in Q2 Singapore Airlines has reported that its net profit for the second quarter rose almost 80 percent, boosted by the sale of aircraft and spare engines, as well as increased passenger traffic. Asia’s second biggest airline posted a total net profit of S$160 million, an improvement of S$70 million from the corresponding period a year ago. Group revenue grew S$107 million to S$3,901 million, on the back of five percent growth in passenger numbers, and the airline earned an operating profit of $87 million. On the cost side, expenditure rose S$90 million to S$3,814 million. The increase was principally due to News

Business

Thailand’s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra dissolves parliament and calls general election Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has announced she is to dissolve the lower house of parliament and call elections, as her government continues to face the biggest demonstrations to hit the country since the violence of 2010. Ms Yingluck won elections in 2011, her Pheu Thai party winning a majority, with 265 seats to the Democrat Party’s 159 seats. Anti-government protesters have been demanding her resignation and allege her government is controlled by ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra, her brother.

higher staff and non-fuel variable costs which rose in line with the increase in capacity. The carrier warned it was facing tough competition and a strong Singapore dollar. “The operating landscape for the airline industry remains challenging amid continued global economic uncertainty,” it said.

“Advance bookings for the coming months are projected to be higher compared to the same period last year on the back of efforts to boost loads. However, ongoing promotional activities necessitated by intense competition and a strong Singapore dollar are expected to place pressure on yields. “Cargo demand is expected to remain flat due to weak international trade volumes and excess capacity in the market. Cargo yields are therefore likely to remain under pressure. “On the cost side, fuel prices are likely to remain high and volatile. “Against this challenging backdrop, the Group’s financial condition remains strong. The Group will continue to monitor market conditions closely and respond appropriately, while maintaining vigilance in cost management”.

Japan’s economic growth slows in Q3 Japan’s economy slowed dramatically at the end of September, with an annual grow rate of just 1.9 percent compared to 3.8 percent in the previous quarter data released Thursday shows. Yingluck’s announcement came The deceleration comes despite as 100,000 protesters marched aggressive measures spearheaded by through the streets of Bangkok for a Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to “final showdown”. spur growth after years of stagnation. “The government does not want Abe has increased government any loss of life,” she said in a televised spending and installed a central banker address. “At this stage, when there in Haruhiko Kuroda who is not afraid to are many people opposed to the use aggressive monetary policy. government from many groups, the The yen has fallen almost 20 percent best way is to give back the power to against the dollar in the past year and the Thai people and hold an election. the Nikkei index of leading shares has So the Thai people will decide”. added 60 percent over the same period. Ms Yingluck said the Election It has been a big boost for Japanese Commission would set a date “as exports and some of Japan’s flagship soon as possible”. brands have been reaping the rewards.

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Business

Singapore to restrict online gambling Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has launched a public consultation exercise to seek views and feedback on the proposed framework to restrict remote gambling in the country. Online gambling is increasingly popular in Singapore, which has strict laws on gambling to “maintain law and order and to minimise the potential harm, especially to the young and vulnerable,” the MHA said. “We intend to extend this same approach to remote gambling by making it illegal unless there are exemptions,” it added. Public consultations will last until 10 January 2013. “MHA together with the Ministry of Social and Family Development and other government agencies have been studying the issue of remote gambling,” a statement said. “We have studied the remote gambling landscape and regulatory approaches taken by other jurisdictions. We intend to restrict remote gambling. We will introduce laws to act against facilitators, intermediaries and providers of remote gambling services. We will introduce measures to block access to gambling websites, block payments to remote gambling operators and prohibit advertisements promoting remote gambling. We will also strengthen public education with regard to remote gambling and gambling simulation games. The above measures will send a clear signal of our regulatory stance”. Singapore allowed a restricted form of physical gambling in 2005, and now hosts two casinos Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands.

business

PetroChina faces U.S. securities complaint An unidentified shareholder is taking legal action in the U.S. against PetroChina and four current or former executives for allegedly violating U.S. securities laws.

PetroChina, part of China’s largest oil producer the China National Petroleum Corp, said the individual, who is seeking to represent other shareholders in a class action lawsuit, filed a complaint with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The four current or former executives include former PetroChina chairperson Mr Jiang Jiemin, Mr Zhou Jiping, chairman of the board of directors, Mr Zhou Mingchun, former CFO and Mr Yu Yibo, current CFO. PetroChina vowed to fight the action. “The company will vigorously contest the complaint with its best efforts to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the company,” it said.

World

Nelson Mandela dies South Africa’s first black president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela has died aged 95. In a statement on South African national TV, President Jacob Zuma said his country had “lost its greatest son”. “Our beloved Nelson Mandela, the founding president of our democratic nation has departed. He passed peacefully,” Zuma said. “He is now resting. He is now at peace. What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves. Fellow South Africans, Nelson Mandela brought us together and it is together that we will bid him farewell”. Mr Mandela had been receiving home-based medical care after

being discharged from hospital in September following a near three month stay where he was treated for a recurring lung infection. He spent 27 years behind bars for opposing white rule in his country before becoming South Africa’s first black president in 1994.

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T R E N D S

Turmoil in Thailand

A look back at the stories that hit the headlines in 2013... Writer Ian Armitage

f there was a word that could sum up my 2013 it would be ‘meh’. Okay, that’s more of a sound than a word, but you get the point. It wasn’t a classic year. Yes, world trade grew (WTO economists now predict 2013 growth of 2.5 percent), but I’m really struggling to remember too many positive headlines. I’ve had to delve into our archive....

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Despite Thailand’s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra dissolving parliament and calling a general election, the Thai protest movement is still trying to overthrow the government. Ms Yingluck won elections in 2011, her Pheu Thai party winning a majority, with 265 seats to the Democrat Party’s 159 seats. Protesters have been demanding her resignation and allege her government is controlled by ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra, her brother. Yingluck’s announcement came as 100,000 protesters marched through the streets of Bangkok for a “final showdown.” Numbers have dwindled but the situation remains tense.

R E V I E W

O F

Haiyan rocks the Philippines Typhoon Haiyan, known as Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines, was an exceptionally powerful tropical cyclone that devastated parts East and Southeast Asia and killed thousands in the Philippines. Haiyan was one of the strongest storms ever recorded and caused catastrophic destruction particularly on Samar and Leyte islands where cities and towns were largely destroyed. There was widespread devastation in Tacloban City (pictured).

T H E

Y E A R

China moon landing

In December China became only the third country to complete a rover landing - the first for 37 years - on the Moon, its Jade Rabbit rover on a three-month mission in search of natural resources. Scientists burst into applause as a computer-generated image representing the Chang’e 3 spacecraft carrying the solarpowered robot was seen touching down on the Moon’s surface via screens in Beijing. China has now taken a big step towards becoming a global player in space.

India’s Mars ambition

Continuing the space theme, 2013 also saw India successfully launch a spacecraft to Mars, with the aim of becoming only the fourth nation or space agency to land a probe on the red planet, after Russia, the U.S. and the European Space Agency. The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Mars Orbiter Mission took off on 5 November from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on India’s east coast. The voyage is scheduled to take 11 months and cost the country about 4.5 billion rupees.

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T R E N D S

Panasonic to exit plasma TV business

Abenomics

Nelson Mandela dies

Electronics giant Panasonic will close its plasma screen factory in Amagasaki and put it up for sale in 2014 as part of a huge corporate overhaul. Panasonic’s plasma TV division made huge losses in recent years and other electronics companies, such as Hitachi and Pioneer, have already pulled out of the sector. In its last financial year, the division made a loss of 754 billion yen following sluggish demand mainly in Japan. The Japanese electronics industry is going through tough times at present on account of strong Korean competition.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has spearheaded “Abenomics” to rejuvenate its economy and Japan, as a result, was one of the best performing stock markets in 2013. No longer is it a perennial disappointment and the country’s economy is certainly out of the doldrums, the latest consumer price inflation figures showing the highest reading since the country slipped into deflation 15 years ago.

The passing of South Africa’s first black president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela was one of the lowlights of 2013. The 95-year-old had been receiving home-based medical care after being discharged from hospital in September following a near three month stay where he was treated for a recurring lung infection. He spent 27 years behind bars for opposing white rule in his country before becoming South Africa’s first black president in 1994. In a statement on South African national TV, President Jacob Zuma said his country had “lost its greatest son”.

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R E V I E W

O F

T H E

Y E A R

Suspended jail sentences for ex-Olympus execs

Hong Kong confirms first human case of H7N9 bird flu

North Korea

In 2013 a Japanese court handed suspended sentences to three former Olympus executives accused of engineering accounting fraud at the camera and medical equipment maker. the firm’s former chairman, Tsuyoshi Kikukawa and former auditing officer Hideo Yamada were given three-year sentences and former executive vice-president Hisashi Mori a two-and-a-half-year sentence.

2013 saw Hong Kong confirm its first human case of the new strain of the H7N9 bird flu when a 36-year-old maid was found to have the disease. H7N9 was first identified April and at least 139 human cases have been confirmed, including 45 deaths in China and Taiwan. Hong Kong suspended the import of live chickens from some farms across the border with the mainland.

It has been an eventful year for North Korea. Things kicked off in February when the North carried out a third nuclear test, said to be twice as big as the 2009 test. The UN Security Council approved fresh sanctions and things were relatively quiet until April when the North said it will restart all facilities at its main Yongbyon nuclear complex and withdrew its workers from the South-Koreanfunded Kaesong joint industrial park. In May it tested four shortrange missiles over one weekend. Following diplomatic efforts, North and South Korea reopen the Kaesong joint industrial zone in September and in November Kim Jong-un’s uncle and one-time mentor Chang Song-thaek was labelled an “anti-revolutionary” criminal and executed.

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T R E N D S

Driverless cars

Life has never been about just keeping up. Here’s what you need to look out for in 2014. Writer Ian Armitage

rends pieces like this are always difficult to put together, after all none of us have a crystal ball. If I did, life would be very different. That said however, we’ve had a stab at predicting some of the trends and new technologies for you to look out for in 2014 (and also included some dates for your diary)...

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Japanese auto giant Toyota recently unveiled the next generation of cars featuring an autopilot system that will swerve to avoid collisions and also keep to the middle of the road, all without drivers touching the wheel – and the technology could be available on the market in a few years’ time. “These advanced driving support technologies prevent human errors, reduce driving stress and help drivers avert accidents, which has a big potential to reduce the number of traffic deaths,” Toyota managing director Moritaka Yoshida said at a presentation in Tokyo. Toyota said that while Automated Highway Driving Assist (AHDA) lets drivers put the vehicle on auto-pilot, leaving most of the work to the

2014 Fifa World Cup

computer system, they would still need to be alert and take part in the driving process. “Toyota recognises the importance of the driver being in ultimate control of a vehicle and is therefore aiming to introduce AHDA and other advanced driving support systems where the driver maintains control and the funto-drive aspect of controlling a vehicle is not compromised,” it said in a statement. AHDA lets vehicles communicate wirelessly to avoid running into each other while keeping the car in the middle of the road lane. The company plans to install the system in its commercial models over the next few years. U.S. internet firm Google also has a self-drive car (pictured).

I’ve been counting down the minutes to Brazil 2014 since the final whistle of the 2010 World Cup Final between Spain and Holland. And what a tournament it is: an opportunity for your country to shine and show the world what you can do. One particularly exciting aspect is that it is the first World Cup finals at which we’ll have goal-line technology – so no more dodgy goals. Asia will be represented in Brazil by Japan and South Korea and both will be eager to progress beyond the group stages.

Sky City skyscraper

China’s projected 838m Sky City broke ground in Changsha in central China on July 20 2013 and is due for completion in 2014, with an astonishingly short construction time. The building heralds a new age in Chinese construction, one in which tall, fast builds become commonplace – indeed, according to motiancity. com, China currently has 470 skyscrapers, 332 under construction and 516 planned but unconfirmed.

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T R E N D S

No more cavities?

Smart watches

Digital health

Have you heard about ‘Keep 32’? No? Well I’m not surprised. What is it? It is a new molecule developed by scientists in Chile which is present in a range of dental care products that eliminates Streptococcus mutans, one of the two main bacteria responsible for tooth decay. Its inventors say it makes teeth ‘cavity-proof’.

The market for digital watches grew considerably in 2013 and it will continue to grow this year. Tech experts agree that these devices are one of the most important new product categories in consumer electronics. Apple, Google, Microsoft and Samsung are among the firms launching a myriad of hi-tech watches.

I’m excited about this one and while it is nothing new, it will pick up in terms of pace in 2014. Digital health is described as the “convergence of the digital and genetics revolutions with health and healthcare” and it is about empowering you to better track, manage, and improve your own and your family’s health. It also helps to reduce inefficiencies in healthcare delivery, improve access, reduce costs, increase quality, and make medicine more personalised and precise. There are a number of Apps and things out there already that help people track diet and exercise information. Some Apps even enable you to book doctors’ appointments. There are set to be many more innovations in this field. Watch this space.

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Spread of new technology

Myanmar

Year of the horse

We’ll see the spread of a number of new technologies throughout 2014, some of which we may already know about and others we don’t. Two that immediately spring to mind are 3D printing and Make on Demand. The 3D printing revolution has the potential to transform our lives, taking weeks or months off the design process and making products much more affordable. For years 3D printing stayed as a prototype process, but that’s changing. Better techniques and materials are turning 3D printers into manufacturing operations - so-called additive manufacturers. In theory, every single product can be different, made to measure. A technology that could really transform Asia.

Myanmar has approved more foreign direct investment in the past five months than all of last year and 2014 is set to be another great year as Myanmar’s quasicivilian government implements political and economic reforms, initiated two years ago by President Thein Sein, a former general who led the country out 49 years of military rule and global isolation. Most of the approved FDI came from other Asian nations. Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co plans to start a complete knock down production of its cars in Myanmar with a Malaysian partner Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd, becoming the first major global carmaker to be assembling cars in the Southeast Asian country.

At the end of January we celebrate Chinese New Year. 2014 is the year of the horse. The previous years of the life of a Horse might be filled with financial struggles and love life issues, but as for 2014, things will change.

Have you got an innovation you’re sure will make it big in 2014, a growth story you want to share or a plan to break into emerging markets? Why not get in touch with us and share your story?

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I nvest m ent

p rofi l e

I nvestment

Japan

profile 18

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finance

Asia Outlook takes a closer look at Japan’s business and investment potential. Writer Ian Armitage

apan has the world’s third-largest economy and fourth largest nation and in my view it is very much the forgotten giant. And I believe it will be one of the best investments of the next decade. My confidence stems from its leader Shinzo Abe who has spearheaded “Abenomics” to rejuvenate its economy, and the fact it has been one of the best performing stock markets in 2013. No longer is Japan a perennial disappointment and its economy is certainly out of the doldrums, the latest consumer price inflation figures showing the highest reading since the country slipped into deflation 15 years ago. Things are certainly looking up, whichever way you look at things. But this is just my view. You’ve probably seen a number of headlines this year along the lines of ‘Japan’s economy close to collapse’ or ‘Japan beginning to spin out of control?’ So it is about perspective. Opinion.

Dramatic turnaround

Japan has suffered from very weak growth and repeated recessions over the past two decades and, as I said before, for 15 years the economy has been stuck in a deflationary spiral. But, it is enjoying a turn in fortune, with economic reforms to kick-start growth prompting a surge in profits for investors. Mr Abe, of course, has pushed through aggressive economic reforms in a bid to kick-start growth and end the stagnation, famously increasing the amount of money in Japan’s economy by flooding it with $116 billion. The expansion of money was designed to weaken the yen in order to cut the price of the goods it exports and it has been a success, with the yen falling to a three-year low against the dollar and euro. And it bodes well for the future. “It has had a number of false dawns but

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I nvest m ent

p rofi l e

the political will is properly aligned for investors to make returns going forwards,” Darius McDermott, from execution-only broker Chelsea Financial Services told the UK’s Guardian newspaper in a recent interview.

Olympics boost

The expansion of money was designed to weaken the yen in order to cut the price of the goods it exports and it has been a success, with the yen falling to a three-year low against the dollar and euro”

Japan received another welcome boost when Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Olympic Games and analysts say hosting the world’s biggest sporting contest would showcase its economic revival, following the 2011 tsunami and economic stagnation. I would tend to agree. The Olympics should prove a boon for the construction and hospitality industries in particular, with long-term benefits in infrastructure spending in new stadiums, facilities and housing and transportation systems. Property could be another big winner. Real estate prices, which have been depressed pretty much since 1989, could rise over the years leading up to the games much to the likely delight of big real estate companies like Nippon Kanzai. Some though have already enjoyed a boost, building contractor Kajima Corporation, an example that springs to mind.

The third arrow

But is there a potential problem? Is my confidence misplaced? Let’s think for a minute about Abenomics, described as combining three arrows of change – the first arrow consisted of a substantial easing of monetary policy, the second a fiscal stimulus, and now we’re on Mr Abe’s so-called third arrow, i.e. structural economic reforms, which are necessary to boost long-term growth prospects. The issue is that, since taking office last December, Abe’s stimulus efforts have barely dented a slide in privatesector investment at home, but they have done wonders for accelerating Japanese investment elsewhere in Asia – two of the country’s biggest

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finance

carmakers announcing $900 million worth of investment to boost production, in Thailand, not Japan, for example. Japan’s manufacturers, going by that example at least, are still forsaking their country’s shrinking population, high costs and regulatory barriers in favour of faster-growing, younger economies in Asia. From looking at the data, it seems the weak yen has only encouraged Japanese firms to plough increased revenues they socked away roughly $144 billion in cash between June 2012 and June 2013, according to the Bank of Japan - into expansion overseas. Indeed, Japanese investment in Asia rose 22 percent in the first six months of this year, according to the Japan External Trade Organisation, or Jetro. But Japanese companies investing abroad isn’t new. Its manufacturers have been shifting to Southeast Asia for 30 years. One thing is clear. Japan is going to have to sell itself. It needs foreign investors, likely from rivals South Korea and China. In reality, Abe has struggled to deliver on his growth strategy, watered down a plan to cut Japan’s corporate tax rate, and faced resistance on longer-term growth initiatives, particularly the establishment of special “strategic zones”. “The incentives to invest domestically are underwhelming,” said Kenneth S. Courtis, a former Goldman Sachs Asia vice-chairman who now heads Starfort Investments in Hong Kong, in a recent Reuters article.

One thing is clear. Japan is going to have to sell itself. It needs foreign investors, likely from rivals South Korea and China”

A solid bet?

So is Japan a solid bet? And will its stellar run continue? Experts say the so-called “easy money” has already been made and such rapid share price rises are unlikely to continue. You might want to sit on the fence a while longer. You might want to avoid Japan altogether. But I’m confident about it in the long term. And so should you be.

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red

m o u ntain

m inin g

Red Mountain Mining is a mineral exploration company focusing on the exploration for gold. The company has a portfolio of projects in the Philippines with the Batangas project being its flagship. Writer Rebecca Wigmore Project manager James Mitchell

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ed mountain mining is sitting on a goldmine. it’s not often you can read such a sentence and take it literally, but in this instance, it’s the truth. Jon Dugdale, the australian ceo of this gold exploration and project acquisition firm, recently confirmed the discovery of high-grade gold in the firm’s key project in Batangas. Batangas is located in the Philippines, around 200km south of manilla. “we have a resource already defined of around 400,000oz of gold grading about 2.2 per tonne.” says Dugdale. at present, Red mountain mining is busy completing the scoping study – the first part of a feasibility study into a mine development. after this scoping study is judged complete, the company can head straight into feasibility. it’s a complex process as Dugdale explains: “when you’re exploring you go through a series of stages: testing the soil and the stream sediments – just as the early prospectors did – which is a process that has a moderate to low chance of success. the next stage comes when you’ve actually found some encouragement in the soil sampling, is to excavate trenches through the soil cover and sample mineralisation close to the surface.” Recent very high grade trenching results, up to 1 ounce of gold per tonne, have got Red mountain mining to the point at which they will instruct its subcontractors to start drilling. operations on the ground are carried out by a number of different contractors, including indodrill, a company with a base in Pampanga. “once the drilling has proved that you’ve got the sort of grades and widths that you would like to see, then you can go straight to drilling out of resource,” Dugdale continues. “[at present] we’re at the third stage of scoping and we’re looking at a project producing 30,000oz of high-grade gold

Provincial geovenrment monitoring MRL Rehabilitated drill site at Calo Project

View of Kay Tanda resource area

2012 Drilling at Kay Tanda

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from 500,000 tons mined per annum. through the high grade trenching results we’ve identified the immediate upside potential to speedily deliver additions to our high-grade resource base and to enhance the grade of the resource that we have already. this means we’ll have the potential to deliver an even lower cost of production.” Red mountain mining is working on two main areas of resources on the Batangas project, archangel and lobo. “at the moment the focus is defining additional high-grade gold lodes at our lobo properties,” Dugdale states. “currently [it’s] a smaller, much higher grade resource at lobo – about 45,000oz. But it’s grading at over 7g per ton, so it’s potentially a very low production cost. the other main property, archangel, is a large, lowergrade resource of 360,000oz grading 2 g per ton gold. the more gold we find at a higher grade, the better. And the good news is that we’re finding extensions to the high-grade material at lobo as we speak. [our filipino workforce] is digging trenches on extensions to the gold lode system.” He is justly proud of the company’s current setup, which features excellent base case resources and full mining licences on the resource areas “which means we’re more advanced than most exploration companies.” another key advantage is the location of the mine: close to manilla and the industrial centre of Batangas. this means the firm has excellent access to infrastructure and low-cost power. “it is a fantastic location,” Dugdale says. there are some challenges inherent in such an enterprise however, not least the unpredictable filipino weather. the Philippines typically plays reluctant host to 20 typhoons a year and most of them do affect operations. But Dugdale is confident: “typhoons are a given. earthquakes are a given. it’s not like we’re

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Geologist doing on-site logging at west drift

On-site safety induction

It’s about putting the effort in and making sure you have people that are based in the country who know what to look for” Neil Warburton site inspection at Southwest Brecci with visitors

Detailed logging at core shed

experiencing typhoons where you never get them. we’re ready.” natural hazards aside, the chief struggle in the mining industry is getting approval for projects: “we’re close to the coast and the Philippines is environmentally sensitive so there’s a good set of rules to comply with. one of the key things [for us] is satisfying the local government and community so that we do the right thing. the subsidiary company that’s operating, that Red mountain own, has been operating there for twelve years. our team’s got a very good track record of meeting those challenges.” Red mountain mining is well established in the Philippines and there is obvious pride in the team that the company has put together: “on the ground our team is almost entirely Filipino, with only one ex-pat, Geoff Boswell, (Boswell is the Philippines country manager and chairman of Rmm’s subsidiary mRl gold inc) who coordinates the business and manages the local team. indeed, Red mountain Mining employees around fifty

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Neil Warburton discussing old lobo mine with visitors

J Dugdale explaining geology of WestDrift to investors

Drilling at Southwest Breccia (SWB) resource area

permanent members of staff, with two thirds of its on-the-ground workforce being local to the area. the recruitment process is not a difficult thing, argues Dugdale: “the Philippines has a very well educated and experienced workforce, internationally renowned, so it’s just a matter of finding the best people and treating them properly when you get them. that team’s been built up over a long period, it’s about putting the effort in and making sure you have people that are based in the country who know what to look for.” the greatest challenge facing junior companies such as Red mountain Mining is raising sufficient funding when required. “it [the funding requirements] goes through a series of stages: the last equity raising was really for exploration, but also for the scoping study. these initial stages will complete by the first quarter of next year. then we’ll need to look at our next stage - more exploration drilling to firm up those high-grade resources then potentially a feasibility study into the project development.” the length of this further feasibility stage will vary depending on how extensive the study becomes: “it depends whether we want to take it all the way through to bankable or whether we just want to complete a smaller study into a more modest, locally funded project development, then submit it to the Philippines permitting system.” Dugdale is reluctant to provide a precise amount or timing on raising further funds: “first, we’ll deliver the scoping study and the additional exploration. after that we’ll either take advantage of a stronger share price that has responded to our good results or we may look to bring in a strategic investment partner at the project level.” overall, Dugdale seems confident in the project’s long term prospects: “we have high-grade gold, at surface, with potential for very low production costs.” it really is a golden opportunity.

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INDODRILL PHILIPPINES INC. SAFETY followed by PRODUCTIVITY is our priority.

ndodrill is working to satisfy its client’s mineral exploration drilling requirements in surface, underground, coal bed methane drilling and marine environments. our management and staff are committed to improving the standards of performance in the drilling industry; we operate in south east asia / Pacific Region and now in australia. our team includes expatriate and national management and supervisors together with south east asian supervisors and drill technicians, many of whom have extensive experience in asian countries, australia, africa, the americas and europe working in coal bed methane, geotechnical and mineral exploration drilling both on surface and underground environments. We employ only the highest qualified supervisors, drillers and support personnel in order to give our clients the most professional service available. this ensures we maintain the highest safety standard and deliver results quickly and cost effectively. indodrill has broad experience with onshore and offshore geotechnical, site investigation and stratigraphic drilling and our employees ensure that our performance, particularly in regards to coring and sampling is of the highest industry standard available. we have expanded our selection of drill rigs with the manufacture and commissioning of a wide range of man-portable and track mounted rigs, featuring very innovative design and utilising the most modern hydraulics technology available, bringing the total number of rigs in our fleet to 85 units to date. Tel +63(45) – 499-1159 Email info@indodrill.com

www.indodrill.com

F E AE T uA R E T

Indodrill Group of Companies provides specialised contract drilling services to the mining, mineral exploration, coal mining and construction industries in the South East Asia / Pacific regions. Our operations commenced in Indonesia in 1995 and we have steadily expanded into other Asian countries and in Australia, focusing on mining and exploration operations that demand high international standards throughout. All operations are conducted without compromise to the highest standards of safety and environmental protection that can be achieved.

SURFACE DRILLING

“SAFETY FOLLOWED BY PRODUCTIVITY IS OUR PRIORITY”

Drilling Services: Surface Wireline Core Drilling Surface Directional Drilling Underground Wireline Core Drilling Underground Directional Drilling Multi-Purpose Drilling Reverse Circulation Drilling Directional Drilling Water-Well Drilling Grade Control Drilling Environmental Drilling Geotechnical Drilling Coal Bed Methane – CBM Drilling Capabilities of 2000 Metres NQ both Surface and Underground

Support Services: Project Management for Client’s in-house drilling operations Procurement & Supply for Client’s Geological exploration consumables

Equipment:

INDODRILL PHILIPPINES INC Berthaphil Building 1 & 2 Berthaphil 2 South Complex Bayanihan St., Clark Freeport Zone Pampanga 2023, Philippines Tel: (63) 45-4991159 Fax: (63) 45-8934392 Email: info@indodrill.com

www.indodrill.com

ID 200 (14 Rigs)

ID 200 R/C (1 Rig)

ID350 (12 Rigs)

ID 350 R/C (1 Rig)

ID 500 (20 Rigs)

ID 450 R/C (1 Rig)

ID500T (4 Rigs)

ID 950 R/C (1 Rig)

ID900 (2 Rigs)

ID140 UG (1 Rig)

ID1000 (4 Rigs)

ID150 UG (18 Rigs)

ID 1800 (2 Rigs)

Vermeer D50X88 (1 Rig)

ID 1800H (Heli Portable 2 Rigs) ID 2000 (1 Rig)

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C hristian

Medica l

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C o l l e g e

V e l l ore

christian medical college Vellore in tamil nadu, south india is a large christian missionary healthcare organization. It has 8,500 staff, including 1,500 doctors and 2,500 other medical staff, as well as legions of administrative and support staff. They treat over 7,000 outpatients and over 2,600 inpatients. it’s a massive operation, but its roots are relatively humble, going back 114 years to the turn of the 20th century. Writer Chris Farnell Project manager Eddie Clinton

he hospital’s director, Dr. sunil chandy, tells us the story, “the christian medical college is a 114 year old institution started by a third generation american missionary, called ida scudder who responded to a dramatic experience she had, as a call of god towards the needs of the community here. after seeing the conditions of the women in this country she went to the us and trained as a doctor, then came back and started a clinic in 1900. it expanded to a 200 bed hospital by 1929. this hospital was not just a service unit but a teaching hospital and a medical school.

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C H R I S T I A N

m E D I C A l

Paediatric care

We have a strong emphasis on charity and a significant proportion of our budget is focused towards people on the poverty line, marginalised or people who cannot afford private hospitals”

Tribal Community

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V E l l O R E

it now has a nursing college with 100 nurses being trained a year and a whole array of healthcare courses.” In the first two years since Scudder arrived back in india she treated over 5,000 patients, laying the foundations for a legacy that the college is continuing over a century later. “we’re supported by a council of 60 protestant churches. It’s a not for profit charitable institution that provides comprehensive primary, secondary, tertiary and now quaternary care. the hospital also supports about 300 small mission hospitals spread all over the rural areas of india, providing expertise and man power in the form of trained doctors.” chandy explains. “we have a strong emphasis on charity and a significant proportion of our budget is earmarked towards people below the poverty line, marginalised or people who cannot afford private hospitals.”

Values we need

to provide the care that the christian medical college aims to, they need top medical talent on their side. However, being a charitable institution also means they cannot compete on salary determined by market forces. they need a certain special quality in their staff. chandy tells us, “the quality we look for is their commitment to our ideals and philosophy. People definitely don’t join us for the income. they know our salary is less than they will get elsewhere. they’re looking for a deeper level of fulfilment, the joy of teaching, of research, of good patient care, and that comes through at the recruitment interview. our medical faculty are recruited through a process of advertisement in national dailies, followed by a process of interview, short listing, and offering the job. there is a probationary period of one, two or three years depending on the post, and then they are selected to the permanent faculty.”

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KARL STORZ

aRl stoRZ presents world’s first true uncompressed digital operating room platform via iP allowing complete integration of all video and data devices in the oR, optimizing surgical workflow . today’s operating rooms are extremely complex and high-tech environments. to help surgeons take advantage of the latest technologies and improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare, oR integration has become indispensable. the kaRl stoRZ oR1 fusion™ system allows for dynamic plug and play of devices. a universal network cable enabling integration of future medical technologies and requirements in the operating room, making kaRl stoRZ oR1™ truly ready for the digital future. Tel (0)7461 708-0 Email info@karlstorz.de

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BECTON DICKINSON

D operates in india through a wholly-owned subsidiary, BD india Pvt. ltd. BD has a worldclass manufacturing plant at Bawal, Haryana that has a capacity to manufacture over a billion medical devices of class ii and iia disposable needles and syringes using a highly automated process as per global standards. the plant has also been recognized by the Haryana state industrial corporation. HEAD OFFICE BD 6th floor signature tower - B south city i, nH 8 gurgaon, 122001, Haryana india Tel +91-124-3949390, 2383566 - 71 Fax +91-124-2383224-25-26 Email bd_india@bd.com

www.bd.com/india

hea

thcare

KARL STORZ GmbH & Co. KG, MittelstraĂ&#x;e 8, Germany, Phone: (0)7461 708-0, Fax: +7461 708-105, E-Mail: info@karlstorz.de KARL STORZ Endoscopy America, Inc, 2151 E. Grand Avenue, El Segundo, CA 90245-5017, USA, Phone: +1 424 218-8100, Fax: +1 800 321-1304, E-Mail: info@ksea.com KARL STORZ Endoscopia Latino-America, 815 N. W. 57 Av., Suite No. 480, Miami, FL 33126-2042, USA, Phone: +1 305 262-8980, Fax: +1 305 262-89 86, E-Mail: info@ksela.com KARL STORZ Endoscopy Canada Ltd., 7171 Millcreek Drive, Mississauga, ON L5N 3R3, Phone: +1 905 816-4500, Fax: +1 905 858-4599, E-Mail: info@karlstorz.ca www.karlstorz.com

www.bd.com

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C hristian

Medica l

C o l l e g e

V e l l ore

Changing Times

Despite its charitable goals, the Christian Medical College is almost entirely selffunded, using a cross subsidy model by channelling margins from private care for those who cannot afford. However, the healthcare world is changing, both in terms of the cost of healthcare and the needs of their patients. CMC responds to this change without compromising on its core values. “Our biggest challenge is to sustain our philosophy.” Chandy admits. “World over, healthcare has become more expensive, high tech and interventional. So we’re working hard to keep up while adhering to our mission of helping the poor. To do that, because we’re self sustaining and 90% of our income is from patients, we make sure we can provide excellent tertiary private care, the margins for which fund treatment for poorer people.” It’s an important task, and the job is one that is constantly growing. “Our numbers keep going up,” Chandy tells us. “Last year we had 6,500 patients a day, now we’re treating 7,000. This growing influx of patients shows the demand for our services is only escalating. Our income continues to grow, but so do our expenses. Our margins are slim, but that doesn’t worry us too much because that’s our core mission, to do as much as we can for the poor. For now, our growth and development is going well and we’re happy with the institution’s performance.” “We’re seeing 9-10% growth a year, incorporating patient numbers and we’ve been on this campus since 1924 so the facilities are a bit overcrowded,” Chandy admits. “We’ve got plans to expand those facilities over the next five years and shift ourselves to another campus. It’s a reflection of the huge medical need in India, especially with the nature of disease itself changing from infections to lifestyle caused disorders, so we’re going

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through an epidemiological transition as well that we need to change to meet.” However, even during changing times like these, there are some things that remain constant. It’s the values that this institution represents that makes it stand out from the crowd, and Chandy believes those values are needed now more than ever. “We have a different paradigm from other healthcare providers. It’s not for profit, it’s charitable. This is our strong point. We strongly believe that this formula of cost effective, comprehensive healthcare is the best way forward at least for India if not for Asia. That we have lasted this long without having to change our vision and mission is a testament to the need for this model. There’s merit here you won’t find in the corporate healthcare model that’s aimed at making healthcare into a business. Healthcare and teaching cannot be a business, it must be service. The profit should be used to further healthcare, because we’re feeding on someone’s state of ill health. We would welcome all involved with healthcare delivery to taste this model and see the difference it can make to the world.”

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Cu T ON m gp A SNHY I NN AHmO ES p I T A l

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the quality of healthcare is high in malaysia, no more so than in its capital kuala lumpur which can boast of high-end hospitals that provide excellent services. in this unique Q&a we learn more about tung shin Hospital, an unassuming private hospital with humble origins as a traditional medicine dispensary and hospice called Pooi shin thong. it is a place where east meets west. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Eddie Clinton

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F E E A AT ul R T E H H

Give me a brief introduction to Tung Shin. Who are you? Tung Shin Hospital is a non-profit community hospital established in 1881 and we will celebrate our 132nd anniversary on December 1, 2013. the hospital is unique in the sense that this is the only hospital in malaysia and also southeast asia that practices dual-treatment - modern medicine and traditional chinese medicine. What are your key strengths and what makes you unique? it is rare any organisation can celebrate its 132 years anniversary but this hospital has been serving the people for that entire period, irrespective of race, creed or religion. everyone is entitled to the best care and we live by that mantra. What has the hospital been doing over the last year? we have been undergoing a bit of a revamp in recent years. the western Division, which started almost 40 years ago, has seen some refurbishment especially at the old wards and the process has seen us invest in new equipment and upgrades at the Radiology and imaging Department. in 2011, we invested in a Philips ingenuity 128 slice ct scanner, for example. weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been doing a lot within our chinese medical Division too and started the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;mobile charity clinicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; providing free treatment and services especially in traditional chinese medicine at seven places in kuala lumpur, selangor and negeri sembilan. it is a daily service we launched last year. the chinese medical Division shows a tremendous growth with almost 800 outpatients daily. tung shin Hospital will be better with years to come too as we continue to invest. we are proud of what we are doing and we continuously will provide the services as per our hospital objectives.

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t u n g

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hos p ita l

What issues have been affecting you and the industry as a whole? The Malaysian private healthcare industry has undergone tremendous change over the last decade. Our Government is establishing Malaysia as a medical tourism hub and we need to really focus on what our strengths are in order to provide a better service to the world. We have top-notch surgeons and a world-class medical school here, rivalling anything in the West. Of course, we also provide traditional Chinese medicine in our healthcare delivery and we are expecting the Government to support the traditional and complementary medicine in Malaysia. Patients should get the choice for modern and complementary medicine. They should have the wide access. Nowadays, people start to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;trustâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; traditional or complimentary medicine in getting their treatment beside the modern medicine. We are looking to build on that. What are the biggest challenges the hospital has faced? The biggest challenge is the daily one of delivering high quality healthcare services with limited resources. As an NGO, this is the biggest challenge we face â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we are reliant on public donations and government assistance in our healthcare delivery services. How would you sum up the current state of the industry? Currently, the private healthcare industry in Malaysia is getting more demanding. Patients nowadays are more intelligent and more open to information. Most healthcare issues and even treatment plans are available through the internet now. There are lots of opportunities for all within the changing landscape and we believe Tung Shin can be the pioneer in clinical research that comprises of complimentary and modern medicine.

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We want to broaden access to healthcare, providing quality services to more and more people”

Please tell me about your aims, targets and projections for 2013/14 and beyond? We want to broaden access to healthcare, providing quality services to more and more people. The future will see us launch new clinics and continue with the upgrading of our hospital equipment, as well as much, much more. Tung Shin is not like others corporate hospitals and, as a non-profit, we depend on the generosity of the public – especially from the Chinese community – for funds for development. The Malaysia government did assist with some grants for Tung Shin development too, especially the Western Division. How would you like to see the hospital develop? Of course we would like to see a modern style hospital building with niche decors plus high class healthcare technology. Tung Shin is committed to delivering high levels of healthcare in a country that is fortunate to have a very comprehensive range of healthcare services and a Government committed to its principles of universal access to high-quality healthcare. If you met a Genie who offered to have all of your dreams come true, in order of priority, what would they be? We would like a modern concept hospital set-up with current services and practices. And what’s the secret to the hospital’s success? I think the top quality of healthcare delivery services especially from our directors, senior management team, all doctors and practitioners, nurses plus all our staff. We would like to see more dual-treatment hospital like Tung Shin Hospital in the future. To learn more about Tung Shin visit www.tungshin.com.my.

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H wa

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B u i l der

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Pte

Ltd

singapore-based Hwa seng Builder Pte ltd is a leading civil engineering and construction provider, providing an integrated range of professional civil engineering works and construction-related services. Writer Chris Farnell Project manager Arron Rampling

wa seng Builder Pte ltd, or HsB as it’s often known, is a young company but it has already amassed a proud history as a leading provider of civil engineering and construction in singapore. according to thomas ng, managing director of the firm, in the years since its founding HsB has grown to become a force to be reckoned with within a number of highly competitive fields. “my company started 21 years ago,” he says. “we’re a civil

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H wa

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The Urbanite

Pte

Ltd

engineering contractor that does all kinds of infrastructure work such as building expressways, bridges, and road and drainage systems. We also have subsidiaries which do some property development, particularly private apartments.” Indeed, HSB is a name that you’ll find behind a whole range of infrastructure projects around Singapore and its work is associated with not just expressways, bridges, drainage and roadways but also aircraft pavements, runways and taxi ways, earthworks, golf courses, sewerage and more. Originally established as a way of tapping into local technical know-how, expertise and resources, the company has become a go-to provider for the region thanks to the high level of quality it provides. “We have two decades of experience working in Singapore,” Ng adds, clear about the ingredients that have mixed to create the company’s success. “We have wideranging experience in the field and also I would say that we’ve got a team of expert professionals and management who are committed to their tasks and know the market well, so we’re able to stay in a competitive position in the market.” This expertise is matched by an impressive level of financial clout, which HSB ensures through a process of constant assessment by a leading credit rating agency. The firm’s sound track record and financial standing ensure it has the financial abilities to make the most ambitious projects fully realisable and has led to it completing numerous projects and winning major industry awards. HSB is now registered with the Building & Construction Authority of Singapore with an “A1” class rating or Civil Engineering and its world class standards of service and quality are reflected in several awards and

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There are a number of exciting opportunities available over the next few years”

SCANPILE CONSTRUCTORS PTE LTD Foundation Works Bored Piling Bored Micropiling Continuous Bored Piling Secant Piling

Pile Testing Dynamic Pile Testing (PDA System) Pile Integrity Testing (PIT System) Working / Ultimate Load Testing Soil Investigation 10 Bukit Batok Crescent #11-02 The Spire Singapore 658079 Tel +(65) 6316 7717 Tel + (65) 6316 7707 Email scanpile@yahoo.com.sg

SCANPILE CONSTRUCTORS PTE LTD SCANPILE CONSTRUCTORS PTE LTD started its humble beginnings in 2001. The firm is solely led by a director who is well-equipped with decades of diversified experience. We are highly proficient in the wide variety of piling works and well versed in handling complex projects. To date, the piling firm is BCA registered as SB (PW) : SPECIALIST BUILDER (PILING WORKS) and CR08: L5(Piling Works). It is certified ISO 9001:2008, OHSAS 18001: 2007 and classified as BIZSAFE STAR by the WSH Council.

10 BUKIT BATOK CRESCENT #11-02, THE SPIRE SINGAPORE 658079 TEL: 63167717 FAX: 63167707 EMAIL: SCANPILE@YAHOO.COM.SG FOUNDATION WORKS BORED PILING CONTIGUOUS BORED PILING | SECANT PILING

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H W A

S E N g

B u I l D E R

p T E

l T D

RICON Ricon was incorporated on 28th april 1975 and holds the distributorship of various well-established manufacturers’ products from different countries (products mostly complimentary to each other), known for their high quality worldwide, such as koBelco, new HollanD, nPk and PRolec. Ricon also provides quality repairs and maintenance services including supply of spare parts at reasonable prices. the company has more than forty-nine employees, of whom some service personnel are factory trained to maintain the products we represent.

HSB’s continuous recycling eﬀort has won them Green & Gracious Builder Award (Star) in BCA Awards 2013”

certifications including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, Bs oHsas 18001, bizsafe staR, LTA Certificate of Merit for Construction environmental award, lta safety excellence award, lta safety award 2013 for accident free man-hours and Bca green & gracious award.

weathering the storm

of course, all the industry plaudits in the world can’t change the fact that the construction market has been seeing tough times for everyone in the business. HSB has been affected. But it has a plan. “it’s not been a fantastic year for us. for the last two years the market haven’t been great, revenue has reduced a bit, due to fewer jobs being available,” ng admits. and the company isn’t about to take this challenge lying down. things look like they’re going to improve. “we’ve had to become more competitive,” adds ng. “this year our government has made a number of announcements

regarding big projects for the transport system so there are a number of exciting opportunities available over the next few years.” to make the most of these newly emerging opportunities HsB is building on the excellent reputation it has with customers and suppliers alike, making the most of both its strong financial position and expert talent. it has undertaken “civil engineering projects that are worth millions for the government, and has worked with prestige developers on private projects,” says ng. However always fundamental to everything the company does is its experienced, competent team. HsB uses its own in-house talent at every step of the process to ensure the standards they meet are the exacting ones HsB has built its reputation on. Its staff are not only talented but highly motivated, with a great sense of pride in their work. their approach

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Ricon also imports quality second hand equipment such as excavators and crawler cranes. with our expertise and facilities these are reconditioned to our customer satisfaction. Tel +(65) 6862 2401 Email sales@ricon.com.sg

www.ricon.com.sg

SAMWOH CORPORATION

ounded in 1975 as a transportation and logistics company by three lorry drivers, samwoh has grown to become an a1 grade civil engineering firm registered under the Building and construction authority (Bca). we are a leading integrated civil engineering company and green building materials supplier. as a respected leader of sustainable development, we provide a full suite of customised solutions to our clients in the construction industry, ensuring sustainability at every step. fully committed to protecting the environment, our innovative ideas are recognised through the many top awards that we have garnered, proving that samwoh is indeed the pioneer of a future where nothing goes to waste. at samwoh, we innovate sustainability. Tel +65 6269 7288 Email info@samwoh.com.sg

www.samwoh.com

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H wa

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B u i l der

Pte

Ltd

CERT CERT NO.: NO.: 98-2-0889 98-2-0889 CERT NO.: CERT NO.: 98-2-0889 98-2-0889 ISO ISO 9001 9001 ::: 2008 2008 ISO ISO 9001 9001 : 2008 2008 CERT NO.: NO.: 2006-0349 2006-0349 CERT CERT NO.: CERT NO.: 2006-0349 2006-0349 ISO 14001 ISO 14001 ::: 2004 2004 ISO ISO 14001 14001 : 2004 2004 CERT NO.: NO.: OHS-2006-0148 OHS-2006-0148 CERT CERT NO.: OHS-2006-0148 CERT NO.: 18001 OHS-2006-0148 BS OHSAS OHSAS 2007 BS 18001 :: 2007 BS BS OHSAS OHSAS 18001 18001 :: 2007 2007

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is personified by efficient project management using the latest techniques and technology, so that the workmanship is of the highest quality and is completed on time and to budget. HSB does this by ensuring the staff are constantly empowered to come up with innovative solutions and lateral thinking, to deliver first class results. “We invest in our staff by sending them for training and trying to create a career path for those with potential, give them opportunities to achieve promotions and exposure to new challenges and proper training,” Ng says proudly. “We also have some company activities outside of work so they feel there’s a work life balance.” Of course talent costs and Ng admits that has been one of the biggest challenges in maintaining HSB’s reputation for quality. “The increase in labour costs has been a big challenge for us,” he says. “Most of our projects take three to five years, and during that time the cost of labour can increase by as much as ten to 15 percent a year. So that makes things difficult during the tendering stage. To manage this issue we have to try to get jobs with short durations to reduce our exposure to rising costs. If we take longer duration contracts we have to be careful to take into account cost fluctuations.”

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Sungei Kadut Ave 2 Sungei Kadut Ave, Singapore 729639 Tel: 6365 3118 / 6368 5030 / 6368 5303 / 6365 2956 / 6368 4821 Fax: 6368 8757 / 6368 8400

Aiming Higher

But that doesn’t mean HSB is planning to set its sights any lower. Indeed, with Singapore’s government aiming to invest further in infrastructure, the company is aiming to take on some really big projects in the near future and even start looking further afield. “In the long term we’re looking to become more involved in the major projects, we’re trying to be the leading civil engineering contractor in Singapore, and if possible expand to wider region,” Ng explains. Wherever it works, and whatever the size of the project, HSB will remain true its mission statement, to remain dedicated to every customer’s satisfaction, pledging themselves to a corporate policy of responding sensitively to their customers’ progressive needs. The firm is absolutely dedicated to completing projects on time while continuously improving the quality and cost effectiveness of their processes. It will continue to build strong business relationships with customers and suppliers. To learn more visit www.hwaseng.com.sg

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incor p orated

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The Incorporated Builders Group has been steadily building a reputation for quality since its inception in 1983. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve earned a real name for themselves in the delivery of real estate and construction-related services to a huge variety of corporate clients. Writer Chris Farnell Project manager Arron Rampling

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he company has achieved this by delivering an impeccable service in full- spectrum design, construction and engineering. With clients that range from residential and industrial projects to, commercial, retail, hospitality and infrastructure, they are the go-to guys for both private and municipal clients. One only needs to look at the numbers to see the regard that the Incorporated Builders Group is held in. For the past five years they’ve recorded over 270 million Singapore dollars in orders, with over $100 million in turnover and contracts worth more than $74 million in 2013 alone. They’ve done this by having a clear set of goals and principals that the whole firm adheres to strictly. “We aim to be a global leader in the building and real estate business,” says group director Dean Lim. “We strive towards generating maximum value and returns for all our clients and stakeholders, while creating a positive impact on our surrounding environment and communities.” A key part of this is the importance the Incorporated Builders Group places on transparency. They work hard at establishing a clear and transparent financial dialogue with their clients that includes the services of reputable independent valuation services, so that the client knows they are being quoted a true and fair view of the market value of the company’s work. This means they are able advise their clients on pricing strategy, negotiate good commercial terms and conditions for their investments and maintain a strong position for identifying potential procurement and development opportunities.

The Foundations of Success

Beyond their commitment to transparency, the Incorporated

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I N C O R p O R A T E D

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Cable Car Exterior and Interior

Builders group has built its success on a foundation of strong principals. as lim explains, “we believe our unique selling point comes down to our five ‘pillars of success’, the qualities that put our company ahead of the competition.” the pillars include “a comprehensive, integrated service”, whereby all the firm’s departments are united by a common service culture. “to our clients this means there is one point of accountability on all issues pertaining to their project,” lim tells us. “there’s only one singlestreamlined channel of communication and coordination over all relevant architectural and construction disciplines. this ensures that there is seamless project implementation and results in immeasurable savings in time and costs.” their second pillar of success is the iso 9001 and oHsas 18001 certification that the Incorporated

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We strive towards generating maximum value and returns for all our clients and stakeholders, while creating a positive impact on our surrounding environment and communities”

Builders group is justly proud about. They received the ISO 9001 certification for their implementation of a quality management system for building construction, civil engineering and interior works, while their oHsas 18001 certification is a reflection of their well executed occupational health and safety management system. “we maintain a stringent control over processes, quality and safety,” lim explains. “this helps us to foster an incident-free environment to ensure projects are implemented in a smooth and timely fashion.” their third pillar is the company’s admirable environmental policy. incorporated Builders group has been a flag bearer for promoting green practices across the building, construction and real estate sectors, and it’s reflected in the firm’s proudly held ISO 14001 certified status, awarded for their environmental management system.

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“Our Project Management team draws on a wealth of knowledge and expertise to meet all clients’ building construction needs,” Lim says. “That includes the competent execution of projects in full compliance with Green Mark and Energy Efficient rating systems.” Next up, Incorporated Building Group’s dedication to cost efficiency is their fourth pillar of success. Everyone in the business is committed to generating maximum value and returns for their clients. They are relentlessly working to refine process efficiency and mitigate the construction risks that come part and parcel with big projects. “We like to help clients explore ways of optimizing resources and refining building processes without compromising on quality and safety. The resulting savings are in turn passed on to our clients,” Lim says. Last but certainly not least is the company’s system for reporting progress, a concise system that shows the status of all work in progress on the site of any of their projects.

A Family Affair

Of course, plenty of companies have a set of guiding principles that are supposed to inform the way

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incor p orated

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they do business, but many fail to reach the values they aspire to. That Incorporated Builders Group has achieved this is primarily down to its status as a family run business. The company was originally founded by Dean Lim’s father, Daniel Lim, who is still the company chairman. The family run nature of the business informs everything the company does. “Being a family run business has definitely helped us adhere to our core principals,” Lim admits. “The family nature of the business filters down through the whole of our staff, breeding a kind of loyalty you tend not to find in other companies. We have a good core team that we think of as part of the family, with many staff staying with us as long as fifteen or twenty years!”

Exciting Times

We like to help clients explore ways of optimizing resources and refining building processes without compromising on quality and safety”

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Things are going well for Incorporated Business Group, with 2013 being a particularly exciting year for the firm thanks to the major projects they have been working on. “Perhaps the biggest project we have in the works right now is the International Interpol Building in Singapore,” Lim says. “We’ve been working hard on this one, and everyone is looking forward to seeing the end result when it reaches its scheduled completion this year.” So what’s next for this family firm made good? “We’ve got a lot of interesting projects in the pipeline,” Lim admits. “We’re continuing to look for new work across all our market sectors, but the next big step for the business has to be expanding our geographic footprint. We’re currently looking into the possibility of expanding our business into the Malaysian market, where we see lots of potential to grow our business.” We look forward to seeing what they achieve there!

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H u A T I O N g

H O l D I N g S

the demands of the logistics and fabrication market sectors in the 21st century are more complex than ever, with business becoming ever more globalised and people expecting ever more from manufacturers. itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in this exciting and fast moving environment that Huationg Holdings has learned to thrive. Writer Chris Farnell Project manager Arron Rampling

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nder the leadership of managing director Lee Chin Tiong, Huationg has built a name for itself by using top of the range industrial equipment and facilities, operated by a team of well trained, capable staff with over 20 years of experience as a company. The company is well known in the oil and gas, construction, shipping port and marine infrastructure industries. Today the business consists of six separate yet interlinked companies, Huationg Inland Transport Service, Huationg Asia, Hua Resources, Huakeong Trading and LSS Construction Pte Ltd. It’s reached this point over three decades of hard work and dedication from relatively humble beginnings in the 1980s. They have expanded into subsidiary businesses, and each of those businesses has built a strong reputation on their own. Through hard work, integrity, and most importantly, a strong cohesiveness between staff and management, the Huationg group is now a name that immediately brings to mind excellent service. Indeed, over the last year the company’s revenue has jumped from $59 million to $66 million, and even now they are considering expanding their geographic footprint into Burma.

Values That Matter

The trouble with being a holding company is that your business will hold other businesses, each with their own markets, needs and interests, and if you’re not careful those can come into conflict with each other. The Huationg group has been able to navigate these potential issues with the aid of a strong set of values and a united vision that runs through the entire company like words through a stick of rock. As the company grows and expands and clings ever closer to its commitment

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h u ation g

ho l din g s

to customer service and integrated civil engineering and construction solutions. To Huationg Holdings this doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just mean having the latest technology or the best facilities, but also having a team of well trained personnel and crew, undergoing a process of continuous development and improvement. And every member of that team is imbued with the values that Huationg holds dear. Every member of staff is dedicated to providing the best civil engineering and logistic services to the petrochemical, marine and construction industries in Singapore and the wider region. Beyond a commitment to excellent service, however, Huationg Holdings is also dedicated to promoting eco-friendly business practices, and through all their projects they use sustainable and environmentally sound engineering techniques and work processes, often bring their considerable technological clout to bear. A great example of this is the liquefied soil stabilizer, a new technology that Huationg Holdings has made use of to reduce the environmental impact of their projects. These values are also reflected in a wider sense of ethics, and all of the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s companies comply not only with all applicable laws, regulations and industry standards, but also strict ethical principles of integrity and honesty, with the goal of building closer, trusting relationships with Huationg Holdingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; clients and stakeholders alike. Using a set of key performance indicators the company is constantly examining itself to ensure its ethics, integrity and professionalism are at unimpeachable levels. At the same time they are constantly working to improve, with a continuous process of refinement, improvement and assessment so that they are able to provide the best possible value.

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Safety First

This strong sense of ethics is also reflected within the business, with the group believing strongly in fostering a safe, healthy work environment for all their staff, supporting and investing in them through training, education and proactive employee involvement schemes. Each of Huationg Holdingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; firms is also sworn to provide every available kind of protective gear and safety instruction. Indeed if thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one value at Huationg that stand above all others, it is safety. The health and safety of all employees is an absolute priority for the group, with their ultimate goal being a working environment free of injury or occupational dangers. Using standardised procedures, training and education there is a constant process of improvement as they work towards accident-free environments on-site and off.

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h u ation g

ho l din g s

Huationg Holdings is one of the most trusted civil engineering and logistics solutions providers across Singaporeâ&#x20AC;?

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Public Liability Work Injury Insurance Foreign Worker Bond Foreign Worker Medical Fire Insurance Credit Insurance Motor Insurance Machinery All Risk Contractor All Risk Industrial All Risk Marine Cargo Employee Beneﬁts

A key part of the company’s safety crusade is that everyone in the business feels personally responsible for the standards of safety Huationg Holdings aspires to, from the most senior director down to the most junior member of crew. A programme of regular equipment maintenance, strict safety procedures and comprehensive guidelines ensures everyone is kept safe. A motto familiar to everyone in the company is “Safety is not a priority. Safety is a pre-requisite”. To see the truth in that motto, you only have to look at their results. Huationg Holdings’ safety standards have been recognised through ISO9001, ISO14001 and OHSAS 18001 accreditation, recognising the contribution that has been made by Huationg’s integrated management system, as well as an outstanding record for safety, excellence and quality assurance. That is why Huationg Holdings is one of the most trusted civil engineering and logistics solutions providers across Singapore. As they look to further expand their geographic footprint, and continue to build their individual businesses, we can’t wait to see what they’re going to achieve next.

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S u N H u A N

C O N S T R u C T I O N

Singapore construction firm Sunhuan celebrates its 20th anniversary. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Arron Rampling

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onstr

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mbitious companies can maximise business opportunities but the best companies also recognise that success depends on the ability to think strategically and to spot opportunities and threats on the horizon. This is part of the continued success behind Singapore-based Sunhuan Construction, a firm that was first established in 1993 as a sub-contractor and which has evolved to become a Class A1 General Building Contractor, qualified to tender for projects with unrestricted tender limits. “Sunhuan demonstrates high-level viability coupled with sustainability of our business in this competitive industry,” says general manager Alex Pang. “For instance, Sunhuan has practiced the Design & Build concept to provide flexibility and adaptability in satisfying the diverse demands of our customers. We have regular dialogue sessions with industry players and business partners to make necessary changes to our business models so as to stay competitive. We have also complied with all the standards and requirements through our QEHS policy to provide within budget, timely, quality services and products to our customers. In addition, we have also partnered with architectural and structural firms to design unique and cost efficient projects that meets the energy efficient requirements of the present market needs.” Sunhuan was founded by Sun Lai Fong – a migrant worker who came to Singapore from China 30 years ago – and he attributes the firm’s success to being “in-line with the most stringent quality and safety requirements”. Talking in a commemorative book that celebrates the firm’s 20th anniversary, he says that “Sunhuan Construction with its notable status has laid a firm foundation to maintain

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S u nh u an

C onstr u ction

and secure its position in this ever changing industry.” “In today’s construction industry, every construction company including Sunhuan Construction is constantly facing new challenges and also existing issues relating to manpower and resources,” he explains. “Throughout these years, we had experienced and overcome all odds in Singapore’s construction scene.” And this is a good time to be involved in Singapore’s construction industry, Mr Pang says. Sunhuan has done a lot of work with the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and has a number of high-profile projects to its name. Today around 80 percent of Singaporeans live in HDB flats. “With the strong demand of public housing in Singapore for the next two years, Sunhuan is looking at a three percent share of the market which we estimate at about S$1 billion,” says Mr Pang. “One of the policies of Sunhuan is quality and higher technological approach and we make sure the objectives are rationalised and met in any construction project that we have tendered and awarded. With this strength, Sunhuan has always been increasing our presence in this competitive market.” Of course green initiatives are increasingly important and Sunhuan has been incorporating eco-concrete, solar panels and water recycling into its construction – aware that there is a need to reduce the reliance on the non-renewable materials and methods that are not only expensive but also prone to polluting the environment. Tied into this, innovation is absolutely vital in Sunhuan’s eyes and its R&D team is in constant pursuit of the best techniques, designs, and qualities that “are preferred by the customers,” says Mr Pang. The customer, it seems, always comes first, and they are never left

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Poh Cheong

oh Cheong has successfully implemented its proprietary Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System, Inventory Control and Management System and Building Information Modelling (BIM) software. This integration has enabled the company to efficiently monitor and control its entire manufacturing and delivery process, resulting in material and time optimisation in all our factories. Poh Cheong has entered a Joint Venture with a leading Myanmar Conglomerate to build and operate a new precast concrete plant in Yangon, Myanmar in the second quarter of 2014. This Joint Venture marks the beginning of Poh Cheong’s commitment to establish a long term investment portfolio in Myanmar’s building, construction and property market. Poh Cheong will be extending its regional reach to more countries within the next 5 years and look forward to completing and delivering more quality projects for our valued partners and customers across Asia.

www.pohcheong.co.sg

In today’s construction industry, every construction company including Sunhuan Construction is constantly facing new challenges”

feat u re

Constructed in the 1980s, this is the first manufacturing plant of Poh Cheong in Singapore. The US$6 million plant operates 2 ready-mix plants and a dormitory for 80 men. This plant is capable of producing 130 cubic meter of precast concrete daily.

In 1995, Poh Cheong constructed the first multi-storey integrated precast manufacturing plant in Singapore. The US$10 million Integrated building operates a commercial dormitory for 450 men, produces more than 130 cubic meter of precast concrete daily and functions as the Headquarter for Poh Cheong in the region.

Poh Cheong is a privately owned manufacturer of quality precast prestressed concrete products. It has been providing comprehensive solutions for building and infrastructure projects in Singapore for more than 40 years. Poh Cheong constantly adopts and deploys new manufacturing technologies to enhance the efficiency of its manufacturing processes. Poh Cheong envisages to maintain its presence in the Singapore market at the same time enhancing its presence in Malaysia, Myanmar and other regional countries. Poh Cheong will be starting the construction and operation of its second and third overseas precast plants in Asia in the year 2014.

In 2013, Poh Cheong constructed and operated its first overseas manufacturing facility. This US$15 million plant is sited on a 15.5 acre freehold industrial land that is strategically located in Iskandar Malaysia. It has a daily capacity of producing more than 300 cubic meter of precast concrete.

48, Sungei Kadut Street 1 Singapore 729377

www.pohcheong.com.sg

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S u N H u A N

C O N S T R u C T I O N

Sunhuan demonstrates high-level viability coupled with sustainability of our business in this competitive industry”

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disappointed - sunhuan has even carried out market research in which it has sought to discover customer preferences. this explains why sunhuan is “popular and has a wide customer base,” mr Pang says. “a part from their compliance with the needs of the customers, sunhuan also provides quality buildings that are also sustainable throughout its intended lifespan. sunhuan has always ensured that the clients’ requirements are met without any fail.” and the future is bright, with growth on the cards, says mr Pang, who explains that sunhuan has “forecast the number of construction projects ‘til year 2015.” “sunhuan has future plans for expansion to engage in construction activities in regional countries near to singapore,” he says. “we

have been carrying out feasibility studies in myanmar, indonesia and laos to be the potential areas for international expansion. we have also engaged overseas consultants and work with the Building and construction authority (Bca) to venture into those targeted countries. our overseas consultants are exploring opportunities with the various government agencies of the countries. we have also gathered advice from our bankers and Bca on the countries’ risks so as to assess on the viability of carrying out business in those countries.” to make sure it is well-placed to capitalise on future expansion opportunities, sunhuan has spent a lot of time looking internally, ensuring it has the necessary systems in place to measure, monitor and improve productivity. indeed, it has a Bio-matrix system which monitors employee attendance, and participated actively in the Bca’s coretrade scheme whereby qualified and trained workers, foremen and supervisors are deployed to the construction sites to improve productivity. the system has worked and since the start of the scheme, sunhuan has sent a minimum of 50 workers for training every year with productivity increasing about 25 percent after workers have been sent to coretrade. But, in the true spirit of this ambitious company, this isn’t enough. it is now working on its own training centre, under the Bca’s guidance. “we are looking at setting up our own training centre with the assistance of Bca in two years to carry out internal training for our own workers and also external training to other contractors,” mr Pang says. it certainly pays to dream big and dream big is what sunhuan construction has done. But it also recognises people as a key asset.

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to learn more visit www.sunhuan.com.sg.

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m & W

S I N g A p O R E

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even though m+w group can trace its roots back over a century, there is nothing antiquated about this project management giant. specialising in complete turnkey solutions from concept development to rapid realisation, there is no reason why it can’t keep going for another 100 years. Writer Chris Farnell Project manager James Mitchell

rom small and humble beginnings as a heating, ventilation and air conditioning manufacturer established back in 1912, m+w group has grown into one of the world’s leading global engineering, construction and project management companies. Based in stuttgart for the past 100 years, m+w group specialises in the fields of advanced technology facilities, life sciences and chemicals, energy and environment as well as high tech infrastructure. Prominent research institutes and universities as well as organisations in sectors such as electronics, automotive, security, it and telecoms heavily rely on m+w group to provide a complete and comprehensive project management solution, from concept development to turnkey services. all the while, the company remains committed to delivering rapid realisation, high quality standards and cost-effective completion. contributing to the company’s worldwide order intake of €3.58bn in 2012 is m+w group’s asia division, which was founded in 1991 and currently based in singapore. Despite having divisions all over the globe, the entire organisation focuses on delivering the same standard of work in all regions and prides itself on implementing european health and safety regulations for every project it carries out.

‘enabling new Horizons’ until the very end

at the start of 2013, m+w group’s former ceo Jürgen wild was mindful of “economic challenges and uncertainties we may again have to manage this year.” However, as an innovative company that closely follows its corporate mission of ‘enabling new Horizons’ and

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his contribution to the company did not go unnoticed by colleagues. “I would like to thank Mr. Wild for successfully steering the M+W Group through six years of change. Under his management, the M+W Group has achieved strong growth, establishing itself as a high-performance global EPC player,” noted Georg Stumpf, Supervisory Board Chairman of the M+W Group.

Achievements and accolades

constantly looks to utilise the latest in state-of-the-art technology, one of Wild’s primary aims was to solve the problem of tomorrow’s energy supply. “The rising energy consumption is not only a driver for ideas and solutions in the field of energy efficiency, it is also stimulating a lot of research activities for new energy sources,” he said. “One of the largest and most promising projects in this area, ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), wants to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power and is a real global venture of China, Europe, Japan, India, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States.” Having helped M+W Group secure a contract with Fusion for Energy (F4E), the European Union’s organisation managing the region’s contribution to ITER, Wild’s contract with the company expired at the end of 2013. However,

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The rising energy consumption is not only a driver for ideas and solutions in the field of energy efficiency, it is also stimulating a lot of research activities for new energy sources”

From a global perspective, M+W Group has received widespread recognition from various industry and trade associations in recent years. However, it’s subsidiaries and departments in Asia deserve a special mention. M+W Singapore was victorious at the SHARP (Safety and Health Award Recognition) awards 2012. Sponsored by the Workplace and Health Council in association with the Ministry of Manpower, this accolade recognised the group’s continued efforts in achieving exemplary workplace health and safety on a national level. For the third year in a row, M+W Malaysia also received a similar award in 2013. The Malaysian Occupational Safety and Health Professionals Association (MOSHPA) presented this regional subsidiary with a Gold award under the ‘Management in Construction’ category. Another accolade that deserves to be mentioned is M+W Group’s Solar Industry Award for Turnkey Supplier of the Year in 2013, which was presented to the company for the third time. “This award validates our efforts to continuously expand our services for the entire global solar value chain,” commented Wild. He also went on to mention the strength and potential in Asia alongside other areas of expansion. “The market is clearly moving toward America, Asia, and the Middle East. Thanks to our global presence and

our local networks of suppliers, we are in a position to offer our customers cost-effective turnkey solutions in these regions.”

Notable developments

Since the company established a dedicated automotive hub office in Changchun, China in 2011, M+W Group has paid close attention to this industry’s potential due to short project implementation periods and high plant availability. Although the Shanghai region produces the majority of the nation’s vehicles, Changchun is a key area of expansion, as M+W can provide invaluable European knowledge. “We provide our clients with high quality German project management, combined with Chinese local know-how to meet customer’s expectations regarding cost and local standards,” noted Zhai Dong, M+W China. From plant and process control to the supply of materials and installation services, M+W Group’s workforce in China has assisted jointventure car manufacturers in Foshan, Changchun, Peking and Ningbo.

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Looking forward

The year ahead will be one of notable change for M+W Group, as new management will guide the company through 2014 and beyond. In addition to Dr. Olag Berlien, who is replacing the outgoing Jürgen Wild as CEO, the management team will now include a newly appointed COO in the form of Dr. Herbert Demel. “I am delighted that with Dr. Berlien and Dr. Demel, we are able to welcome two globally successful and widely-recognised managers,” revealed Stumpf. “They have demonstrated that they are not only capable of heading international technology enterprises, but also of expanding and managing such companies on a profitable basis.”

Year 2006 ST Microelectronics

Year 2007 2008 (IMFS)

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Year 2010 (JDD)

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Year 2013 (MEAD JOHNSON NUTRITION)

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robinsons

l and

cor p oration

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Robinsons Land Corporation is one of the leading property developers in the Philippines, with an impressive and varied portfolio. Writer Chris Farnell Project manager Arron Rampling

s Mybelle GoBio, Senior Vice President for Robinsons Residences, Luxuria and Communities of Robinsons Land Corporation explains, the company has built up an impressive reputation; “Robinsons Land Corporation is a leading and respected Philippine property developer that has a portfolio consisting of a diverse mix of developments. To-date, we have 62 residential condominium buildings, 32 subdivisions, 8 office buildings. 11 hotels and 35 shopping malls.” Part of the reason Robinsons Land Corporation has become such a household name is that they cater to a wide array of potential markets. GoBio tells us, “We have four brands under our residential division. We have Robinsons Homes which was created primarily for first home buyers who prefer to live outside the urban areas. Robinsons Homes has over 21 subdivisions in the key provincial cities in the Philippines. Then there’s our second brand, Robinsons Communities, which has developments typically located in close proximity to major central business districts and major transportation nodes. This is our group that offers compact and functional condominium units, catering to startup families, newly married couples, early nesters, young professionals. “Our third brand is the Robinsons Residences which offers convenient living spaces in urban centers. Our Residences projects are typically located within the major central business districts like the Bonifacio Global City, Ortigas Center, Manila City, Quezon City, Mandaluyong and Metro Cebu. Last but not least, our fourth brand is Robinsons Luxuria, our luxury project brand that is known for providing well-planned high-quality residences in iconic locations.” Across all these markets, however, there is one consistent common factor,

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robinsons

l and

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the strength and reliability of the Robinsons Land Corporation brand. “Our unique selling point is our financial stability, our proven track record for delivering on commitments, and our ability to respond to the market’s needs,” GoBio explains. Added together this all means one thing – it’s a busy time for the Robinsons Land Corporation, and they’ve got a lot of projects on the go right now. Ms. Arlene G. Magtibay, on the other hand, senior vice president and Business Unit manager for RLC’s commercial centers takes us through just some of the work that the company is currently involved in, “In the last three weeks, we opened three

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Part of the reason Robinsons Land Corporation has become such a household name is that they cater to a wide array of potential markets”

new Robinsons malls - Robinsons Place Butuan in Agusan del Norte, Robinsons Town Mall in Malabon, and Robinsons Place Malolos in Bulacan. Robinsons Place Butuan and Malolos are the first full-service mall in these cities that feature an exciting mix of stores, restaurants, services and recreational facilities. Robinsons Town Mall Malabon offers convenient shopping for everyday needs. These three malls have added some 62,423 square metres to our portfolio, boosting our total Gross Leasable Area to 976,032 square metres. Average occupancy for the three new malls is at a high of 93%. For the Residential Division of RLC, we have launched new projects, in keeping with our growth blueprint.”

While the company is pushing forward with the construction of new properties, their existing portfolio is still registering very good yields. “The past year saw existing Robinsons Malls register record highs in terms of revenues and occupancy rates,” Magtibay says proudly.

Rising to New Challenges

But it hasn’t been all plain sailing. Last November the Philippines were rocked by the devastating Typhoon Yolanda, and people are still picking up the pieces. “Robinsons Place Tacloban sustained damages due to Typhoon Yolanda,” Magtibay says. “Currently the company is undertaking architectural repairs on the mall. The mall, however, started its partial operations last December 19, with the re-opening of its affiliated retail stores such as Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Department Store, Handyman, Robinsons Appliance and Daiso Japan in an effort to help restore the City’s economy by making available vital goods and merchandise at normal prices. The mall will be fully operational by April 2014.”

Our unique selling point is our financial stability, our proven track record for delivering on commitments, and our ability to respond to the market’s needs”

As well as looking after their own interests, however, Robinsons Land Corporation has also been working hard to help with the relief efforts and rebuild the community around them. “In terms of relief operations, all Robinsons Malls served as donation centers for relief goods,” Magtibay says. “We were able collect more than 600 boxes of in-kind donations which contain ready-to-eat food, clothes and hygiene kits. Likewise, through its Gift of Change program, customers who dropped their loose change in the Gift of Change coin banks scattered in various stores throughout the malls were able to contribute to the relief operations. We were able to provide more than 2,000 relief packs which were distributed to the families in Tacloban, Cebu, Iloilo and Roxas. Robinsons Malls likewise launched the Christmas Tree of Hope in selected Robinsons Malls. For a P100 donation, shoppers get to hang an ornament on the Christmas Tree of Hope and in the process, help in rebuilding Tacloban and other devastated areas of Eastern Visayas. This donation drive is being undertaken in cooperation with Caritas Manila.”

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While continuing with that work, the company is still driving hard at its core mission. “Competition remains our biggest challenge,” GoBio says. “We always have to be on our toes, trying to offer something unique and differentiated from the other developers’ offerings.”

A Time for Growth

This is true now more than ever, as the land development industry in the Philippines is undergoing huge changes right now. “There is sustained optimism in light of the country’s sound economic fundamentals and the industry’s growth potential,” GoBio tells us. “The market remains largely demand-driven with two of the main market drivers of growth (steady OFW remittances and the vibrant BPO market) providing bases to remain in such a position in the foreseeable future.” Above all, GoBio sees this a time of bountiful opportunity in numerous markets; “The attractive end-user financing packages (low interest rates , long loan terms and higher loan to value ratios) offered by banks have made real estate investment more reachable to a greater public.” This is particularly true thanks to the huge economic boom seen in the Philippines recently. “With the growth in the Philippine economy and the resulting improved investor confidence, foreigners have increasingly been investing in real properties in the country,” Gobio explains. “Inasmuch as our prices are nowhere near our Asian neighbours yet, the potential to reap values from real property investment in the Philippines is quite attractive. The real estate industry benefits from the positive economic climate on several fronts. We see increased spending in malls, increasing tourist arrivals translating to better hotel occupancies, the

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While the company is pushing forward with the construction of new properties, their existing portfolio is still yielding dividends”

BPo market growth providing the demand for the office market, higher employment rates coupled with low borrowing rates making more people able to afford housing.” this economic boom is coinciding with some exciting new technological trends in the way new properties are constructed as well. “we’re aiming to capitalise on the increasing trend towards green buildings, performancebased structural designs and a whole gamut of technological innovations,” GoBio confides in us. “we always strive to adopt new technologies, trends and innovations to the extent that they provide real benefits not only to the company but also to the customers we serve.” so what’s next for Robinsons land corporation? “we’ll continue to pursue our strategy of opening more commercial centres in strategic cities, support BPO growth with the provision of office buildings in key business districts, and launch new hotels and residential developments.” But their ambitions go further than that. “i think our dream is that we’d like to see the Philippines to be at par with the likes of singapore and Hong kong in terms of the quality of developments and the pace of progress,” goBio admits. the way Robinsons land corporation is going, we can see them making it happen.

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Infrastructure is big business in Singapore at the moment, and CHC Construction is at the forefront of that trend. This civil engineering company was established specifically to meet Singaporeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s need for road infrastructure works, reinforced concrete structures, sewerage rehabilitation and even sports fields construction. Writer Chris Farnell Project manager Arron Rampling

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rom its humble origins as a start-up company with only 10 members of staff, over the last nine years CHC Construction has grown to employ over 200 people, with a bidding capacity of up to $50 million for government contracts. However, as much as the market for infrastructure work is booming, it’s also highly competitive. Fortunately, CHC Construction has been able to maintain a competitive edge by investing in new technology, the very latest equipment, and a dynamic, dedicated team, netting them contracts with Singapore Government entities as varied as LTA, PUB, HDB, JTC, URA and MOE. But to understand how they’ve managed this, you need to understand the company’s history. CHC Construction Pte Ltd was founded in July of 2005. Originally the company was a tight-knit team of only 10 people. The outstanding levels of expansion that the company has seen in the subsequent nine years is something the company has credited to the sheer levels of perseverance and hard work they put in, seeing CHC Construction successfully navigate the worst of the global financial catastrophes of the last decade. Throughout this period they’ve offered a diverse range of services, including the widening, temporary diversion and permanent reinstatement of roads and drains, the construction of RC structures including retaining walls, box culverts, rigid pavements, kerbs and other associated civil engineering work, the rehabilitation of sewerage systems, the construction of full size synthetic soccer and rugby fields and even the manufacture and installation of road signs.

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A Company with Vision

Despite the firm’s impressive growth, they’re not in a position to rest on their laurels just yet. CHC Construction won’t settle for anything less than becoming Singapore’s preferred leading civil engineering firm. They’re aiming to do this by attracting and retaining the best talent, investing heavily in their own staff to enhance and maximise their potential. Meanwhile, CHC Construction is working on engaging their customers at every level, providing solutions that are uniquely customised to every client’s need. Innovation is also a key part of the company’s strategy, and CHC Construction remains on the cutting edge of the latest technologies and techniques for enhancing the efficiency and productivity of their projects. This push towards innovation is matched by an overriding commitment to work safety, quality and high engineering standards.

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Strategic Partnerships

Another reason that CHC Construction has been so successful is that it recognises no one business is an island. They are constantly working to build strategic partnerships, whether it’s through sourcing solutions or collaborative projects. In every one of their projects and partnerships, the company is driven by a set of core values that inform every aspect of their business. They believe in commitment and responsibility, working hard to complete their projects to deadline and on budget. Honesty and fairness are also cornerstones of the business, and CHC Construction makes sure that all its interactions with clients and business partners are totally transparent and equitable. This leads into another of the company’s core values, respect and openness. Finally, loyalty is a key part of the company’s philosophy. This works in multiple ways. It works in the loyalty of the staff to the company, of the company to their clients, and also their loyalty to their suppliers and business partners.

Projects in the Works

The coming year is going to be an exciting time for CHC Construction. Current projects that they have in the works include a widening and realignment of the Toa Payoh Rise for the LTA for $6.5 million, along with a $10.5 million contract working on the roadworks and bus stops at the TPE/Punggol Road Interchange, a demolition and earthworks project at Choa Chu Kang Town for HDB work $4.38 million, and an improvement to the roadside drains at the Kebun Baru Villas Estate worth $5.93 million. Last but far from least, the company has a contract worth over $17 million to work on proposed roads, drains, sewers and ancillary works at the Seletar Aerospace Park. These projects are each crucial in their own way, and for them to be a success CHC Construction is going to need to bring to bear the talents of each of their 200 staff as well as their considerable financial clout. However, more than anything, CHC Construction will be moving forward using the values and best practices that have been behind every business decision they’ve made since they were just a small 10 man team looking to break into the infrastructure construction industry. If they’re performance so far has been anything to go by, we think they’re going to do well.

Empire Equipment Pte Ltd 171 Tras Street #09-175, Union Building, Singapore 079025

Email: empire_eq@yahoo.com | Tel: +65 6224 1101 | Fax: +65 6327 1101

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events SuperInvestor Asia 2014 – Singapore Shangri-La Hotel 22 Orange Grove Road Singapore 258350

2 2 - 2 4 J anuary 2 0 1 4 www.superinvestorasia.com/

Medlab Asia Pacific Marina Bay Sands 10 Bayfront Avenue Singapore 018956

1 8 - 2 0 F ebruary 2 0 1 4 www.medlabasia.com/

Tokyo Marathon – Expo

Singapore Air Show 2014 – Asia’s Biggest for Aviation’s Finest

Tokyo Big Sight, West Hall 1, West Hall 2 and Atrium 3-11-1 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0063 Japan

Changi Exhibition Centre 9 Aviation Park Road Singapore 498760

www.tokyo42195.org/2014en/ expo2014/

1 1 - 1 6 F ebruary 2 0 1 4 www.singaporeairshow.com

Avril Lavigne Live in Singapore Singapore Indoor Stadium 2 Stadium Walk Singapore 397691

1 5 th F ebruary 2 0 1 4 8 . 0 0 pm

www.sportshub.com.sg/sportshubtix/ events/details/avril-lavigne-live-insingapore-2014

2 0 - 2 2 F ebruary 2 0 1 4

Malaysia Technology Expo 2014 Putra World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpar Malaysia

2 0 - 2 2 F ebruary 2 0 1 4 www.mte.org.my/

Sign China Expo – China’s definitive Sign Event China National Convention Centre (CNCC) China Import and Export Fair Complex Area B, Pazhou Guangzhou China

2 3 - 2 6 F ebruary 2 0 1 4 www.signchina-gz.com

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12th Annual Coal Markets 2014 Hilton Hotel 581 Orchard Road Singapore 238883

2 4 - 2 7 F ebruary 2 0 1 4 www.coalmarketsasia.com/

Food and Beverage Fair 2014 Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre 1 Raffles Boulevard, Suntec City Singapore 039593

2 7 F ebruary 2 M arch 2 0 1 4

www.foodandbeveragefair.com.sg/ index.html

Mining Vietnam 2014 Hanoi International Centre for Exhibition 91 Tran Hung Dao Street Hanoi Vietnam

1 1 - 1 3 M arch 2 0 1 4

www.miningvietnam.com/en/home/

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