ScandAsia Singapore - January 2016

JAN 2016

LEGO

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Coming Events

‘Hazebusters’ & DABS: Lifting The Haze Where: Danish Seamen’s Church, 10 Pender Road When: Tuesday 19 January 2016, 7:30 pm – approx. 9:30 The haze period in Singapore has not gone by unnoticed. Palm oil production and haze – what is that all about? What can be done, and what can we do?

United Plantations was the world’s very first certified producer of sustainable palm oil. United Plantations has collaborated with Copenhagen Zoo to develop and ensure environmental management and biodiversity as an integral part of the agricultural operations.

You are invited to join Carl Bek-Nielsen, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Director United Plantations and Carl Træholt, Copenhagen ZOO, who will do a dual presentation on the evening’s topic.

Carl-Bek Nielsen will talk about Sustainable Palm Oil Production, presenting various issues, problems and solutions. Carl Træholt will talk about Measuring and Monitoring Operational Impact on Biodiversity in a Palm Oil Landscape.

Please, come and join us for this exciting

evening, where there will be plenty of time for discussion and asking questions to the presenters.

Price: SGD 40 incl. light refreshments. All profit will go to the NGO Rainforest Rescue’s project on Sumatra to create a conservation area in the elephant forest (www.rainforest-rescue.org).

Please register by email to: dabs@dabssingapore.com by Tuesday 12 January 2016. /Member s of the Facebook-group ‘Hazebusters’ & DABS

Nu kan du godt få snøret støvlerne og begynde at gøre armsving, for årets fodboldevent er lige om hjørnet.

Lørdag den 23. Januar 2016 afholdes sømandskirkens årlige fodboldtunering, Fivea-side. Det hele vil finde sted i de smukke omgivelser ved East Coast Park.

Holdene hører enten til en dansk virksomhed, klub eller forening i Singapore. For at deltage i turneringen skal der som minimum være en dansker på holdet eller holdet skal repræsentere en dansk virksomhed.

ScandAsia is the only magazine that covers all the Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish residents in Singapore.

We also publish a ScandAsia magazine in China, Thailand, and the rest of South East Asia.

Fodboldturnering 2016 Where: Ubersport, 1020 East Coast Parkway When: Saturday 23 January, 09:30 - 16:00

Your FREE ScandAsia Magazine in Singapore

På sidelinjen vil den danske Sømandskirke, i bedste stadion stil, stå klar med hotdogs, øl, Faxe Kondi og andre lækkerier.

Hvis du ikke er en del af et hold, er du stadig meget velkommen til at deltage. Du melder dig blot til som enkelt spiller, så skal vi nok finde et hold til dig.

Prisen for at være med: Pr. hold: SGD 300 (op til 9 spillere), Pr. spiller: SGD 50 (hvis man ikke har et hold).

I kan hjælpe med at støtte op om eventet ved at blive Guld eller Sølv sponsor for turneringen.

Ved at blive sponsor får man f.eks. prominente banner og bliver råbt op af kommentatorerne.

Samtidig støtter man selvfølgelig en god sag.

Sidste frist for tilmelding er den 05. Januar 2016 og kan gøres til enten Mar tin Just (mju@semcomaritime.com / 9152 9229 ) eller Michael Jørgensen (mij@ klaveness.com / 9833 4003) Organiseret af: Michael Jørgensen, Martin Just og Den Danske Sømandskirke

SWEA Singapore: Fika på stan Where: Wild Honey, 333A Orchard Rd, #03-01/02 Mandarin Gallery When: Thursday 28 January, 10:00 – 12:00 OBS! Ändring av veckodag Swedish Women’s Educational Association - Kom och träffa nya och gamla medlemmar!

Vi testar ett nytt ställe: Wild Honey, Mandarin Gallery, Orchard Road.

Skicka gärna ett mail till programgruppen sweaprogram@live.com om du kommer.

Get your own FREE copy: scandasia.com Publisher : ScandAsia Publishing Co., Ltd. 211 Soi Prasert Manukitch 29 Prasert Manukitch Road Chorakae Bua, Lad Prao Bangkok 10230, Thailand Tel. +66 2 943 7166-8, Fax: +66 2 943 7169 Editor-in-Chief : Gregers A.W. Møller gregers@scandmedia.com Assistant Editor: Joakim Persson Joakim@scandmedia.com Advertising : Frank Leong frank@scandmedia.com Finn Balslev finn@scandmedia.com Graphic Designer : Peerapol Meesuwan Peerapol@scandmedia.com Distribution : Wanvisa Rattanaburi wanvisa@scandmedia.com Printing : Inthanon Interprint Co., Ltd.

News Brief

DABS’ Christmas Lunch 2015 at Swiss Club

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n Friday 4 December, the Danish Business Association Singapore’s annual Christmas Lunch was held at Swiss Club.

DABS had invited the whole Danish community and their Asian friends for a traditional Danish Christmas lunch or “Julefrokost” consisting in a sumptuous festive buffet spread. Swiss Club is one of the oldest and most historic Clubs in Singapore, surrounded by lush greenery, offering a fabulous setting in the middle of the jungle.

Human Rights Day marked with seminar in Singapore

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0 December was the United Nations Human Rights Day was marked all over the world.

In Singapore, Government representatives and the EU Delegation to Singapore hosted the Annual Human Rights Day seminar, at the beautiful Raffles Hotel Ball Room on the Progress and Perspectives for Women’s Rights in Singapore and ASEAN. Danish Ambassador Berit Basse was among the distinguished speakers, and she shared some Danish perspectives, experiences and challenges on the implementation of equal rights for women.

Source: Embassy of Denmark in Singapore

4 ScandAsia.Singapore • January 2016

News Brief

Future Watch workshop for Finns in Singapore

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n 3 December 2015 Finnish Business Council and Team Finland arranged a Future Watch wor kshop at the Finnish Ambassador’s Residence. The aim of the workshop was to impart knowledge and gather participant’s views and signals on possible future changes, opportunities and potential threats that concern Finnish industries and policy makers. The event was organised in collaboration with the Embassy of Finland.

Aker majority owner starts scholarship programme

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orwegians, or other persons with a strong link to Norway, have a new way to get financial support for studies at world leading universities, including NUS in Singapore, from a new scholarship programme.

It is Norwegian industrialist Mr. Kjell Inge Røkke and his wife, Ms. Anne Grete Eidsvig, who have established a non-profit foundation for education and a scholarship in cooperation with Aker ASA, the industry group of which Mr Røkke is the majority owner.

The objective of the Aker Scholarship is to inspire the recipients to contribute to the development of Norwegian business, industry and society to the benefit of generations to come.

The Aker Scholarships will be awarded for studies at world leading universities including National University of Singapore (NUS).

“The fact that NUS has been chosen by the Aker Scholarships is a testimony both to the global standing of NUS and to the maturity of the collaboration between NUS and Norway. At the Norwegian Embassy we look forward to welcome the first recipients of Aker Scholarships to NUS and Singapore,” commented Tormod C. Endresen, Norway’s Ambassador to Singapore.

The target group is talented Norwegian individuals at master and PHD level, who have demonstrated great potential and motivation to contribute to society. The first Aker Scholarships were awarded for studies starting in September 2016, the same year Aker celebrates its 175th anniversary as an industrial group. Applicants must have lived in Norway for several years and speak Norwegian.The grant provides funding that complements other sources of financial support. The foundation is financed by donations from TRG AS, a family company owned by the family Røkke.

Source: Embassy of Norway Singapore

International Baccalaureate

- den internationale studentereksamen • internationalt anerkendt • giver adgang til universiteter over hele verden • undervisning på engelsk Du kan bo på skolens kostafdeling.

Der er også mulighed for at bo på et kollegium i tilknytning til skolen.

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www.nyborg-gym.dk · Tlf +45 65 31 02 17 January 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 5

News Brief

SBAS Ball 2015 - Party of the Year – Celebrating Singapore Heritage

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ith a theme relating to SG50 (Singapore’s 50 years celebration as an independent state), the Swedish business community and friends gathered at the Tanglin Club on 28th of November for the annual SBAS Ball. There was a colourful display of guests dressed in Chinese, Malay, Indian and British Colonial costumes. Some 120 guests were treated to a sumptuous four-course dinner while a live band played some great music. A Bollywood performance and an award ceremony were other appreciated events during the course of the evening.

Among the three nominated Swedish companies, the winner of “Swedish Company of the Year” was Envac Singapore Pte Ltd. With their

6 ScandAsia.Singapore • January 2016

automated refuse collection systems they play an important role in promoting Swedish “smart technologies” for sustainable city development.

Mr P Jeyaratnam received a “Life Time Achievement award” for his long term support of the Swedish business community and commitment to helping Swedish SMEs to enter the Asian market.

As for the ver y special "Årets Svensk Swedish Person of the Year"- award, it went to an organization called Together for Charity, founded in Singapore by seven close friends to help and support less fortunate children.

Photographer: Lam, Rainbow Photo Centre

News Brief

LEGO expands Singapore office, new China factory

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n 4 December 2015 the LEGO Group inaugurated their brand new facilities for the office in Singapore - one of the company’s five main offices around the world.

This new main office in Singapore is another important milestone in the LEGO’s globalisation, in accordance with the company’s strategy to reach even more children all over the world with creative play experiences.

Over the past few years the number of employees working in the office in Singapore has increased to 220. The new office has capacity for 400 LEGO employees, and as such, it further enables the LEGO Group in adjusting for expected growth in the future.

The need for new and more spacious surroundings is the result of the extraordinary double-digit growth that the LEGO Group has achieved globally over the last ten years, not least in Asia.

Chief Commercial Officer of the LEGO Group, Loren I. Shuster commented that he is very excited that we now have surroundings to accommodate the increasing number of employees.

“It is our ultimate ambition to bring creative LEGO play experiences to children across the globe, to enable them to develop and learn through creative play. In order to do that we need to be present globally and attract talented employees in many locations. As par t of this effort, Asia is an important growth driver. Our main office here in Singapore is one of the key elements for us to fulfil our global ambition.”

The increasing presence in Asia will be further supported by the factory that the Danish group is building in Jiaxing, China. The factory recently began packaging the first LEGO sets, and when fully operational, it will produce the vast majority of the products for Asia.

“We have experienced substantial growth in Asia, and with our own factory in the region, we will be able to provide even more children with LEGO play experiences. The Jiaxing factory will operate under the same global standards as our other manufacturing facilities, as all LEGO products live up to the strictest global safety and quality requirements”, says Loren I. Shuster.

The importance of Asia is underlined by the fact that two of the group’s five main offices are placed in Asia (the second one in Shanghai). As

the first office in the region, the new office in Singapore has applied the new ways of working, called Activity Based Working.

“We realise that a key part of our success has been the conscious approach we have taken as a company not to ‘divisionalise’ the business.

Instead, we have a very flat corporate structure where we encourage employees to think ‘end to end’ across the business to maximise the benefit of the whole as opposed to simply what may be best for a certain individual or team. Our new way of working – Activity Based Working – helps facilitate and foster our collaborative spirit in the company, a key part of our corporate culture”, says Senior Vice President & Head of Asia-Pacific for the LEGO Group, Marko Ilincic.

The main office in Singapore, located in South Beach Tower, on 38 Beach Road, houses employees from many global functions, among others Procurement, IT, Finance, Legal Affairs and HR, as well as management for LEGO Asia Pacific.

SMOE shipyard Singapore visit

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n 3 December 2015 the Norwegian Embassy in Singapore visit SMOE shipyard in Singapore with Det norske oljeselskap ASA (DET NORSKE).

The impressive IvarAasen topside is in the final stage before deliver y spring 2016. Built with a great deal of products and units from Norwegian subcontractors, the Ivar Aasen topside is an excellent example of joint Singaporean and Norwegian effor ts and collaboration. With a daily focus and engagement in Health, Safety and Environment, the Ivar Aasen project aims to be the safest project ever at SOME, writes the Norwegian Embassy in Singapore.

Source: Norwegian Embassy in Singapore January 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 7

News Brief

Norway-Asia Business Summit to Singapore 2016

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he Norwegian Business Association has delightfully announced that the sixth edition of the Norway-Asia Business Summit is to take place in Singapore in 2016. 12-14 April are the dates when this summit returns to where it all started back in 1998.

The Norway-Asia Business Summit has evolved into a meeting place for Norwegian industry in the region, Norwegian government agencies and the diplomatic missions in the region - as truly representing the “Team Norway” concept.

This annual summit (this time held at The Fuller ton Hotel) will once again present opportunities for Norwegian companies in the region, as well as for colleagues from Norway attending for a rich mix of discussions on business

in Asia, Asian economics and Asian politics. The aim is to strengthen the competitiveness of Norwegian businesses in Asia through increased knowledge of political and economic trends, as well as market development in the region.

The main topics for next year’s summit are shipping, offshore and energy. Singapore was recently recognized as the world’s most important maritime centre, followed by Oslo in third place. Singapore also holds a strong position in offshore oil and gas and provides access to important growth markets in the region. These are believed to be the reasons why Singapore has the biggest concentration of Norwegian businesses within Asia. The summit will also give attention to successful entrepreneurship in Asia, and to the ASEAN region, especially on how

Norwegian businesses can benefit from Norway’s new partnership with ASEAN. Participants will get to equip themselves with a better understanding of to handle the challenges and benefits of the great opportunities that lie within Asian markets. Some 250 participants from Norway and around Asia are expected to join.

Participating in the summit will better prepare you and your company to handle the challenges and benefits of the great opportunities that lie within Asian markets. We are expecting some 250 participants from Norway and all of Asia.The summit will be held at the iconic landmark hotel The Fullerton.

Source: Norwegian Business Association Singapore

Finland’s Independence Day celebrated in Singapore

T

he Embassy of Finland in Singapore celebrated Finland’s Independence Day on 5 December.

The Finnish Ambassador, Paula Parviainen thanked SiSu (Finns in Singapore) for their presence.

“Finland has a long history compared to our host country, who is just wrapping up a whole year of SG 50 celebrations. During this year Singaporeans have realized how much they have to be proud of. The history has been told over and over again in various forms of cultural, educational and nation-building forms. The younger generations have heard from the pioneers how it all started and how the Singapore story has evolved and Singapore become one of the most modern, and rich countries in the world, not only in Asia.

A good place to live in,” said the Ambassador.

“Finland will be celebrating the centenary of her independence in 2017. We are almost twice as old as Singapore. Preparations have taken off in Helsinki, and other cities and also in various countries, where we want to celebrate and make our country’s history and achievements better known. The theme for the Centenary of Finland will be ‘Yhdessä – Tillsammans – Together’. This motto describes well the spirit of the Finns. Our history has not been the easiest. Our grandfathers and mothers have had to fight for laying the base for what we are today. And this fight continues in more modern forms, we cannot be complacent.”

“Let us raise a toast to Finland – together.”

8 ScandAsia.Singapore • January 2016

News Brief

New cooperation with Jetstar expands Finnair’s destinations

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innair and Singapore-based Jetstar Asia has launched a codeshare cooperation that will, through their Singapore hub, provide Finnair customers with a wider choice of destinations and departure times across Asia and Australia.

From December 15 2015, Finnair customers will be able to travel on codeshare ser vices operated by Jetstar Asia to and from Singapore Finnair customers will benefit from the convenience of the single ticket itinerar y that includes Finnair’s baggage allowance. The passengers will also enjoy a seamless transfer at Singapore Changi Airport, with baggage being through-checked and onward boarding passes being received at the initial departure point.

Finnair’s code will be added to Jetstar Asia’s flights between Singapore as well as Penang and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, Phuket in Thailand and Per th and Darwin in Australia.

From today, customers can make flight reservations with the Finnair marketing code.

“We are delighted to start this codeshare cooperation that will leverage Jetstar’s Singapore hub, improving connectivity throughout Asia and improved access to Australia for our customers,” says Hannu Sundberg, Director of Partnerships, Finnair.

Jetstar Asia CEO Barathan Pasupathi said: “The collaboration between Jetstar Asia and Finnair is a welcome enhancement towards the codeshare and interline model at Jetstar Asia.

The Finnair service from Helsinki will connect to Jetstar Asia’s services at Changi Airport.

“This will allow customers from Europe to connect via Singapore onwards to Jetstar Asia’s Australasia destinations”.

Jetstar Asia first took to the skies in December 2004. Jetstar Asia currently operates more than 600 weekly return flights to 26 destinations across 13 countries and territories in the Asia Pacific region. In 2015, Jetstar Asia was named the AsiaOne People’s Choice for best low cost carrier for the third year running.

Finnair flies between Asia, Europe and North America with an emphasis on fast connections via Helsinki, carr ying more than nine million passengers annually and connecting 17 cities in Asia with more than 60 destinations in Europe.

International Private Banking in Singapore

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We are here to make your access to the financial markets easier, more efficient and more secure.

Call me today to see what Nordea can do for your wealth: +65 6597 1082, or e-mail at duro.schlafer@nordea.sg

Making it possible Nordea Bank S.A, Singapore Branch is part of Nordea Group, the leading financial services group in the Nordic and Baltic Sea regions. Some products and services may, due to local regulations, not be available to individuals resident in certain countries and their availability may depend, among other things, on the investment risk profile of persons in receipt of this publication or on any legislation to which they are subject. Nothing in this publication should be construed as an offer, or the solicitation of an offer, to purchase, subscribe to or sell any investment or product, or to engage in any other transaction or provide any kind of financial or banking service in any jurisdiction where Nordea Bank S.A., Singapore Branch or any of its affiliates do not have the necessary licence. Published by Nordea Bank S.A., R.C.S. Luxembourg No. B 14.157 on behalf of Nordea Bank S.A. Singapore Branch, 138 Market Street #09-03, CapitaGreen Singapore 048946. www.nordeaprivatebanking.com subject to the supervision of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (www.mas.gov.sg).

January 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 9

News Brief

Our Arctic Future Danish photo expo

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nuka, the first polar bear born in the tropics, turned 25 last year, and this was celebrated for ten days at Singapore Zoo. Starting on 16 December 2015 the celebrations was combined with the Danish photo exhibition ‘Our Arctic Future’ to raise awareness on the natural arctic habitat of polar bears.

Denmark’s Ambassador H.E. Berit Basse officiated the launch in Singapore Zoo’s Frozen Tundra. The polar bear got to enjoy birthday ice treats for 10 days Mr Mike Barclay, Chief Executive Officer, Wildlife Reserves Singapore, said, “As Inuka, Singapore’s very own locally born and bred polar bear turns 25, he is officially in his golden years and we will adjust his care to ensure he continues to enjoy a great quality of life with us here in the Singapore Zoo. We are very happy to celebrate his birthday with this excellent Our Arctic Future photo exhibition.”

Our Arctic Future photo exhibition highlights the impor tance of sustainability and evolving relationships between people and the arctic. It was developed by the Natural History Museum of Denmark in collaboration with the Governments of Greenland and the Faroe Islands for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.The photo exhibition also commemorated 50 years of bilateral relations between Denmark and Singapore.

Inuka is fondly referred to as the “best Christmas present ever” by Singapore Zoo keepers because he was born in his mother’s den in the early hours of 26 December 1990. At 25 years of age, Inuka is a senior bear. His last health check in July this year showed age-related conditions like arthritis and dental issues which the Singapore Zoo veterinary team is closely monitoring.

Inuka currently measures 2.5m from nose to tail, and weighs 581kg.

Mr Alan Chan, Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Press Holdings and Director of SPH Foundation, said: “SPH and SPH Foundation have adopted Inuka since his birth 25 years ago. We are happy to see him grow both in size and popularity over the years. We wish Inuka a happy birthday and hope he can bring joy to many for years to come. Through our close partnership with Wildlife Reserves Singapore, we will continue to promote community awareness and responsibility in wildlife protection and conservation, which is one of SPH Foundation’s core objectives.”

Source: Wildlife Reserves Singapore, Embassy of Denmark Singapore

10 ScandAsia.Singapore • January 2016

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January 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 11

Danish product Steppie is launched in Singapore

By Mia Sandberg Svenningsen

12 ScandAsia.Singapore • January 2016

W

ith a distinct focus on science and research in the pursuit for ergonomic perfection and physical wellbeing, Ergoworks and the Danish company Steppie launched the Steppie Balancing Board this Thursday, on the 10th of December, in Singapore. The Steppie Board is designed to activate your body in an otherwise static working environment, limiting the likelihood of suffering harmful back injuries. Ambassador of Denmark to Singapore, Mrs Berit Basse held the opening speech in which she stated that Steppie is a good example of how Danish design and thinking come together.

For most of human history we were hunters and gatherers and often walked or ran 6 to 12 miles per day. In the late 18th century the industrial revolution began and machines replaced many manual tasks, which reduced the amount of physical activity in our daily lives. Even more recently computers became more common in work environments, and it is now estimated that half of all jobs in western society are computerbased.

“Many of us experience a very sedentary

lifestyle. It starts already in the morning sitting at the breakfast table. Then we sit while we commute to work. Then we sit in our offices and maybe even when we come home at the dining table and later with our tablets or watching the television,” she said.

Sitting six or more hours a day makes you up to 40% more likely to die within 15 years than someone who only sits 3 hours or less. The average person is sedentary for 9,5 hours a day.

Many office workers sit as much as 15 hours per day. The Ambassador of Denmark also explained how the human body wasn’t built to endure the lack of activity and that it results in lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure, and that doctors recommendations of doing at least half an hour of exercise a day is not enough to equalise negative effects of a sedentary lifestyle.

“What really pushes the boundaries for retrieving a truly healthy life is when clever design goes hand in hand with a consensus consumer culture. And the two things tend to enforce each other in a constant development of viable alternatives, that drive a healthy discourse forward,” Mrs Berit Basse said.

She further gave insight into several surveys showing that Denmark is not only the happiest nation in the world, but also a country in which healthy living and high living standards are among the top priorities. Recent research has also shown that a healthy living is seen as a cornerstone of a modern society and the Ambassador told of how the idea of a healthy lifestyle is becoming a trend that for individuals revives from riding the bike or walking rather than driving, but also that this can be seen at companies in the form of a healthy working environment.

In Denmark all employees are protected by the Working Environment Act, which ensures that workplace assessments are done every third year. The Working Environment Act also requires desk and chairs to be adjustable if being used by several employees.

“Countless studies have shown that a good working environment is beneficial for the company in the long haul, as this impacts productivity and work-related injuries positively. One of the most commonly recognised working norms is the use of a height-adjustable table. For the last ten to fifteen years, this has been everyday life for around ninety-five per cent of Danish employees,”

the Ambassador said but also highlighted the problem with standing for a longer period of time, as you become tired more quickly than when you walk, for example.

“This is where Steppie comes in to place as the missing link,” she concluded.

The sitting disease or, more accurately, metabolic syndrome, is a condition where the Lipoprotein Lipase enzymes in the blood vessels essentially go to sleep after 60 – 90 minutes of inactivity. Already as soon as you sit down the enzymes drop 90%, the electrical activity in your legs shuts off and your calorie burning drops to 1 per minute. Sitting tenses the hamstrings and causes a flattening of the normal curve in the lower back and this distortion of the spine increases the internal strain of the back. These are among the many reasons why a lot of offices now have adjustable desks for their employees.

One of the companies who is trying to fix these problems is the Danish company Duba-B8, who just celebrated their 100-year anniversary, and recently opened a new showroom in the Central Business District in Singapore.

Also speaking at the Steppie event were Peter Michelsen, Key Account Manager at Duba-B8,

and Martin Li, Sales and Business Development Manager for Duba-B8 in Singapore.

“Because we have been developing ergonomic furniture from the beginning we feel that we are the pioneer when it comes to office solutions,” Peter Michelsen said.

In 2011 Duba-B8 established a sales office and showroom in Singapore with the purpose of servicing their Nordic cust¬omers’ business units in Asia and Australia. The Danish company is best known for its height-adjustable office tables with table tops made from FSC certified bamboo and desks that are highly flexible and meets the needs of the user. 80 per cent of the furniture manufactured by the company can be customised. One of its features is a patented ‘click’ system underneath the table that makes for easy assembly. The system also makes it possible to replace the tablet tops easily, where necessary or desired, without having to change the entire table.

But Duba-B8 is not only about the tables.

“We do 360 degrees work solutions. When our clients come in with an empty work space, we can supply everything from the carpet to the acoustics,” Peter Michelsen further explained.

After a brief introduction to the company, Peter Michelsen also highlighted the need for ergonomics and showed a video in which it was stated that the average person spends 80 per cent of their awoken hours sitting and that standing for just fifteen minutes each hour will increase the energy, boost the metabolism and burn an extra 60 calories per hour.

“We have this program, that you can build into your laptop, that will tell you when to sit and when to stand, and then you can reconfigure it so you burn 250 extra calories a day. When it comes to standing and sitting it’s all about finding the right balance,” said Martin Li, who joined Duba-B8 eight months ago.

They event’s final speaker was Henrik Andersen, the CEO of Steppie, who explained that the idea for Steppie originated from acupuncturist, reflexologist and physiological masseur Gitte Toft, who through her work discovered that most people barely needed to move in the course of their working day. From her experience working with MBT shoes, which has the purpose of enhancing balance, and a special office chair, she brought the balance principle to the standing work situation.

“She knew that in the gyms you often have a balance board with a ball underneath where you train your ankles and knees. So she formed the idea of taming this board in a way so that everyone can stand for a longer period of time,” Henrik Andersen explained.

The company then started in the second half of 2013, had the prototype made in November the same year and the production of Steppie star ted four months later. The product first launched in Scandinavia followed by Germany and in the second half of 2014 it was launched in Australia bringing the total to seventeen countries.

The launching in Singapore is the first step of the company’s Asian launch as Henrik Andersen traveled to Korea the next day.

“From getting the idea and until we had the first product, it took less than a year,” the CEO stated.

January 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 13

Finnish Christmas with Marimekko in Singapore

By Mia Sandberg Svenningsen

M

arimekko, the Finnish fashion and design company known for its original prints and colors since 1951, and The Finnish Business Council invited the Finnish community to celebrate Christmas at their flagship store within Capitol Piazza on Stamford Road in Singapore on Tuesday the 15th of December.

The free-of-charge event that started at 6 pm and lasted until 9 pm had the purpose of showing a multitude of corporate gifting ideas from the Marimekko products while the guests

14 ScandAsia.Singapore • January 2016

enjoyed refreshments and finger food. The FBC Corporate Member also had 10% off store wide.

Among the attendees was the Ambassador of the Republic of Finland, Her Excellency Paula Parviainen.

Marimekko has over the past three years opened up stores in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan thereby doubling the number of stores in Asia, while giving the brand a presence in about 40 countries and 140 stores. Marimekko first entered into Southeast Asian market in Singapore and Bangkok with the intention to open more

stores in Southeast Asia within the next few years.

The 240-square-metre flagship store in Singapore opened its doors in May. It was designed by a team of Marimekko interior designers in Helsinki.

“In our expansion, we have focused first and foremost on regions with high growth potential. The Asia-Pacific region is our secondlargest market area, and we already have a fairly strong foothold in East Asia. Thus, expanding into Southeast Asia felt like a natural move,” Päivi Lonka, CSO of Marimekka said in a previous press release. “Singapore is a modern metropolis and very attractive to us, as it is considered one of the region’s top business hubs and shopping destinations.”

Earlier in the spring, in April, Thailand’s first Marimekko store was opened in Bangkok. The number of Marimekko stores outside Finland has more than doubled and in 2012 Marimekko and Finnair began a unique partnership: two Unikkopatterned aircraft fly from Helsinki to Finnair’s longhaul destinations,and passengers on all Finnair flights can enjoy textiles and tableware with Marimekko patterns.

“Marimekko creates clear products that do the job rather than complicated and fancy goods. People don’t want to be surrounded by anything unnecessary. At Marimekko, we work like the company belonged to all of us. You need to reach for the heights, but plain common sense has to be applied often rather than occasionally. Empty wishful thinking should not be cultivated at work - or in life,” is how Marimekko describes one of the brands six core values on their website.

In 2014, brand sales of the products worldwide amounted to EUR 187 million and the company’s net sales were EUR 94 million.

The key markets are Northern Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region. The Group employs about 500 people.

CIS Welcomes the Danish Supplementary School to Lakeside!

C

anadian International School (CIS), is delighted to welcome the Danish Supplementary School to its new home at our state-of-the-ar t Lakeside campus in Jurong! Their relocation complements the objectives of our Global Language Programme, which is to equip each of our students with important language skills crucial to thriving in the 21st century.

“We are thrilled to host the Danish Supplementary School at our Lakeside campus”, said CIS Head of School Dr Glenn Odland. “ Not only are we pleased to welcome members of the wider Danish community to our campus, but also to provide further support to the large Danish community already studying at CIS. With students from over 70 countries, supporting each of these communities is a key objective of ours.”

Danish Supplementary School The Danish Supplementar y School is an independent, not-for-profit school managed by volunteers and focused on offering weekly, one hour, Danish mother tongue classes to children at CIS and in the wider community. Lessons

are available to children aged 6 - 15 years, corresponding to the Danish ‘Grade 0 - Grade 9’ School System. Pre-school lessons are also available to children aged five years.

Students aged six years and above, learn Danish spelling and grammar using text and exercise books widely used by Danish state schools. For pre-school children, the focus is on expanding their vocabulary through games and songs. All lessons are taught following the language guidelines set out by the Danish Ministry of Education.

“The Danish Supplementar y School’s objective is to give all Danish speaking children in Singapore the oppor tunity to learn to read and write in Danish”, explained Danish Supplementar y School Chairman Kir sten Newbigging. “Many Danish children don’t have the oppor tunity to learn the language within their school. We feel our relocation to CIS’ Jurong campus allows us to continue meeting our objective as it is close to many other international schools, giving as many Danish children as possible the chance to join our weekly classes.”

For more information about CIS’ Global Language Programme and the Danish Supplementary School visit http://www.cis.edu.sg/globallanguages January 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 15