Issue 12
Rolls-Royce Asia Pacific
Better Power for a Changing WorldRolls-Royce’s influence in the Asia Pacific region continues to grow year-on-year as its Singapore Seletar Campus lays the foundations for a productive futureWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Tom CullumRolls-Royce is one of the most infamous global names in manufacturing, but never slows in its strive to innovate and improve; a philosophy currently being epitomised by its Asia Pacific division.Staying true to its vision of providing “better power for a changing world”, Asia certainly adheres to this ethos with emerging markets sitting parallel to some of the most lucrative and forward-thinking countries in the world.As a consequence, Rolls-Royce Asia Pacific currently comprises a third of the Group’s global turnover through its services in aerospace engineering, assembling Trent engines, manufacturing fan blades for engines, and ship building.The power systems organisation’s strive for efficiency and operational excellence has been a familiar feature of the Rolls-Royce offering for more than 100 years, and its latest facility additions are set to ensure further tech advancements across the Asian continent.Seletar Assembly & Test UnitThe Group’s recently unveiled Seletar Assembly & Test Unit (SATU) is not only the most modern Rolls-Royce assembly and test facility for large commercial Trent aero engines, but is also the first of its kind in Asia.Situated within its wider Seletar Campus, the Unit has been designed to allow simultaneous assembly and testing of the engines under one roof and it will act as a sister site to its production and test facility in the UK, creating additional capacity and a closer proximity to customers…
Port of Tanjung Pelepas
The Preferred Port of Choice CEO, Glen Hilton expects the global container market to grow in 2015, primarily as a result of global shipping access. The company is focussing on increasing port capacity as a resultWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Mark Skillicorn With a vision to be the preferred port of choice in Southeast Asia, the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) strives to provide unrivalled port services to the global market.Just 45 minutes from the confluence of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, PTP’s strategic location makes it easily accessible from the Straits of Malacca. Situated on the eastern side of the mount of the Pulai River in Southwest Johor, PTP is a naturally sheltered deep water port near the Malaysia-Singapore Second Crossing with a turning basin of 600 metres and 12.6 kilometres of access channel for two-way traffic.Accorded with Free Zone status in 1997 and Free Zone Authority management in 1998, PTP is governed by the Free Zone Act 1990 which is enforced by Malaysia’s Ministry of Finance. This status promulgates the local container trade volumes of the port and forms part of the hinterland cargo catchment area. PTP has experienced steady growth since the port opened 15 years ago, when it first moved 400,000 TEU in 2000. Free Zone advantagesThere are many benefits and advantages of doing business in a Free Zone. The direct connection to the port terminal provides efficient and cost effective container movement between the Free Zone and the port, creating convenience for the container trade.Moreover, companies are exempt from customs, sales and service taxes; all…
EDMI
Challenging Technology Through Smart Energy Solutions The concept of EDMI’s smart metering solution is a universal one, which has sparked interest in countries around the world Writer: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Donovan Smith EDMI Limited, a subsidiary of Osaki United International, is an international leader in the design and provision of smart energy solutions. Dedicated to innovation and accuracy, EDMI has been trusted for more than 35 years to develop, manufacture and deliver the very best in technologically advanced smart energy meters and metering systems for the global energy industry. The result of exacting and extensive research and development, EDMI’s quality products are designed with the end-user in mind. Further, more than 1,830 staff worldwide drive the company forward to make sustainable energy and grid management a reality. EDMI smart meters help customers manage energy distribution, load consumption and meter data more efficiently via tried and tested software and two-way communication. “We believe that our smart meter technology goes beyond simply recording data. The product is a useful automated and low maintenance system that can easily become an integral part of a company’s network,” says Mr Lee Kwang Mong, CEO of EDMI.With the electricity smart meter already gaining traction in the mainstream market, EDMI is now preparing for the launch of its communications hub and smart gas meter, which will complement the solution. The hub will securely collate and communicate useful energy consumption data from both the electricity meter and gas meters. The hub sends data securely to a central database and delivers metering, monitoring, reporting and analysis services for…
Japan Considers Five Day Compulsory Paid Holidays
Japan is considering making it compulsory for workers to take at least five days’ paid holiday a year, in a bid to lessen the toll on mental and physical health in a country famed for its long hours. According to a survey by the Labour Ministry, workers typically use less than half their leave in a year. The survey found that in 2013, employees took only nine of their 18.5 days average entitlement. A separate poll revealed that one in every six workers took no paid holidays at all in 2013. To help force a change to this, the government wants to boost the amount of paid leave used to 70 percent by 2020, and is planning to submit legislation mandating holidays in the current parliament session. In early discussions, employers’ groups proposed limiting the number of compulsory paid holidays to three days, while unions have called for eight. Japan’s culture of long working hours and unpaid overtime is regularly criticised as a leading cause of mental and physical illness among employees. The term “karoshi”, which means “death by overwork”, entered the lexicon a few years ago amid a surge in the number of people dying because of stress-related problems, or taking their own lives. According to a poll by the Japanese unit of Washington-based travel website, Expedia, workers in France enjoyed 37 paid holiday days in 2010 and used 93 percent of them. Spain had 32 paid holiday days and Denmark 29, with the average employee using up more than 90 percent. As well as the health benefits, days off…
Netflix Heads for Japan’s Living Rooms This Year
In a bid to make it big on the world stage, Netflix is looking to accelerate expansion from the current 50 markets the streaming service is available in, up to 200 in the next two years. This is in order to remain competitive in the growing market for internet television. The rollout in Japan, which was estimated to target 36 million households with broadband internet connections, will follow expansion of Netflix service into Australia and New Zealand next month, according to the company.“With its rich culture and celebrated creative traditions, Japan is a critical component of our plan to connect people around the world to stories they love,” Netflix Chief Executive Reed Hastings said in a release.Netflix promised a strong selection of Japanese television shows and films at launch, along with original content such as Marco Polo, Marvel's Daredevil and acclaimed documentary Virunga.Netflix planned to open a regional office in Tokyo to foster alliances with consumer electronics makers as well as creators of films and television shows.“People in Japan soon will have access to great entertainment from all over the world for a low monthly price, while our more than 57 million members will benefit from increased access to great Japanese films and TV shows,” said Gregory Peters, newly-promoted head of Netflix Japan.Netflix subscribers can stream video content using smart TVs, tablet computers, smartphones, computers, and Internet-linked game consoles and set-top boxes.Details on pricing and availability in Japan will be disclosed later in the year, Netflix said.The expansion comes amid an increasing shift to internet-based on-demand television,…
Philippines Presents Opportunity for Singapore Companies
With the Philippines going through an economic resurgence driven by domestic demand and economic reforms, there will be opportunities for Singapore companies as demand for consumer goods and infrastructure development in the Philippines rises, said Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang. Speaking at the Philippines-Singapore Business Council Forum, Mr Lim noted that the Philippines has achieved much progress in enhancing its business environment and competitiveness in the last decade.Mr Lim noted that investment linkages between Singapore and Philippines are strong, and bilateral trade between the two countries hit S$15 billion last year, a two percent increase over 2013.To further promote economic partnership between both countries, he said, IE Singapore has established an overseas office in Manila last year.Assistant Chief Executive Officer of IE Singapore, Mr Tan Soon Kim, who also spoke at the event, noted that many Singaporean companies are already operating in various sectors in the Philippines, such as infrastructure, telecommunications and retail. He listed examples such as Breadtalk, Keppel Offshore and Marine, and The Ascott Group.Mr Tan singled out more opportunities for Singapore businesses, in the infrastructure and consumer sectors in the country. There is a pipeline of more than 50 infrastructure projects worth about US$21 billion, and the Philippines has a large consumer market with a population of close to 100 million, he said.To realise these opportunities, Mr Tan added, IE Singapore has been working with the Philippine government agencies to share potential business opportunities with Singapore companies, and to match them with their Philippine counterparts. Source: Channelnewsasia
Arcadis: Singapore the Greenest City in Asia Pacific
Singapore ranks tenth on the inaugural Sustainable Cities Index from Arcadis, the leading global natural and built asset design and consultancy firm. The Index, which was conducted by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) explores social (People), environmental (Planet) and economic (Profit) demands to develop an indicative ranking of 50 of the world’s leading cities. The 2015 report finds that no utopian city exists, with city leaders having to manage a complex balancing act between these three key pillars of sustainability. Frankfurt sits in first place, followed by London and Copenhagen on the ranking. Whilst Singapore is placed in the top ten in the Sustainable Cities Index, it ranks lower than Hong Kong and Seoul largely due to lower scores for indicators like work-life balance, having expensive property prices, low use of renewable energy and a high cost of doing business. However, Singapore is the only country in Asia Pacific which made it into the top 10 of the Planet sub-index. The Planet sub-index looks at city energy consumption and renewable energy share, recycling rates, greenhouse gas emissions, natural catastrophe risk, drinking water, sanitation and air pollution. This demonstrates Singapore’s capability and commitment to green urbanisation and to ensuring that sustainability is at the heart of its overall master plan.Eugene Seah, City Executive Director for Singapore at Arcadis commented: “To achieve Singapore’s vision of a sustainable city, a number of strategic initiatives are already in place. These include plans to build two new underground lines, extending four existing MRT lines and building a new terminal…
Hong Kong Offers the Most Sustainable Business Environment in Asia-Pacific
Hong Kong ranks eighth on the inaugural Sustainable Cities Index from Arcadis, the leading global natural and built asset design and consultancy firm. The Index, which was conducted by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) explores social (People), environmental (Planet) and economic (Profit) demands to develop an indicative ranking of 50 of the world’s leading cities. The 2015 report finds that no utopian city exists, with city leaders having to manage a complex balancing act between these three key pillars of sustainability. Frankfurt sits in first place, followed by London and Copenhagen on the ranking.Hong Kong excels on the Profit sub-index. The Profit sub-index examines performance from a business perspective, combining measures of transport infrastructure (rail, air, other public transport and commuting time), ease of doing business, the city’s importance in global economic networks, property and living costs, GDP per capita and energy efficiency.William Taam, City Executive Director for Shanghai and the Pearl River Delta at Arcadis comments: “Of all the cities studied, Hong Kong is one of the world’s best performing cities for the ease of doing business. Hong Kong also leads the way on university education and life expectancy, and offers its people the highest percentage of green space. In order to ensure a more sustainable future for Hong Kong, we need to focus more on improving the quality of life and environment within this vibrant city.” Looking at the broader Asia-Pacific region, Seoul performs particularly well on the People sub-index which index rates transport infrastructure, health, education, income inequality, work-life balance, the…
Shanghai is Most Sustainable City in Mainland China
Shanghai ranks eighth in Asia Pacific on the inaugural Sustainable Cities Index from Arcadis, the leading global natural and built asset design and consultancy firm. The Index, which was conducted by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) explores social (People), environmental (Planet) and economic (Profit) demands to develop an indicative ranking of 50 of the world’s leading cities. The 2015 report finds that no utopian city exists, with city leaders having to manage a complex balancing act between these three key pillars of sustainability. Frankfurt sits in first place, followed by London and Copenhagen on the ranking. Beijing is ninth and Wuhan is thirteen on the Asia-Pacific ranking. The research also finds that one of the biggest challenges facing Shanghai, and many other tier one cities in China, will be around improving the quality of the living environment. Directives within the most recent Five Year Plan have driven a renewed focus on cleaning up old industrial zones within the Shanghai so that the land can be repurposed for alternative use. Similarly, efforts are underway to try and clean the three main rivers running through the city, to improve water quality, and to future-proof the Northern parts of the city against the risk of flooding.William Taam, City Executive Director for Shanghai and the Pearl River Delta at Arcadis comments: “Shanghai’s built and natural environments will play a key role in helping to cement its place as the city of the 21st century. There is a lot of work to do and success will be dependent on thorough…
China’s Chocolate Market to Grow to US$4.3 Billion by 2019
Chocolate sales in China should grow to $4.3 billion by 2019, up nearly 60 percent from $2.7 billion in 2014. This huge growth is being driven by demand from the growing urban population, a senior Hershey officer has said. The increase projected by Hershey International president Bert Alfonso reflects the chocolate industry's continued growth in market consumption, despite recent indications of slowing demand in fast-growing Asian markets. Hershey, which has been making chocolate for more than a century, expects to benefit from this demand boom, Alonso said in a webcast heard by Reuters of the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference. He projected the company's China sales would grow by 35 percent to $450 million in 2015. Based on that figure, chocolate sales in China made up around 4.5 percent of Hershey's $7.4 billion in total revenue in 2014. The growth comes as Hershey integrates products from its December 2013 acquisition of a majority share in Chinese candy maker Shanghai Golden Monkey Food."Consumers are embracing our brands in China as we outpace category growth. We are excited about the potential for Shanghai Golden Monkey." Alfonso noted that chocolate consumption growth in emerging markets closely tracks GDP growth, and suggested China's increasing urban population would drive chocolate consumption. Expectations of rising chocolate demand drove major companies like Cargill and Olam to expand bean processing operations in fast-growing chocolate consuming regions like Asia, prompting concerns that the market had added too much capacity. Olam has also expressed optimism about growing emerging market chocolate demand, saying late last year after its acquisition of rival Archer Daniels Midland's cocoa…