Issue 20
KPJ Healthcare Berhad
A Continued Push for Compassionate CareWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Eddie ClintonThe operator of Malaysia’s largest private healthcare network, KPJ Healthcare is demonstrating its commitment to further ingrain into the country’s healthcare system through strategic long-term investment in the sector’s infrastructure.With plans to spend close-to RM1.3 billion to build eight new hospitals in Malaysia over the next three-five years – adding to its existing portfolio of 25 hospitals locally, the management of two hospitals in Jakarta, one in Dhaka and a stake in hospitals in Thailand and Australia – KPJ aims to continue exploring activities in other healthcare-related industries that can ultimately boost the quality and delivery of hospital care, such as investments in training, state-of-the-art medical equipment and a continued push to improve access to healthcare for the aged population.Leveraging the strength and consistent year-on-year increase of patient numbers, taking the total number to more than 2.8 million according to KPJ’s 2014 annual report, KPJ’s primary focus, however, is to unlock new growth opportunities in Malaysia by increasing the availability of cost-effective treatments through encouragement of health tourism.“These thriving subsectors hold tremendous potential for the future, in line with increasing consumer demand,” the Company said in the report.“For example, in growing the health tourism segment, our aggressive marketing strategies continue to show stellar results as we have expanded our footprint into Asia, the Middle East and Africa.”Specialist careFollowing a hugely successful 2015, with KPJ achieving significant milestones, including the enhancement of existing hospitals as well as the building of two new facilities, the Group has leveraged the confidence…
Puma Energy Papua New Guinea
Answering Demand in a Fast-Growing MarketWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Eddie Clinton Demonstrating the resiliency of its business model during the oil price slump, global integrated midstream and downstream Company, Puma Energy Holdings is keen to reinvest its strong profits back into the business to fund the Group’s continued expansion across key locations worldwide; including Papua New Guinea (PNG), South Africa, Colombia, Peru and the UK.After making inroads into Papua New Guinea in mid-2014 through the acquisition of InterOil Corporation’s oil refinery, service stations and fuel terminals for US£525.6 million, Puma Energy is now able to tap into its extensive knowledge of fuel, storage, distribution and refining to identify new growth opportunities and integrate the country’s fuel offering into the wider Group operations. With the venture establishing Puma Energy as the largest entity in downstream petroleum distribution in Papua New Guinea, the Company is proud to now have more than 50 retail sites - both branded and independent - as well as 11 storage coastal terminals, 11 airports and a storage capacity of more than 480,000 metres cubed.Pierre Eladari, Puma Energy’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) commented: “We have been impressed by InterOil’s business, its strategic asset base, its customer portfolio and the quality of its management and people. There are many parallels between our global businesses and that of InterOil’s; in particular the importance of expertise in logistics, guaranteeing a reliable and secure supply of high quality fuels to our customers.”With the new operation complementing the existing Puma Energy global strategy of “disciplined investing in fast-growing markets where there…
Envac Singapore Pte Ltd
A Forward-Looking Approach to Smarter Waste ManagementWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Tom Cullum By aligning with the Singapore Building and Construction Authority’s green buildings initiative, which will see 80 percent of the country’s buildings certified green by 2030, Envac Singapore has been able to unlock new strategic growth opportunities and explore further innovative waste management solutions in the tech capital of Asia.Since establishment in Singapore in 1992, Envac has built a solid reputation as one of the early pioneers of automated refuse collection systems (ARCS) for waste, street litter and soiled hospital linen. A fully-owned subsidiary of the wider Envac AB Group - a strong player in the industry since 1961 – Envac’s Singapore operations have adapted to the local Government’s more recent drive to push for smarter and more sustainable methods of energy saving and waste efficiency. “When we started out, the technology surrounding waste management was the limiting factor in the country. Additionally, it was quite challenging as the local market lacked a forward-looking approach towards the benefits of adopting a more efficient and greener automated refuse collection system; something that had already been adopted in some of our other locations globally,” recalls Tan Chin Tiong, Regional Vice President at Envac Singapore, who has headed the Company since its inception.“Today, however, there has been a worldwide shift to finding greener, cleaner and more sustainable solutions to waste management, and Envac Singapore has greatly benefitted from this increased visibility; unlocking new opportunities created by the country’s Housing Development Board (HDB).”Sustainable solutionThe Envac system promises to be a welcome replacement for…
Brink’s Asia-Pacific
The Brink’s DifferenceWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Tom Cullum Brink’s has long instilled itself in the risk management and secure logistics domain as a leading and trusted partner able to build quality, strategic relationships and to perfect its offering on a global scale. This is no different in the Asia-Pacific region; a segment of the worldwide organisation that continues to balance international expertise and reputation with local adherences and considerations.Guy Bullen and Erez Weiss, Senior Vice Presidents for Brink’s Asia Pacific took time out from their ongoing monitoring of the global business and global trends to explain the significance of the Company’s presence in the region and how it fits into the wider Group’s ultimate goals.Guy Bullen (GB): Brink’s Asia Pacific business operates as a subsidiary of the Brink’s Company (NYSE: BCO) which was founded in 1859 and is one of the oldest publicly listed US companies on the NYSE. Brink’s began its international expansion within the Asia-Pacific region in 1979 with a joint venture in Hong Kong. This was to support secure transport and storage of gold bullion for the international financial community and London bullion market.In the ‘80s and ‘90s Brink’s invested across the region; expanding into countries including Japan, Singapore, India, Thailand, Australia, Taiwan and China. Today, Brink’s operate affiliate companies across Asia-Pacific with a focus on international secure transportation and storage for precious metals, diamonds & jewellery, currency and other valuable cargo.In addition, Brink’s has several large in-country domestic operations involved with cash processing and cash management, ATM network support and service, security, Cash In Transit…
Nishimatsu Construction Singapore
Right on TrackWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Tom Cullum Nishimatsu Construction is one of the most renowned players in an industry that has proved so lucrative across Asia for the past century, and its 142 years of unparalleled experience in its native Japan is now proving invaluable to Singapore’s rail transit system.Entering the city-state’s sector in 1980, the business’s reputation preceded itself following a host of successful civil engineering, building and infrastructural works carried out in Japan, and the subsequent 35 years has seen Nishimatsu replicate such a cachet in Singapore by involving itself in some of the country’s most prominent developments and structures.Striking an initial balance across buildings and infrastructure, more recent trends and fluctuations has seen attentions focus more extensively on the latter, and for every stage of Singapore’s rail transit evolution, Nishimatsu has been right in the thick of the action; epitomised by the work currently being carried out on the Gardens By The Bay Station - as a joint venture with Bachy Soletanche Singapore - and its associated tunnels for the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL).Ultimately though, the Company’s involvement in such high profile and nationally significant projects is a culmination of more than a century’s worth of renowned portfolio works and subsequently unrivalled expertise and experience in the construction domain.“I would say from my internal perspective and from external feedback we have received, that we differentiate ourselves by our very strong engineering team who are very hands on and are always coming up with new and innovative solutions,” says the Company’s Assistant General Manager, Lim Wee…
1-Net Singapore
Connecting ASEAN businesses through the Data Centre Corridor1-Net’s latest pan-ASEAN initiative is set to replicate its Singapore success across the region, complementing ongoing data centre infrastructure developmentsWriter: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Donovan Smith In recent years, 1-Net has fast become Asia’s data centre of choice, starting as a developer of broadband infrastructure from inception in 1997 and evolving into a fully-fledged data centre service provider across Asia.Its suite of solutions include the management of carrier-neutral internet data centres, network connectivity, managed services and media delivery services; offering customers superior stability, and a secure delivery and service experience. Being a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mediacorp (Singapore’s national broadcaster), 1-Net has built on their success and created a unique media-centric community.As a result, 1-Net has achieved several accolades, including being the first data centre to achieve Business Continuity Management certification as well as being the first green data centre operator in Singapore.The rapid rise to prominence continued in 2015 as 1-Net’s influence expanded beyond the confines of Singapore; its “Data Centre Corridor” initiative fulfilling the need to provide unparalleled connectivity amongst strategic data centres in neighbouring ASEAN countries.Riding the data centre waveDespite a gloomy economic outlook in 2016, the data centre industry continues to grow in a steadfast and focused manner in Singapore. As a result, the city state continues to affirm its position as one of the largest data centre markets in the Asia-Pacific region; thriving largely due to favourable attributes including an advantageous geographic location sparing it from natural disasters, a safe and pro-business environment, stable power…
Encouraging International Knowledge Sharing in Challenging Market Conditions
ICA 2016 will take place at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on 2-4 August, 2016, attracting more than 250 exhibitors and 8,000 visitors both locally and internationally. The show is held alongside the 13th International Exhibition on Laboratory Equipment, Instrumentation & Services (M.LAB 2016).Malaysia’s manufacturing sector has been a main attraction among foreign investors, often considered the top manufacturing location worldwide ranked by assessing costs, risks and operating conditions. In recognition of this status, ICA is in line to promote sustainable and sophisticated solutions to the manufacturing industry in Malaysia.According to the Minister of International Trade and Industry Malaysia, imports in December, 2015 increased by 3.2 percent to RM60.31 billion compared with December, 2014. Firms are encouraged to increase productivity through automation and innovation, implement sustainable production practices and leverage industry associations to be more competitive. In the world context, manufacturers are increasingly looking for breakthrough innovations and increasing investment into R&D. Focusing on instrumentation, control system and automation, ICA 2016 is the centre of information, networking and a whole array of niche products and services are on display. It plays a vital role in providing a platform for both exhibitors and visitors from different industries to congregate. The exhibition’s special features will showcase pumps and valves, green technology, instrumentation and process control systems, and factory automation techniques.ICA 2016 is officially endorsed by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations (MOSTI), in recognition of its contribution to the manufacturing and service industries. The exhibition will encourage international knowledge sharing in the current challenging market conditions, providing great opportunities…
The Leading Event for the Chinese Downstream Community
Now in its fifth year and building on the success of our previous events in Tianjin and Beijing, China Downstream Technology & Markets Conference is fast becoming the premier technology and business event for the Chinese downstream community.The unique event provides the ideal platform to meet a significant number of the region’s major regional operating companies. Regular attendees include: CNPC, Sinopec, PetroChina, CNOOC, Huajin Refinery, Fujian Refining & Petrochemical Company, East Star Petchem, Lubrizol Zhuhai and many more business leaders setting the pace in the oil & gas industry.Co-hosted by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (CPCIF), the event is the only one of its kind in China dedicated to bringing together regional operating companies with the leading technology suppliers, contractors and equipment manufacturers to discuss the latest developments in refining, residue upgrading and petrochemicals.Delegates will obtain an insight into the current performance, future outlook and best investment opportunities for each industry sector from prestigious speakers and enjoy unrivalled networking opportunities.Key topicsPlenary session:New trends and challenges for the refining and petrochemicals industriesKey factors shaping the low oil price and future evolutionInvestment and partnership opportunities in ChinaFocus on the policies and regulatory changes affecting the refining and petrochemical sectorsImproving safety, waste treatment and efficiency in refineries and petrochemical complexesAiming for a greener industry: environmental issues and solutionsMeeting the operational excellence challenges through people, assets and technologyRefining stream:Development strategies China's refineries: challenges and opportunitiesGasoline technologies and catalysts: reforming, isomerisation and oxygenatesFocus on clean diesel technologies and catalysts: hydrotreating and hydrocrackingTechnology approach to optimise refinery performance Petrochemicals streamFocus on…
China’s Multidimensional Outlook
In spite of reports that China’s economy is now registering its slowest pace of growth in 25 years after decades of expansion, investors may be fooled into thinking that China is struggling to hold its own in the global political arena. However, the world often loses sight of the sheer scale and power of the country’s economy, and the importance of economic cooperation with the “locomotive of world economic development”. “No matter what rate the country grows at in 2016, its share of the global economy, and many specific sectors, will be larger than ever,” Gordon Orr, McKinsey & Company aptly noted in a commentary at the start of this year.The inexplicably-linked global slump in commodity prices and currency devaluation are causes for concern among investors, with China confidence still recovering from rock-bottom. On the flipside, the country has been quick to identify the changes needed to grow to prominence once more; guiding its economy away from the old growth model - which had a largely one-dimensional reliance and dependence on cheap exports – toward a future powered by Chinese consumers and a stronger services sector.Experts have long been asking the question: Can China truly recover? There is no doubt the country has a tough road ahead to shift away from its mainstay of exports and focus on its own personal economic development through multiple subeconomies. Supporting this, the Government’s 13th Five-Year Plan (FYP), combined with the State Council’s ‘Made in China 2025’ (MiC2025) initiative, promises to give rise to a new China, with the power…
Asia Warehousing Show 2016
Asia Warehousing Show 2016, and the concurrent Asia Cold Chain Show - held from 6-8 July, 2016 at BITEC, Bangna, Bangkok - is a must-see event for supply chain and logistics professionals. It is a premier warehousing, supply chain, logistics, materials handling and storage exhibition, showcasing hundreds of products and services from right across the supply chain.“The show will provide visitors with unique one-stop shop for everything required in the modern warehouse,” said Kiran Mittal, Managing Director. “Not only will there be materials handling equipment – from fork lift trucks to automated logistics systems – but visitors will also discover innovative and cost-effective ideas; such as racking and shelving, storage solutions, health and safety systems, software, pallets, and palletising equipment, property recruitment and training services, third-party logistics, transport and distribution (including cold chain), flooring, packaging, handling system design, financial service, and warehousing.With the industry growing at an incomparable pace, the focus is on delivering goods in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. To combat the challenges of managing manpower and cutting down the operations time, visit to Asia Warehousing Show and its 100 exhibitors will cure your logistics headache!You don’t have to be a logistician to make the most of the event. Certainly you will find your visit thoroughly worthwhile, whether you are the operator of a small facility with a single fork lift; a manufacturer looking to consolidate your store room, or a retail operation with distribution or delivery issues. If you are seeking ways to make your supply chain greener, then Asia Warehousing Show…
Visa Launches Business Hub in Asia
Visa has announced the launch of its new one-stop portal, Visa Business Hub in Malaysia and Singapore in a bid to deliver further tangible value to business customers. The Software-as-a-Service (SaaS or pay-as-you-use) helps Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) save up to 25 percent on their IT expenses. This reduces upfront costs and implementation time for IT and the pay-on-use offers flexible user packages. The portal also houses a Business Academy that will assist SMBs to stay competitive through expert insights and advice.Visa recognises that innovative SMBs in Asia are increasingly using SaaS applications to deliver great customer service, save costs and be more productive. Businesses choose to deploy these applications in core business processes such as managing their financial records, their employee payroll and customer relationship management. Additionally, they are using new tools to engage with their clients over social media and build a more loyal client base.With the above in mind, Visa has developed a platform that will help banks increase usage of commercial cards by promoting offers and discounts relating to SaaS and Cloud services that could be paid for through a commercial card. The portal offers resources including those related to sales, marketing and customer communication, work collaboration, project management and CRM, human resources, accounting and legal, and website building and hosting.“The SMB segment is a key market for Singapore, given that they contribute to almost 50 half of our country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 70 percent of the workforce. At Visa, we constantly look to create solutions that are innovative and…
BRIC’s Beacon of Hope
When Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi arrived in the US in November last year, he was greeted warmly by President Obama, who punctuated the moment with the words: “In Asia and around the world, India is not simply emerging; it has emerged.”Emerging markets have been synonymous with growth, but the outlook for individual nations is constantly changing, which is a cause for concern among would-be investors. India, conversely, as one of the so-called BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) nations, is an economic powerhouse, a beacon of light amidst a group of nations that is fast losing its shine following a slowdown.Scientist and geopolitical expert, Ian Bremmer recently asserted that India was the last BRIC standing, and as such the country is feted as one of the BRIC nations destined to be among future world economic powers. According to a report published by PwC, India will be a ‘star performer’ among emerging market economies and is expected to clock 7.7 percent growth in 2016, outshining China for the second consecutive year. Despite the World Bank's forecast cuts for global economic growth, India is the only BRIC country expected to see notable improvement in economic performance in 2015.A large part of India's economic growth is down to foreign direct investment (FDI) in Indian infrastructure and Smart Cities, as encouraged by Narendra Modi's ‘Make in India’ campaign. DLF, one of India’s biggest property development companies, was established in the same year India gained independence from the United Kingdom (1947), and since then has played a significant role in building…