BEHIND THAT SENSE OF DEJA VU...
03/02/10FOR many, a number of the proposals made by the Economic Strategies Committee (ESC) on Monday had a familiar ring to them. Upgrade worker skills. Have more training. Grow local small and medium enterprises (SMEs). All are calls made by earlier committees to chart Singapore's economic growth path. One key feature that distinguishes the ESC's report from earlier ones is the emphasis placed on the non-economic. Read more...

GOOD TIME TO EXPAND BUSINESS INTO EU
04/02/10TIPS from iadvisor Petra Pohorska, director of CEEBA Pte Ltd - Central and Eastern Europe Business Advisory. Q: My company had intentions to expand into Europe prior to the recession. With all eyes now on Asia, should I focus efforts in Asia instead of traditional markets like Europe? What are the unique challenges to take note of in Europe during this post-crisis period? Read more...

S'PORE AND COSTA RICA WRAP UP TALKS ON FTA
02/02/10Separated by a distance of more than 18,000km and multiple time zones, Singapore and Costa Rica still see enough value in what each other has to offer, having wrapped up talks on a potentially lucrative free trade agreement (FTA). This is the latest deal that Singapore - whose relatively small and open economy is highly dependent on trade - has sealed with countries across Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. Read more...

A*STAR, EADS TO JOINTLY DEVELOP GREEN BIO-FUEL
05/02/10THE Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) said yesterday its Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES) will work with European aerospace and defence giant EADS to create environmentally friendly bio-fuel. A*Star and EADS will explore whether micro-algae can be used as a renewable source of fuel for aircraft and look into the conversion of algae oil to kerosene for use as jet fuel. Read more...

THAILAND LIFTS IMPORTS RESTRICTIONS ON PIGS AND PIG PRODUCTS
15/01/10Thailand has now lifted all import restrictions, imposed as a measure against the pandemic H1N1 influenza virus, on pigs and pig products from EU Member States. The European Commission welcomes this step. It had repeatedly raised EU concerns about these unnecessary and unjustifiable measures. Read more...