Business // Tuesday, October 31, 2006
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/151731.asp
Tang Li
news@newstoday.com.sg
ONE of the frustrations for Singapore's economic planners has been the fact that Singapore has not produced many homemade brands that have developed a reputation for excellence. Only a handful of names, such as Singapore Airlines (SIA) and the Raffles Hotel, have brand recall outside Singapore.
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Now, there's another Singapore brand to be added to the list of brands that have achieved global recognition for excellence: The Fullerton Hotel (picture), which was voted as the top hotel in Asia by Condé Nast Traveler readers 19th Annual Readers Choice Awards.
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The annual survey conducted by Condé Nast Traveler derives its results from the largest independent poll of consumer preferences, second in size only to the United States Census.
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With some 21,000 travellers voting, the Readers' Choice Awards allows global travellers to cast their judgement on some 3,000 of the best properties, destinations, airlines, cruise lines, and car rental agencies in the world.
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Among the regular winners are SIA, which has won the award for best international airline and San Francisco, which has been voted as the best city in the US for the past 18 years.
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Mr Louis Sailer, general manager of The Fullerton Hotel Singapore described the win as, "the strongest endorsement of our hotel yet. As a young and independent property, to be recognised internationally by discerning travellers is truly an accomplishment that we can be proud of".
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The 400-room Fullerton Hotel, which is part of the Far East Group, is a six-star establishment located in the heart of Singapore's financial and artistic hub.
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The hotel is regarded as a landmark and has hosted prominent businessmen such as Christopher Forbes, vice-chairman of Forbes, and Vinod Shekhar, CEO of the Petra Group and one of Malaysia's richest businessmen.
dinsdag, oktober 24, 2006
Creative talent gets Ideas
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/150376.asp
Business // Tuesday, October 24, 2006
New book is a rich resource for advertising professionals and industry newbies, too
Tang Li
news@newstoday.com.sg
IN TODAY'S competitive market, the greatest challenge facing creative professionals in the advertising world is arguably the search for the "killer idea" that will build a great campaign which in turn will strengthen the client's brand and seal the creative professional's reputation.
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That search may be easier now with a new book launched by the Institute of Advertising Singapore (IAS) at the annual Hall of Fame Awards recently, where Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister of Information, Communication and the Arts, was the guest of honour.
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Aptly named "Ideas: How 16 Singapore Advertising Hotshots Create their Ideas", the book promises to be a rich resource for Singapore's creative wannabes.
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In the book, Singapore's leading talents — such as Mr Tham Khai Meng of Ogilvy & Mather, Mr Patrick Low of Young & Rubicam, Mr Ng Tian It of McCann Erickson, Ms Linda Locke of Leo Burnett and Ms Lim Sau Hong of 10AM Communications — discuss how they find the ideas that have made their work so prominent.
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"Ideas are the lifeblood of advertising. Without ideas advertising just takes up space," says Mr Palani K Pillai, chief executive of the TNBT Group and editor of Ideas.
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Mr Pillai says that he organised the book as an industry resource to help Singapore's young creative talents find an education and inspiration in order to maintain Singapore's position as a leading advertising creative centre.
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Industry observers agree with his assessment of the Singapore advertising industry and his belief that Ideas can contribute to the local industry.
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In fact, in the Gunn Report, which measures the success of media innovation and creativity, Singapore has been listed as one of the most awarded countries for print advertising.
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Mr Neil French, former world-wide creative head of the WPP group, describes Ideas as, "a book that needed to be made," while well known author, Jim Aitchison, describes the book as the "heritage'' for Singapore's aspiring creative talents.
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Mr Tham, co-chairman of Ogilvy & Mather Asia-Pacific, believes that Ideas will be an "inspiration" to industry professionals.
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"It gives permission to the kids because if these guys can do it, they too can do it," he said.
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The book is also relevant for non-industry professionals.
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As Mr Kelvin Periera, chief creative of Crush Advertising, says: "It will show them that there's logic to the madness of creativity."
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IDEAS will be available at select bookstores next week and will retail for $64.90.
New book is a rich resource for advertising professionals and industry newbies, too
Business // Tuesday, October 24, 2006
New book is a rich resource for advertising professionals and industry newbies, too
Tang Li
news@newstoday.com.sg
IN TODAY'S competitive market, the greatest challenge facing creative professionals in the advertising world is arguably the search for the "killer idea" that will build a great campaign which in turn will strengthen the client's brand and seal the creative professional's reputation.
.
That search may be easier now with a new book launched by the Institute of Advertising Singapore (IAS) at the annual Hall of Fame Awards recently, where Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister of Information, Communication and the Arts, was the guest of honour.
.
Aptly named "Ideas: How 16 Singapore Advertising Hotshots Create their Ideas", the book promises to be a rich resource for Singapore's creative wannabes.
.
In the book, Singapore's leading talents — such as Mr Tham Khai Meng of Ogilvy & Mather, Mr Patrick Low of Young & Rubicam, Mr Ng Tian It of McCann Erickson, Ms Linda Locke of Leo Burnett and Ms Lim Sau Hong of 10AM Communications — discuss how they find the ideas that have made their work so prominent.
.
"Ideas are the lifeblood of advertising. Without ideas advertising just takes up space," says Mr Palani K Pillai, chief executive of the TNBT Group and editor of Ideas.
.
Mr Pillai says that he organised the book as an industry resource to help Singapore's young creative talents find an education and inspiration in order to maintain Singapore's position as a leading advertising creative centre.
.
Industry observers agree with his assessment of the Singapore advertising industry and his belief that Ideas can contribute to the local industry.
.
In fact, in the Gunn Report, which measures the success of media innovation and creativity, Singapore has been listed as one of the most awarded countries for print advertising.
.
Mr Neil French, former world-wide creative head of the WPP group, describes Ideas as, "a book that needed to be made," while well known author, Jim Aitchison, describes the book as the "heritage'' for Singapore's aspiring creative talents.
.
Mr Tham, co-chairman of Ogilvy & Mather Asia-Pacific, believes that Ideas will be an "inspiration" to industry professionals.
.
"It gives permission to the kids because if these guys can do it, they too can do it," he said.
.
The book is also relevant for non-industry professionals.
.
As Mr Kelvin Periera, chief creative of Crush Advertising, says: "It will show them that there's logic to the madness of creativity."
.
IDEAS will be available at select bookstores next week and will retail for $64.90.
New book is a rich resource for advertising professionals and industry newbies, too
maandag, oktober 23, 2006
Eid Mubarak From Singapore
Hi,
I just wanted to wish everyone in the Kingdome of Saudi Arabia - Eid Mubarak. Hope you all had a good Ramadan.
Best wishes and Ma Salaam
Li
dinsdag, oktober 10, 2006
Selling coffee, spreading smiles
Business // Tuesday, October 10, 2006
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/147674.asp
Nestlé highlights the wellness effects of Nescafé Gold
TANG LI
news@newstoday.com.sg
FINDING a unique proposition for a fast-moving consumer product like coffee must be one of the biggest challenges in retail marketing these days, with nearly every product differentiating claim used up. Take the most obvious differentiator — taste. Everybody has "the best tasting" coffee.
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In the absence of price differentiation, companies selling coffee have resorted to image-building to attract consumers. Coffee chains like Starbucks, Coffee Bean and Coffee Club are marketing themselves as trendy places that promote café culture, while Ya Kuns and Killiney Kopitiam have decided to sell nostalgia for the old coffeeshop. Others are selling nationality. Just look at the proliferation of "Italian" and "Colombian" coffees in the market.
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One brand that is trying to do something different is Nescafé Gold, the soluble coffee brand made by Nestlé.
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Aware that Switzerland is not known for its coffee, Nestlé is wisely not harping on nationality and has, instead, taken the unique marketing position of selling wellness and the happiness that comes from the enjoyment of good health.
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Stressing this point, Mr John M Miller, managing director of Nestlé Singapore, says Nescafé Gold is more than just a cup of great-tasting coffee. "It stimulates our senses to bring inspiration, alertness and vitality to both the mind and body. When consumed black, Nescafé Gold can actually help you keep your calorie intake low," he says. That is why the product is allowed to carry the Healthier Choice Symbol by the Health Promotion Board, he adds.
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Nestlé Singapore has spared no effort in spreading its "happy" message. It recently launched a series of print and outdoor adverts focusing on the Nescafé Gold Bottle, with taglines such as "one less reason to diet" to highlight the product's health benefits.
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Nescafé Gold's brand management has also made extensive use of public relations and events to define and take ownership of wellness. Judging by Nescafé's events, wellness is linked to relaxation, both physical and mental.
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In July, Nescafé Gold organised an art exhibit and auction to raise funds for Very Special Arts Singapore, a charity that aims to rehabilitate the disabled through artistic pursuits. At the event, publicity efforts were focused on a Thai artist who uses Nescafé to paint.
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On September 14, Nescafe Gold extended this concept further and organised a Smile Challenge. Members of the public will be invited to have their photos taken with a cup of Nescafé Gold. The pictures will be posted on a 15-foot-high Nescafé Gold bottle to be built at the centre of Marina Square.
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Nestlé has said it wants to set a record for holding the largest coffee-sampling event ever to be held in Singapore and the largest bottle ever made in Singapore.
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Has this strategy paid off? While year-on-year sales have yet to be released, the vigour in which Nescafé Gold has pursued its communications strategy shows that the coffee brand intends to take a dominant position in the market.
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/147674.asp
Nestlé highlights the wellness effects of Nescafé Gold
TANG LI
news@newstoday.com.sg
FINDING a unique proposition for a fast-moving consumer product like coffee must be one of the biggest challenges in retail marketing these days, with nearly every product differentiating claim used up. Take the most obvious differentiator — taste. Everybody has "the best tasting" coffee.
.
In the absence of price differentiation, companies selling coffee have resorted to image-building to attract consumers. Coffee chains like Starbucks, Coffee Bean and Coffee Club are marketing themselves as trendy places that promote café culture, while Ya Kuns and Killiney Kopitiam have decided to sell nostalgia for the old coffeeshop. Others are selling nationality. Just look at the proliferation of "Italian" and "Colombian" coffees in the market.
.
One brand that is trying to do something different is Nescafé Gold, the soluble coffee brand made by Nestlé.
.
Aware that Switzerland is not known for its coffee, Nestlé is wisely not harping on nationality and has, instead, taken the unique marketing position of selling wellness and the happiness that comes from the enjoyment of good health.
.
Stressing this point, Mr John M Miller, managing director of Nestlé Singapore, says Nescafé Gold is more than just a cup of great-tasting coffee. "It stimulates our senses to bring inspiration, alertness and vitality to both the mind and body. When consumed black, Nescafé Gold can actually help you keep your calorie intake low," he says. That is why the product is allowed to carry the Healthier Choice Symbol by the Health Promotion Board, he adds.
.
Nestlé Singapore has spared no effort in spreading its "happy" message. It recently launched a series of print and outdoor adverts focusing on the Nescafé Gold Bottle, with taglines such as "one less reason to diet" to highlight the product's health benefits.
.
Nescafé Gold's brand management has also made extensive use of public relations and events to define and take ownership of wellness. Judging by Nescafé's events, wellness is linked to relaxation, both physical and mental.
.
In July, Nescafé Gold organised an art exhibit and auction to raise funds for Very Special Arts Singapore, a charity that aims to rehabilitate the disabled through artistic pursuits. At the event, publicity efforts were focused on a Thai artist who uses Nescafé to paint.
.
On September 14, Nescafe Gold extended this concept further and organised a Smile Challenge. Members of the public will be invited to have their photos taken with a cup of Nescafé Gold. The pictures will be posted on a 15-foot-high Nescafé Gold bottle to be built at the centre of Marina Square.
.
Nestlé has said it wants to set a record for holding the largest coffee-sampling event ever to be held in Singapore and the largest bottle ever made in Singapore.
.
Has this strategy paid off? While year-on-year sales have yet to be released, the vigour in which Nescafé Gold has pursued its communications strategy shows that the coffee brand intends to take a dominant position in the market.
'Cerebrate' and stand out
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/147678.asp
Business // Tuesday, October 10, 2006
SINGAPORE'S institutions of higher learning have been busy marketing and branding themselves to local and international students and this has been particularly true for the National University of Singapore's (NUS) Business School and its MBA programme.
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While NUS has the brand advantage of being Singapore's oldest university, for its MBA programme it has to compete with globally-recognised brand names like the Chicago Graduate School of Business and Insead, which have campuses in Singapore, as well as local rivals like Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University.
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So in such a crowded market place, how can NUS make its MBA programme stand out?
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Associate Professor Michael Shih of NUS Business School seems to have the answer. It's in what he calls "The Largest MBA Competition in the World".
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The competition known as Cerebration is based on the idea of inviting MBA students throughout the world to propose ideas on how companies can expand into the market of the student's nationality.
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So, for example, a team of British students from Insead could propose ideas on how Eu Yan Sang could market Traditional Chinese Medicine products in Britain.
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The event is financed by corporate sponsors. To qualify as a corporate sponsor, a company stumps up $20,000. However, sponsorship is not just a case of cash payments. Companies contribute their case studies and contestants at Cerebration are challenged to come up with solutions for the sponsor companies.
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Companies that have sponsored Cerebration include household names such as Cerebos, Osim, Ron Kaufman and Thai Express.
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Case studies for the competition were submitted starting from November last year, and at the grand finals of Cerebration in March this year, there was a record turn out of 641 teams from more than 100 business schools from 31 different countries. —
Tang Li
Business // Tuesday, October 10, 2006
SINGAPORE'S institutions of higher learning have been busy marketing and branding themselves to local and international students and this has been particularly true for the National University of Singapore's (NUS) Business School and its MBA programme.
.
While NUS has the brand advantage of being Singapore's oldest university, for its MBA programme it has to compete with globally-recognised brand names like the Chicago Graduate School of Business and Insead, which have campuses in Singapore, as well as local rivals like Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University.
.
So in such a crowded market place, how can NUS make its MBA programme stand out?
.
Associate Professor Michael Shih of NUS Business School seems to have the answer. It's in what he calls "The Largest MBA Competition in the World".
.
The competition known as Cerebration is based on the idea of inviting MBA students throughout the world to propose ideas on how companies can expand into the market of the student's nationality.
.
So, for example, a team of British students from Insead could propose ideas on how Eu Yan Sang could market Traditional Chinese Medicine products in Britain.
.
The event is financed by corporate sponsors. To qualify as a corporate sponsor, a company stumps up $20,000. However, sponsorship is not just a case of cash payments. Companies contribute their case studies and contestants at Cerebration are challenged to come up with solutions for the sponsor companies.
.
Companies that have sponsored Cerebration include household names such as Cerebos, Osim, Ron Kaufman and Thai Express.
.
Case studies for the competition were submitted starting from November last year, and at the grand finals of Cerebration in March this year, there was a record turn out of 641 teams from more than 100 business schools from 31 different countries. —
Tang Li
zondag, oktober 08, 2006
Haze Thickens in Southeast Asia
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=87843&d=8&m=10&y=2006
Tang Li, Arab News
SINGAPORE, 8 October 2006 — Southeast Asia’s haze situation took a turn for the worse with Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore suffering from record levels of pollutants in the air. Visibility in part of the Indonesian Island of Borneo plunged to 50 meters while Singapore recorded its worst level of pollution this year. Malaysia also recorded unhealthy air pollution levels.
Singapore’s pollution standard index (PSI) hit a record level of 145. A PSI reading between zero and 50 is considered healthy, 51-100 moderate and 101-200 unhealthy. The city state’s National Environment Agency issued its first health warning to the public. Singaporeans were advised that “people with existing heart or respiratory ailments should reduce physical exertion and outdoor activity and the general population should reduce vigorous outdoor activity.” In Borneo and Central Kalimantan hundreds of people sought medical attention for respiratory illnesses with satellite pictures showing more than 500 fires.
Purwasto, head of forest fire control in Indonesia’s Environment Ministry, said “the worst situation is in Central Kalimantan. Most areas in the province contain peat which can burn for years.”
He admitted that it was currently impossible to estimate the extent of the fires and said that experts were being sent to Central Kalimantan to help the authorities deal with the worsening situation.
The haze, which has been an annual problem in Southeast Asia, has been a source of tension between Indonesia and her neighbors, mainly Malaysia and Singapore. Malaysia’s environment minister, Azmi Khalid, was quoted in Malaysia’s Star newspaper as saying “frustration is an understatement,” and Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said yesterday Southeast Asian countries must take concerted action to set up a sizable fund to tackle the annual blazes. Malaysia has suffered particularly from the haze. In the Malaysian state of Sarawak, Deputy Chief Minister George Chan said the state’s hospitals were treating 200 daily cases of repertory illnesses, up from the usual 40 to 50. Malaysian authorities have begun to distribute face mask.
The Star said in a front-page story yesterday that readers have sent e-mails and text messages expressing anger and frustration at the lack of action to tackle the problem.
Another newspaper, New Straits Times, said Malaysians were fed up with the haze “and with the same litany of excuses offered by Indonesia and the authorities here for this unwelcome visitor every year.”
The haze has also sparked a demand for air purifiers and face masks in Singapore. Mustafa Center, one of the largest shopping malls in Singapore, has been recording high sales of air purifiers, face mask and eye-drops.
Tang Li, Arab News
SINGAPORE, 8 October 2006 — Southeast Asia’s haze situation took a turn for the worse with Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore suffering from record levels of pollutants in the air. Visibility in part of the Indonesian Island of Borneo plunged to 50 meters while Singapore recorded its worst level of pollution this year. Malaysia also recorded unhealthy air pollution levels.
Singapore’s pollution standard index (PSI) hit a record level of 145. A PSI reading between zero and 50 is considered healthy, 51-100 moderate and 101-200 unhealthy. The city state’s National Environment Agency issued its first health warning to the public. Singaporeans were advised that “people with existing heart or respiratory ailments should reduce physical exertion and outdoor activity and the general population should reduce vigorous outdoor activity.” In Borneo and Central Kalimantan hundreds of people sought medical attention for respiratory illnesses with satellite pictures showing more than 500 fires.
Purwasto, head of forest fire control in Indonesia’s Environment Ministry, said “the worst situation is in Central Kalimantan. Most areas in the province contain peat which can burn for years.”
He admitted that it was currently impossible to estimate the extent of the fires and said that experts were being sent to Central Kalimantan to help the authorities deal with the worsening situation.
The haze, which has been an annual problem in Southeast Asia, has been a source of tension between Indonesia and her neighbors, mainly Malaysia and Singapore. Malaysia’s environment minister, Azmi Khalid, was quoted in Malaysia’s Star newspaper as saying “frustration is an understatement,” and Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said yesterday Southeast Asian countries must take concerted action to set up a sizable fund to tackle the annual blazes. Malaysia has suffered particularly from the haze. In the Malaysian state of Sarawak, Deputy Chief Minister George Chan said the state’s hospitals were treating 200 daily cases of repertory illnesses, up from the usual 40 to 50. Malaysian authorities have begun to distribute face mask.
The Star said in a front-page story yesterday that readers have sent e-mails and text messages expressing anger and frustration at the lack of action to tackle the problem.
Another newspaper, New Straits Times, said Malaysians were fed up with the haze “and with the same litany of excuses offered by Indonesia and the authorities here for this unwelcome visitor every year.”
The haze has also sparked a demand for air purifiers and face masks in Singapore. Mustafa Center, one of the largest shopping malls in Singapore, has been recording high sales of air purifiers, face mask and eye-drops.
zaterdag, oktober 07, 2006
Southeast Asia Engulfed by Choking Haze
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=87784&d=7&m=10&y=2006&pix=world.jpg&category=World
Tang Li, Arab News
SINGAPORE, 7 October 2006 — Walk around Singapore these days and you might be forgiven if you think you are in an industrial town in a rust belt area. The air has a certain thickness and at times there is a slight burning smell in the air. There is a daily cloud over the city that blocks visibility. Why is all this happening in a city that has a record of being green?
The answer lies on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra in neighboring Indonesia. Indonesia which host the world’s second largest area of rain forest after the Amazon forest in Brazil, has suffered from annual forest fires caused by slash-and-burn techniques. These forest fires have been the cause of an annual pollution problem in Southeast Asia since the 1990s. Indonesia, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and even parts of Thailand are engulfed by a fog known as the haze.
This year’s forest fires have been particularly bad. Singapore’s pollution standard index (PSI,) which measures air quality, has reached a record high of 80 (A PSI reading between zero and 50 is considered “healthy”, 51-100 “moderate” and 101-200 “unhealthy”) and on the Indonesian Island of Sumatra, visibility has been cut to around 200 meters. This year’s haze has brought back memories of the choking haze that covered the region in 1997-1998, which caused many people to suffer from respiratory illnesses and wrecked local economies by causing a drop in productivity through illnesses and a decrease in tourism.
The annual haze has been a source of tension between Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, with the former two blaming Indonesia for not doing enough to curb the slash-and-burn techniques used to clear land by plantation owners and farmers. The complaints of the Malaysian and Singaporean governments were rebuffed Thursday by Indonesia’s Forestry Minister Malem Sambat Kaban who argued that the Indonesian government was on a tireless drive to put out the fires. Under Indonesian law, slash-and-burn techniques are illegal but prosecuting those engaged in this has been difficult. This has been blamed on a lack of resources and funds.
The haze has been one of the few areas that has seen large-scale cooperation between regional governments. Galvanized by the 1997-98 fires, Southeast Asian countries signed the ASEAN agreement on trans-boundary haze pollution in 2002, but Indonesia has yet to ratify the pact that calls for cooperation and mobilization of resources to tackle the problem.
Tang Li, Arab News
SINGAPORE, 7 October 2006 — Walk around Singapore these days and you might be forgiven if you think you are in an industrial town in a rust belt area. The air has a certain thickness and at times there is a slight burning smell in the air. There is a daily cloud over the city that blocks visibility. Why is all this happening in a city that has a record of being green?
The answer lies on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra in neighboring Indonesia. Indonesia which host the world’s second largest area of rain forest after the Amazon forest in Brazil, has suffered from annual forest fires caused by slash-and-burn techniques. These forest fires have been the cause of an annual pollution problem in Southeast Asia since the 1990s. Indonesia, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and even parts of Thailand are engulfed by a fog known as the haze.
This year’s forest fires have been particularly bad. Singapore’s pollution standard index (PSI,) which measures air quality, has reached a record high of 80 (A PSI reading between zero and 50 is considered “healthy”, 51-100 “moderate” and 101-200 “unhealthy”) and on the Indonesian Island of Sumatra, visibility has been cut to around 200 meters. This year’s haze has brought back memories of the choking haze that covered the region in 1997-1998, which caused many people to suffer from respiratory illnesses and wrecked local economies by causing a drop in productivity through illnesses and a decrease in tourism.
The annual haze has been a source of tension between Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, with the former two blaming Indonesia for not doing enough to curb the slash-and-burn techniques used to clear land by plantation owners and farmers. The complaints of the Malaysian and Singaporean governments were rebuffed Thursday by Indonesia’s Forestry Minister Malem Sambat Kaban who argued that the Indonesian government was on a tireless drive to put out the fires. Under Indonesian law, slash-and-burn techniques are illegal but prosecuting those engaged in this has been difficult. This has been blamed on a lack of resources and funds.
The haze has been one of the few areas that has seen large-scale cooperation between regional governments. Galvanized by the 1997-98 fires, Southeast Asian countries signed the ASEAN agreement on trans-boundary haze pollution in 2002, but Indonesia has yet to ratify the pact that calls for cooperation and mobilization of resources to tackle the problem.
vrijdag, oktober 06, 2006
Lazy Bones Strikes Again
It's Friday and as usual I have nothing but clouds in the mind. Life has reached the point where the main preoccupation revolves around trying to get one project a week finished, billed and then finding a way to chill out, relax and make sure that I don't have too may responsabilities that would crush a sensible human being. - I think its probably because I've reached the stage where I've figured I'm never going to have a career in anything, I might as well try and develop wierdo sources of income that don't tax me too much and then concentrate on having a decent quality of life.
Both Tara and I have the distinct honour/dishonour of being the ones amongst our school/university contemporaries who did not get proper jobs. Both of us spend alot of time being broke. But then as my baby sister once pointed out - she can jet off to Mongolia and do silly things whenever she's got the money - something her friends can't seem to do.
My latest scam is email get rich quick things. Normally I don't go for these things but I thought what the heck do I have to lose and have joined two sites that pay me a few cents to read emails. I'd get more if I reffered friends. It's not too bad, though pay day will be quite sometime away.
Pam, a dreaded ex made a career out of doing bull shit jobs. One of the ones she had involved selling her body for scientific experiments. It's an idea, have to check it out. The other one that's worth exploring is being selected for Focus Groups. Bullshit jobs - now that's definately the way to go.
maandag, oktober 02, 2006
Chinese PM Vows to Keep Reforms on Track
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=87535&d=2&m=10&y=2006
Tang Li, Arab News
BEIJING, 2 October 2006 — China’s Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao has vowed that China will continue to fight domestic corruption and continue with economic reforms that would open up its economy to the rest of the world.
Wen, who was addressing the senior Chinese leadership and diplomatic community on the eve of the 57th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China told his 1,500 strong audience that China had created a historic miracle by achieving three decades of rapid and sustainable economic growth as well as all-round social development.
He pointed out that China would become a prosperous, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious modern socialist country if it adhered to the path of scientific development. Wen said, “We’ll unswervingly push for reform and opening up,” and he noted that, “This trend is irreversible.”
He also stressed that the government would continue to fight against corruption so as to provide, “A clean and honest government to ensure social fairness and justice and improve the socialist system.”
This aspect of his speech had been particularly prominent as it had come after a week of heavy political action which saw the sacking of Shanghai’s Communist Party Chief, Chen Liangyu.
Chen who was sacked over the alleged misuse of funds from the city’s pension fund, was also suspended from his duties in the politburo. Chen’s dismissal has been seen as a sign of Chinese President Hu Jintao consolidating his power from his predecessor, Jiang Zemin.
On the international front, Wen briefly touched on Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a renegade province.
He told the audience that, “We will continue to work with our compatriots in Taiwan to achieve peaceful reunification of the motherland.”
The Chinese government was however more accommodating toward others in its foreign relations. The Central Bank noted that China would maintain stability in the yuan’s exchange rate as well as in its monetary policy.
The bank said it would continue to drain funds from the financial system as part of the effort to improve the yuan’s managed float.
The yuan completed its biggest monthly advance since a link to the dollar ended last year, as traders wagered China will allow faster appreciation to reward Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson for persuading US senators to drop the threat of trade sanctions.
Tang Li, Arab News
BEIJING, 2 October 2006 — China’s Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao has vowed that China will continue to fight domestic corruption and continue with economic reforms that would open up its economy to the rest of the world.
Wen, who was addressing the senior Chinese leadership and diplomatic community on the eve of the 57th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China told his 1,500 strong audience that China had created a historic miracle by achieving three decades of rapid and sustainable economic growth as well as all-round social development.
He pointed out that China would become a prosperous, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious modern socialist country if it adhered to the path of scientific development. Wen said, “We’ll unswervingly push for reform and opening up,” and he noted that, “This trend is irreversible.”
He also stressed that the government would continue to fight against corruption so as to provide, “A clean and honest government to ensure social fairness and justice and improve the socialist system.”
This aspect of his speech had been particularly prominent as it had come after a week of heavy political action which saw the sacking of Shanghai’s Communist Party Chief, Chen Liangyu.
Chen who was sacked over the alleged misuse of funds from the city’s pension fund, was also suspended from his duties in the politburo. Chen’s dismissal has been seen as a sign of Chinese President Hu Jintao consolidating his power from his predecessor, Jiang Zemin.
On the international front, Wen briefly touched on Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a renegade province.
He told the audience that, “We will continue to work with our compatriots in Taiwan to achieve peaceful reunification of the motherland.”
The Chinese government was however more accommodating toward others in its foreign relations. The Central Bank noted that China would maintain stability in the yuan’s exchange rate as well as in its monetary policy.
The bank said it would continue to drain funds from the financial system as part of the effort to improve the yuan’s managed float.
The yuan completed its biggest monthly advance since a link to the dollar ended last year, as traders wagered China will allow faster appreciation to reward Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson for persuading US senators to drop the threat of trade sanctions.
zondag, oktober 01, 2006
UN Experts Predict Thai Growth at 4.7 Percent
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=6§ion=0&article=87487&d=1&m=10&y=2006&pix=business.jpg&category=Business
Tang Li, Arab News
SINGAPORE, 1 October 2006 — While much of the focus of the recent military coup in Thailand has been political, United Nations economists predict that Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth could reach 4.7 percent next year provided the new government maintains political stability. In the event of political instability GDP growth would only reach 3.1 percent. A healthy growth rate would help Thailand to achieve its poverty reduction goals before its target date of 2009.
“In our ‘best-case scenario,’ we expect public spending to increase under the new interim government and play a key role in boosting GDP growth,” UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) Executive Secretary Kim Hak-Su said.
“Thailand’s macroeconomic fundamentals remain strong. We expect growth to be robust at 4.5 percent this year. Exports are strong and inflation is falling. The relatively flexible exchange rate regime and high foreign exchange reserves have contributed to these good outcomes,” he added.
As of today UNESCAP economists see no significant impact on the economy from Sept. 19 coup which toppled the government of former prime minister, Thaksin Shinowatra. They note that the Thai stock market remains steady, the Thai baht is stable, and contagion to other regional markets is limited. Thailand’s foreign reserves remain at healthy $60 billion and as Thailand’s finance minister noted a day after the coup, “Inflation will be contained at around 4.7 percent, in spite of higher cost push from higher oil prices.”
But although the macroeconomic forecast remains favorable, uncertainty remains for the Thai economy’s short-term outlook. Under a “worse-case scenario” of political instability, UNESCAP predicts that in 2007 economic growth could fall to 3.1 percent, with inflation increasing to almost 10 percent. The baht would depreciate by more than 20 percent, reaching almost 46 baht for $1.
“The next few months will be closely watched by investors,” Kim said. “The interim government will have a heavy responsibility to maintain economic stability and investor confidence in the economy. In the short-term the new administration will need to outline policies regarding the investment climate, especially macroeconomic policies and economic governance measures.
“It will be very important for the new interim government to provide timely clarification on government spending, particularly on the infrastructure investment component of the fiscal budget,” he added.
Tang Li, Arab News
SINGAPORE, 1 October 2006 — While much of the focus of the recent military coup in Thailand has been political, United Nations economists predict that Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth could reach 4.7 percent next year provided the new government maintains political stability. In the event of political instability GDP growth would only reach 3.1 percent. A healthy growth rate would help Thailand to achieve its poverty reduction goals before its target date of 2009.
“In our ‘best-case scenario,’ we expect public spending to increase under the new interim government and play a key role in boosting GDP growth,” UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) Executive Secretary Kim Hak-Su said.
“Thailand’s macroeconomic fundamentals remain strong. We expect growth to be robust at 4.5 percent this year. Exports are strong and inflation is falling. The relatively flexible exchange rate regime and high foreign exchange reserves have contributed to these good outcomes,” he added.
As of today UNESCAP economists see no significant impact on the economy from Sept. 19 coup which toppled the government of former prime minister, Thaksin Shinowatra. They note that the Thai stock market remains steady, the Thai baht is stable, and contagion to other regional markets is limited. Thailand’s foreign reserves remain at healthy $60 billion and as Thailand’s finance minister noted a day after the coup, “Inflation will be contained at around 4.7 percent, in spite of higher cost push from higher oil prices.”
But although the macroeconomic forecast remains favorable, uncertainty remains for the Thai economy’s short-term outlook. Under a “worse-case scenario” of political instability, UNESCAP predicts that in 2007 economic growth could fall to 3.1 percent, with inflation increasing to almost 10 percent. The baht would depreciate by more than 20 percent, reaching almost 46 baht for $1.
“The next few months will be closely watched by investors,” Kim said. “The interim government will have a heavy responsibility to maintain economic stability and investor confidence in the economy. In the short-term the new administration will need to outline policies regarding the investment climate, especially macroeconomic policies and economic governance measures.
“It will be very important for the new interim government to provide timely clarification on government spending, particularly on the infrastructure investment component of the fiscal budget,” he added.
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