mci (p) 115/04/2019 april 2019 business matters · 2019. 5. 9. · punjab and signed mous. others...

APRIL 2019 | BUSINESS MATTERS | 01

The Official Magazine Of The Singapore Indian Cham

ber Of Comm

erce & IndustryA

PR

IL 20

19 Vo

l. 1 Issue 1

SME CENTRES Transforming The way we do business

Enhancing businEssEs

aspiring EntrEprEnEurs

nEtwork

womEn EntrEprEnEur nEtwork

digiTaL dream

giVing youTh a

hand

emPowering women

the official magazine of the singapore indian chamber of commerce & industry APRIL 2019

MCI (P) 115/04/2019

02 | BUSINESS MATTERS | APRIL 2019


Congratulations to SICCIon the launch of its magazine

“Business Matters.”

From Kishore DaryananiGanGa Jamuna ElEctronics PtE ltD

Major importers & exporters of branded consumer electronic goods and stockists in Samsung, Sony, Panasonic and Yamaha, etc

products. Email: [email protected]


the official magazine of the singapore indian chamber of commerce & industry

Chairman

Ceo

honorary ediTor

sub-ediTor

graPhiC designer

saLes & markeTing

CommuniCaTions

CoVer PhoTograPhy

VoLume 1

PrinTed aT

miCa number

TeLfax

emaiLwebsiTe

address

oPening hours

Dr T Chandroo, Chairman, SICCI

Mr K Barathan, Chief Executive Officer, SICCI

Shobha Tsering Bhalla, Chair, PR & Media, SICCI

Abhijit Nag

Anisha Chand

Nidhi Menon, Senior Manager, Business Development, SICCI; Kavindran Mohan, Manager, Business Development, SICCI

Sanjay Devaraja, Manager, Corporate Communications, SICCI

Edmund Leong

Issue 1

Image Printers Pte Ltd, Block 1002, Jalan Bukit Merah #04-12Redhill Industrial Estate,Singapore 159456

MCI (P) 115/04/2019 +65 6222 2855+65 6323 6746

[email protected]

Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry31 Stanley Street, SICCI Building, Singapore 068740

Mondays to Fridays, 9 am to 6 pm

A Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry publicationInaugural issue


contents

OFFICE BEARERS10 Who’s Who On The Board Of Directors

ASpIRIng EntREpREnEuRS nEtwORk18 Helping Entrepreneurs

wOmEn EntREpREnEuR nEtwORk19 Empowering Women

DIgItALISAtIOn20 Helping Businesses Go Digital

EVEntS22 SME Centre In Little India26 Flashbacks To Gabfests And Galas

CALEnDAR23 What's on in April & May

DELEgAtIOn24 A Little Singapore In Gujarat25 Punjab Ties

mAnIFEStO30 Keeping Our Manifesto Alive

tRAVEL32 Memories Of Myanmar

HEALtH36 Practising Mindfulness

FOOD38 Tasty Therapy

BOOkS40 True Grit

They are the SME Centre folks, helping businesses get tech, talent, training and grants – and they don’t charge a cent.

COVER StORy14 tHE gO-tO guyS

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14

38

36

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Dear Members,t is now a year since I donned the mantle of Chairman of our august chamber. Thank you for your support and trust in me and my board of directors, whom you ushered in with such a resounding vote of confidence.

I am encouraged by the good progress that has been achieved since our new board took charge a year ago. And I am deeply honoured and humbled to be the chairman of this illustrious board of directors, all of whom are contributing to the success of the chamber and, by extension, the success of our country Singapore.What has impressed me this past year is the people who are creating an innovative and creative eco-system, transforming business processes, forging links and placing SICCI on the map.These are people who are improving the digitalisation of businesses for our small and medium enterprises. Just look at the new SME Centre we opened in September last year in Little India which has already started transforming the way even the smallest enterprises do business and improving revenue, even those with very constrained budgets. My heartfelt thanks to the hard-working staff of our SICCI secretariat.These are people in our chamber who are persuading boardrooms across the region and India that there is a better place to do business – Singapore. Some of my board directors have led successful business trips to Ahmedabad and Punjab and signed MOUs. Others have given countless hours on a voluntary basis to create a dynamic website, organise events and conferences that benefit our members and even re-vamp and create this magazine, which I see as our brand ambassador. While the global economic outlook has turned more challenging as growth momentum has softened, and business and consumer confidence has been dampened by global trade wars and geo-political rivalries, Singapore has still managed to soldier on. According to the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s latest quarterly survey of professional forecasters, it is expected to grow at 2.5 per cent. But with long-term policies in place and a strong team in charge, the Republic has reason to be confident about its future.When we contested the elections, my team came up with a Manifesto which identified nine priority areas that we termed the nine jewels or nava-ratna. I am glad to say that we have already reached our goals for the year on some fronts such as the Aspiring Entrepreneurs Network (AEN) and Women’s Entrepreneur Network (WEN).Twenty nineteen will be a ground-breaking year for SICCI as we propagate digitalisation to better serve the needs of our members. It is also SICCI’s 95th anniversary as well as our country’s bicentennial, both landmarks of great import to us that will inspire us to work harder and aim higher for our members and our chamber.

Thank you.

chairman’s message

I

Dr t chanDroo

Chairman & CEO of Modern Montessori International Group

Chairman

Modern Montessori International Group (MMI) is the largest Montessori franchise in the world. With a network spanning across and beyond the Asia-Pacific region, it operates more than 100 pre-schools and training colleges in 16 countries worldwide. Dr Chandroo has received several awards including the prestigious Singapore’s Leading Indian Entrepreneurs for the Year by SICCI-DBS, Outstanding Entrepreneur Award for the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards (APEA), and ‘Asia Most Promising Business Leader’ award. He is also an avid philanthropist, often contributing generously to the community to aid the less fortunate. He also holds key appointments in various government and community-based organisations.

Dr T ChandrooChairman


s the leading business chamber representing the Indian community in Singapore, the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI) has evolved to become an important and useful platform for

our members to learn, collaborate and exchange business ideas as well as unlock their business potential locally and globally.Over the years, it has grown in size and stature to become what it is today – a dynamic, forward-looking organization with a network of partners, which span the globe. Representing a significant membership base that cuts across a wide spectrum of businesses and industries, SICCI has and continues to play a significant role in helping businesses thrive as well as an influential role in nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs in Singapore. After a year’s hiatus, the Chamber has revived its magazine, previously known as SICCI Connect, to present the first issue of Business Matters to you with a more premium feel and content. On top of keeping you abreast of the latest updates and happenings of the Chamber, the bi-monthly magazine will also feature topics of interest such as travel and lifestyle for the discerning reader. The readership of the magazine is expected to grow exponentially as we embark on a large-scale membership drive by the end of this year. Should you wish to place an advertisement in our magazine, please feel free to contact us for more information on preferential rates for SICCI members.It gives me great pleasure to share with you that SICCI commemorates its 95th anniversary this year together with Singapore’s bicentennial celebrations. We have planned an array of exciting events for the year while several upcoming activities are also in the pipeline to bring our members closer together. I strongly encourage you to visit our newly revamped website for the latest updates and to download our mobile app to tap on the Chamber’s services and membership privileges on-the-go. All our platforms aim to provide robust information for our members, partners, business community, visitors and media to better understand SICCI’s services and offerings.On this note, I would like to wish all our members every success in all of their endeavors.

Thank you.

ceo’s message

A

mr K Barathan Chief exeCutive OffiCer

Mr Kumaran Barathan was reappointed Chief Executive Officer of SICCI in July 2018, having served before as its CEO from July 2013 to June 2014. During his previous stint with SICCI, he was also appointed Vice-President of the South Asia Business Group, member of the Community Engagement Programme (CEP), the Taxpayer Feedback Panel and SG50 Partnership Committee. Currently, he is also the Centre Director for SME Centre@SICCI, a subsidiary of SICCI in collaboration with Enterprise Singapore that offers business advisory services for free.Prior to his reappointment as CEO, Mr Barathan served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) from July 2014 to June 2018.

K. BarathanChief Executive OfficerSingapore Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry


Dear Readers,elcome to the inaugural issue of Business Matters! It gives me great pleasure to bring you a magazine that our SICCI team had talked about and planned for almost a year. A magazine that we hope

you will enjoy and be proud to claim as your own. We aim to make it a flagship product of our chamber, a brand ambassador if you will. It will be published once every two months.While publishing a magazine is a painstaking task, I feel honoured to have been asked to be this publication’s honorary editor and I am glad to volunteer my time and expertise to serve the chamber and our community. I would like to invite feedback from all our members about what they think of our magazine so that we can continue to improve and make it a product that even other chambers talk about.After much deliberation, it was finally decided that a premium magazine produced to professional standards would not only raise the profile of SICCI and our members, but would also be a revenue generator. All this was achieved by a young, inexperienced team in a very short period of time – literally three weeks. In fact, as all of you enjoyed a long Easter weekend, my production team along with me sacrificed the whole weekend to beat tight deadlines and bring out this magazine on time for our AGM. But it was worth it! A huge thank you to the team.I know how protective readers can feel about the magazines they love, and I respect that. A serious, loyal readership may be our most precious asset. We would be foolish to trifle with it by making change for change’s sake. But there’s also the puzzling question, in this moment of technological upheaval, of how to intensify the experience of reading a print magazine.With that in mind, we decided on content that would be entertaining and informative, at times a little contrary, but above all useful. Inside you’ll find a mixture of business news, features and articles on a wide range of business topics. We also have enlightening articles on health issues that includes meditation, introspective travel articles, healthy and easy-to- make recipes as well as reviews of self-improvement books.I hope you enjoy this issue and do let us know if there are any topics you would like us to cover in future issues. And if you would like to advertise your products and services in this premium magazine, you may contact our sales team.

Happy reading!

eDitor's Letter

W

Ms Shobha Tsering BhallaEditorChair – PR & Media


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Who’s Who on the Board of Directors of the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

the DirectorsOffIcE bEARERs

mr mahesh sivaswamy

Chairman & CEO of Transworld Group Singapore

VIce chAIrmAn

With an early start in entrepreneurship, Mr Mahesh commands extensive hands-on and leadership experience in various fields including ship owning and ship management, logistics and international trading. Guided by his vision and able leadership, Transworld Group has 500 employees till date, and is an eclectic empire of diverse companies engaged in various shipping-related activities that run independently yet share the same synergy. He was also honoured with the ‘Logistics Personality of the Year’ award at the 5th South East Cargo & Logistics Awards 2013.

mr Prasoon mukherjee

Chairman of Universal Energy Trading

VIce chAIrmAn

Mr Prasoon Mukherjee is a businessman of repute, holding the franchise of Outback Steakhouse restaurants from the USA for Southeast Asia. He currently runs the world’s largest steakhouse chain of restaurants. Mr Mukherjee is the Vice Chairman, South Asian Business Group, Singapore Business Federation. He was awarded “Bengali of the Year”, 2008 by the North America Bengali Association and was also the President of India Club, Jakarta, Indonesia.

mr manokaran chakraPani

Founder and Managing Director of Mano Equestrian Services

honorAry

TreAsurer

Mr Mano founded his business in 1994. Mano Equestrian Services specialises in all equine, small- animal, livestock and poultry-related products. He adds value to his customers by advising them on their equine and animal-care needs. Using Singapore as a distribution hub, Mano Equestrian serves clients all over the world. Mr Mano has won various awards such as the DBS Singapore Indian Entrepreneur, Singapore Prestige Brand Award, and SME One Asia Awards. Besides running his business and sitting on various trade committees, Mr Mano is actively involved in social work.


Dr Zahabar aLi

Chairman, Raffles CA’s LLP

co-chAIr - InTernAl AudIT

Raffles provides a wide range of world-class service handled by independent partners in the network with clear solutions in

Assurance, Business Advisory, Corporate Governance, Taxation, Investments and Corporate Training for companies around the world. Raffles’ Medical Arm is a pioneer in digital health in Asia, having founded a teleradiology network, Clarity Radiology in 2008 and MyDoc in 2012, which is a revolutionary digital patient engagement health tech company based in Singapore.

mr rajan bagaria

Founder & President of Marwari Mitra Mandal (Singapore), Founder of the Singapore Pulses Federation Ltd

co-chAIr – InTegrATIon,

enTrepreneur neTWork

Mr Rajan Bagaria, a well-known businessman, was on the SICCI Board of Directors also from 2010 to 2014. He was the founder and President of the Marwari Mitra Mandal (Singapore) which represents the Marwari community in Singapore. He was also the founder of The Singapore Pulses Federation Ltd, set up to assist all pulses traders of Singapore.

ms shobha tsering bhaLLa

Managing Director of India Se Media

chAIr – pr & medIA

Ms Shobha Tsering Bhalla is a well-known Singaporean-Indian

journalist who has extensive experience as a print and online journalist and media entrepreneur and is also the official spokesperson for the Immigration & Checkpoint Authority (The Singapore Promise). Before joining the media industry, Shobha was a banker in India’s largest bank – the State Bank of India. She made a name as a serious journalist in The Straits Times and Today newspapers with her incisive cutting-edge opinion columns and well- researched ground-breaking stories. She has a Master’s degree in English Literature. She founded India Se Media in 2007, dedicated to serving the Indian diaspora in Singapore and Southeast Asia. As the leading media platform for the Indian diaspora, India Se Magazine is carried on Asia’s top airlines, such as SIA and Silk Air. It has a readership of over 500,000 spanning across many countries today.

mr aniL changaroth

Managing Director (& General Counsel) of ChangAroth Chambers LLC & ChangAroth InterNational Consultancy

chAIr: corporATe

goVernAnce

Mr Anil Changaroth is a Mediator, Adjudicator, Arbitrator, Advocate and Solicitor of Singapore and Solicitor of England and Wales. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from the University of Buckinham followed by an MSc in Construction Law & Arbitration from King’s College. During his time in practice, he has been an in-house counsel, head of Contracts Advisory & Dispute Management services, and also part of the international arbitration practice group of Lovell Lee & Lee.

mr kishore jethananD Daryanani

Managing Director of Ganga JamunaElectronics Pte Ltd

chAIr - InTegrATIon

Founded in 1986 with a paid-up capital of $2.4 million, Ganga Jamuna Electronics is one of the leading import/export businesses for branded consumer products. Within a span of 22 years and under the leadership of Mr Kishore Daryanani, the company has secured a strong foothold in new and emerging markets and CIS countries. Born into a family of businessmen, Mr Kishore has an eye for entrepreneurship and decades of hands-on experience. He has held key appointments in several companies.


ms Purnima kamath

Founder & CEO of De Ideaz Pte Ltd

chAIr - eVenTs

Ms Purnima Kamath started her own company to utilise her past experiences in marketing communications by setting her foot in the education, events, cultural and arts ecology. She graduated from the Nanyang Technological University with an MBA degree in International Business and has more than 25 years of experience in Business Development, Marketing, PR and IT. Today, De Ideaz is one of the leading event management companies In Singapore and Asia-Pacific handling Indian diaspora events.

mr Parthiban murugaiyan

Managing Director of Ishtara and Luvenus Jewellery

chAIr – AspIrIng

enTrepreneurs

neTWork

Mr Parthiban Murugaiyan took over his family’s gold jewellery business at the age of 22 and transformed it into one of the leading jewellery merchants. With extensive experience gained over the years and good foresight, Mr Partiban set up Luvenus Jewellery to realise his global vision. In 2012, its first outlet opened in Changi Airport. It made an impression on the global scene with the opening of its first international outlet at Hong Kong Airport. He also became the first local Indian entrepreneur from the retail industry to win the Rotary Singapore Asme New Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

mr vs kumar

Managing Director & Founder of Network Express Courier Services Pte Ltd, Network International Courier Services Pte Ltd, Rapido Distributions Pte Ltd & Premier’s Tea Moods Pte Ltd

chAIr – membershIp

mAnAgemenT

Mr V S Kumar is an experienced entrepreneur with strong foresight. With his vast experience, revolutionary methods and strong skills in business management, he founded four different companies. Mr Kumar is always seeking new business opportunities to expand his business model so that he can serve his clients even better. He is also a keen believer in life-long learning and graduated from Atlantic International University with an MBA.

mr sriDev mookerjea

Chairman & Managing Director of Blossom Group, CEO of Meranti Alliance Shipping, Managing Director of Global Alliance Shipping

co-chAIr – corporATe

socIAl responsIbIlITIes

Mr Sridev Mookerjea is a dynamic person with over 25 years of experience in various well-reputed and large multinational shipping companies involved in both technical and commercial management of various-sized vessels. He has a good track record including holding positions of high responsibility. His expertise and experience are in mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and mentoring and turning around sick shipping companies and maritime industries.

OffIcE bEARERs


mr muraLikrishnan ranganCEO of Print Lab Pte Ltd

chAIr – brAndIng, bd & dIgITAl Technology

Print Lab is the first, largest and only print agency in Singapore with over 50 machines, occupying over 50,000

square feet and employing over 130 staff. Print Lab has grown at an astonishing pace to become the youngest and largest print agency in Singapore offering a large variety of services. Mr Murali is a highly spiritual man who is growing his company for reasons beyond himself; he actively partakes in charitable and social causes and intends to serve more people as he builds more resources. Mainboard-listed Fraser and Neaves (F&N) wholly owned subsidiary, Times Publishing, has entered into a conditional agreement to acquire a 60 per cent stake in Print Lab for $24.8 million. Under the agreement signed and disclosed on March 11, Print Lab will become an indirect subsidiary of F&N.

mr m subramaniam

Founder & CEO ofSeagull Pte Ltd

co-chAIr – corporATe

socIAl responsIbIlITIes

mr naLinkant amratLaL rathoD

Chairman of Solomed Capital Pte Ltd, Chairman of International Advisory Board of Bakrie Group

chAIr – InTernATIonAl relATIons (IndonesIA)

Mr Nalinkant Rathod has been associated with the Bakrie Group in Indonesia in various capacities for the last 30 years, holding various senior positions. He joined the Bakrie Group in 1987 and has played a critical and transformational role within the group. He is a successful entrepreneur in his own capacity and a seasoned cross-cultural negotiator and deal maker. Currently, he is the Chairman of the India-Indonesia Bilateral Committee of the Indonesian Chambers of Commerce.

mr manDeeP singh naLwa

Founder & CEO of Taurus Wealth Advisors

chAIr – InTernAl AudIT

Mr Mandeep Singh Nalwa offers fee-based holistic and tailored investment advisory services to high net-worth

individuals and families across Africa and Asia. A team of dedicated investment professionals and support staff provide investment advice and family office services to clients in 19 countries. The firm currently advises on US$1.8 billion and has offices in Singapore and Dubai. Mr Mandeep Singh Nalwa has 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, having worked at Duetsche Bank, HSBC, Merrill Lynch and Citibank prior to founding Taurus in 2008. He is a Bachelor of Economics graduate from Sri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University, and has an MBA (PGDM) from the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad, India.

Dr komathy rajaratnam

Medical Director of The Lifestyle Clinic

chAIr – Women

enTrepreneur neTWork

Dr Komathy Rajaratnam is one of Singapore’s leading doctors in aesthetic medicine. She has been practising aesthetic medicine since 1993 and is considered a pioneer in the field in Singapore. She graduated from the National University of Singapore and developed a special interest in dermatology. Dr Rajaratnam has a diploma in dermatology from the University of Wales and is recognised as an expert at treating tanned complexions and melasma, as well as providing botox and fillers.

Mr Maniam is the Founder and CEO of Seagull Pte Ltd, a Singapore-registered ISO 9001 certified company that specialises in marine, offshore and subsea engineering. With his passion and zest for turning vision into reality, he catapulted the SME into a leading company with over 400 clients worldwide. Mr Maniam is a true engineer at heart who personifies the three P’s of success - Planning, Professionalism and Precision.


rom imparting business savvy to a psychic to ensuring the right training for a girl desperate for a job, nothing’s impossible for the young guns manning the

SME Centres of the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI). Stephen Nathan, Matthew Kumar Danaraj and Kameshwari Jayapragas freely speak of the “fulfilling moments” they have

had while helping small and medium enterprises. That’s the one thing they have in common despite their different backgrounds. Suave Stephen could pass for a banker, which he was, for three-and-a-half years with Maybank. Before that he spent 10 years in the United States where he did his Bachelor’s in business at Western Michigan University and managed a food-and-beverage chain for three years; then he spent three-and-a-half years in New Zealand where he managed a company that imported tea. Matthew, earnest in glasses, graduated from Nanyang Technological University and worked for a start-up. Ebullient Kameshwari was with a public relations firm for one-and-a-half years before joining SICCI and acquired a degree from RMIT, studying part-time while she worked.Matthew, 33, Manager, Business Advisory, with a four-year old daughter, has been with SICCI for two years. “I came from a market research background. Market research is looking at data, analysing it, presenting it, while here (at SICCI) it’s more client-facing, more people-oriented. I have met a diverse group of people. The most interesting one would probably be a mindreader, a psychic.”He was so interesting, in fact, that it wasn’t he who approached Matthew; it was Matthew who approached the psychic. “I reached out to him. Sometimes people approach us, sometimes we approach people. “I read his article in a magazine about entrepreneurship and contacted him directly through his email. He was running his own business here as a psychic, just a one-man show. We had a chat about how he became a psychic. “On our part we advised him on what are his potential growth avenues -- maybe train other aspiring psychics, market himself outside Singapore,” said Matthew. “He is a young guy, younger than me.” Matthew not only saw possibilities for the young psychic but also had ideas about how he could do better business. “We talked about certification, his being a niche industry. At that time, he was not in a position to apply for any grant. But he has this skill, which is also NLP. He can do soft skill training and get on the SkillsFuture portal, then his clients can claim subsidies to attend his courses.” And if government subsidies are available for attending his courses – as they are for SkillsFuture

They are the SME Centre folks, helping businesses get tech, talent, training and grants – and they don’t charge a cent

the go-to guys

F

By shobhA TserIng bhAllA and AbhIjIT nAg

COVERSTORY

Stephen nathan


courses – then he will have more clients,” added Matthew.Matthew and his colleagues at SME Centres can come up with helpful ideas for small and medium enterprises because they are dealing with business and the government at the same time. They know what grants and training programmes are available. And, what’s more, they don’t charge a cent: the service is free. “They are very appreciative of the services rendered to them,” said Matthew about the clients of the SME Centre. “They can reach out any time, it's not just a one-time session. They are grateful for the help. We don't send anyone away.”Stephen, 38, who has a 22-month-old son, is Manager, Business

Advisory, SME Centre@SICCI. He works with Workforce Singapore, a statutory body under the Ministry of Manpower committed to overseeing the transformation of the local workforce and industry to meet ongoing challenges. Explaining his role, he said, “When SMEs want to hire someone, this is where we can assist. There are times when SMEs find it difficult

to hire people either due to cash-flow problems or because they can’t identify the right talent. So we advise our clients on the appropriate programmes to help them in these matters. There are government programmes that can provide a grant for SMEs to hire Singaporeans or PRs. Some of these programmes also have training included in them. Some of our clients have hired

marketing managers and associate lawyers and obtained various grants from the government… Typically in a month we would advise an average of about 30 clients.”The work gives him satisfaction. “I had a fulfilling moment when I assisted a client in the F&B industry”. She and her husband had just returned to Singapore from Dubai and entered the bubble tea business. “She wanted to hire and train a girl recommended by the Ministry of Family Services. I brought them together in a programme called Career Trial Programme where individuals

“they are very appreciative of the services rendered to them. they can reach out any time, it's not just a one-time session. We don't send anyone away.”

MattheW KuMar Danaraj


get to have a short trial stint through structured on-the-job training. This training period serves as a time for both the individual and the employer to see if the person is suitable for the job. That was quite fulfilling because this girl had been looking for a job for several months and hadn’t been able to get any until she came across this woman who was willing to provide the training and take her on board.”Stephen never saw the girl, though. He only met the ethnic Chinese woman who wanted to train and employ her.“We advise all SMEs regardless of race and industry,” he said. The Chinese woman had a choice of going to a different SME Centre. There are 13 in all, including the two run by SME, and she chose SICCI. “It's quite well known that we serve everyone. At times they come due to proximity, at times they come because somebody else has recommended us. This has nothing to do with ethnicity. We are here to help anyone, Chinese, Indian or Malay.”Kameshwari, 31, is currently the Project Head in SME Centre@Little India, which is located at Little India Arcade. She has been with the organisation for eight years and her background is in communications and public relations. “I joined Enterprise Development Centre@SICCI (EDC@SICCI) in 2011, It was rebranded as SME Centre@SICCI. Currently, I am positioned at SME Centre@Little India, along with two of my colleagues, to serve merchants in Little India better,” she told Business Matters. “Apart from business advisory, we conduct capability workshops that educate SMEs in marketing, human resource or financial management. One of the biggest areas of concern or interest with SMEs in this precinct is marketing. My marketing background enables me to advise them on resources and strategies for their offline and online marketing.”She takes satisfaction in the success of Blacspice Media, an arts enrichment company. It started virtually as a one-man show. “The founder started off small, doing theatre work, art, directing, film-making and now he has really grown. I have worked with him for about five years and have had several marketing advisories with him. Currently, he is doing a lot more enrichment projects with schools and other educational institutions,” she said. The founder has also set up a new non-profit organisation that helps individuals learn the art of film and theatre.Kameshwari is in the thick of action, being based at SME Centre@Little India, which was launched in September 2018. “One of the biggest projects we are driving in the precinct is the Little India Digitalisation Project, which was launched on 1 February 2019. The initiative is to help SMEs in the area embrace e-commerce and e-payments,” she said.“We are gradually reaching out to the SMEs of Little India to embrace digitalisation to grow their business,” she added. “One successful adopter of an e-Payment solution was Jothi’s Traditional Charm. They recently implemented FAVE e-Payment solution and have access to their marketing strategies that will help the beauty salon attract online customers and push for offline sales – by getting them to visit their salon.”The SME Centre in Little India was set up in collaboration with Enterprise Singapore just as the older one in the SICCI Building was the fruit of collaboration with Enterprise’s precursor,

Spring Singapore. Matthew, who like Stephen works in the SICCI Building, last year completed a project involving childcare centres. It was an initiative of Enterprise Singapore. “What we do is look at

COVERSTORY

“apart from business advisory, we conduct capability workshops that educate SMes in marketing, human resource or financial management.”KaMeShWari jayapragaS


SME Centre@Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SME Centre@SICCI) was set up in 2008 in collaboration with Enterprise Singapore (a government body) to offer business advisory services at no charge.Supported by Enterprise Singapore, the network of SME Centres provides small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with easy access to business advisory to help them start, sustain and grow their businesses.SME Centres provide services including business diagnosis, advisory on government schemes and capability workshops.There are 13 SME Centres which have been set up to provide face-to-face business advisory services to enterprises. Each SME Centre is staffed by a team of business advisors who assist enterprises in areas ranging from legal and financial matters to technology, innovation and overseas expansion.The SME Centre@SICCI hopes to be the first-stop for Singapore-based enterprises that are looking to grow their businesses locally and expand overseas.

your First-stop For Business Advisory…today, tomorrow and Beyond!

common problems in a particular industry,” he said. “We try to find a solution. In my case, I noticed there's a problem with childcare centres in Singapore where things are still done manually. Teachers spend a lot of time doing administrative work, tasks which can be automated so teachers can focus on teaching and paying more attention to the children. We also found a solution.“When children come to a childcare centre, their attendance has to be taken. Now they have iPads , so the child just looks at the iPad camera and it autosnaps. So it captures attendance. Their temperature is also taken. parents can also log into the app and see the child. The childcare centre can get 70 per cent subsidy for this. The subsidy is provided by the government, by Enterprise Singapore.”This was SICCI’s brainchild, said Matthew. “We worked with the solution provider, we talked to childcare centres islandwide, we shared with them the benefits of adopting this software and also the grants they can get for this . We spoke to a few vendors as well. This was done in about seven months. It started in December 2017, and we wrapped it up around September 2018.”“This year I am working on another project called Data Protection Trustmark,” said Matthew. “It's an initiative by the Info-Communications Media Development Authority. This is a project based on all the data leaks in Singapore. The government is taking this quite seriously and wants companies to be more mindful of protecting their customers' data.”Working with Workforce Singapore, Stephen knows how important it is to the future of the nation. “Our vision is to strengthen the Singapore core, to ensure that Singaporeans have a viable job in the long run. The stronger we are in our

core, the stronger we are in the long term,” he said. “We cannot always be dependent on foreign labour although it is required. We need to strengthen ourselves for the future.”

(From left) Stephen nathan, V Sangari, assistant Centre Director, SMe Centre, Matthew Kumar Danaraj and Kameshwari jayapragas


n a move that is breathing new life into our youth, SICCI has set up a re-engineered new body to help young entrepreneurs achieve their goals.

The Aspiring Entrepreneurs Network (AEN), of which Mr Parthiban Murugaiyan is the chairman, provides a comprehensive support platform to understand the needs of budding entrepreneurs and start-ups besides developing SMEs and helping them achieve their full potential.It provides a positive, supportive, and structured environment for the development and exchange of quality business ideas and strategies. It does so by helping entrepreneurs build personal relationships with dozens of other qualified business professionals.Committed to business and networking, the AEN has been making headway. In October, it held its maiden event, which was a roaring success, attended by about 200 young entrepreneurs and professionals. “Special thanks to our guest of honour NMP Mr Mohd Irshad, guest speaker Mr Hasan from Pondok Abang, bankers and financial houses, SME Centre business advisors, AEN mentors and advisors, Sicci Board directors and to the other consultants as well,” said Mr Murugaiyan. The AEN targets three groups of business owners within the Indian community and seeks to nurture a camaraderie within the community so that they can all learn from one another.Its three target groups are budding entrepreneurs, start-ups, developing SMEs.

Budding entrepreneursBy “budding entrepreneurs”, it means grad students and individuals with a passion to start a business. It aims to inculcate an entrepreneurial mindset in them and create new entrepreneurs. Accordingly, its focus areas are:• Internships for grad students• On-the-job training for individuals• Industry-based mentorship• Guidance in transforming innovative ideas into actionable business models.It offers the following benefits:• It helps build confidence to venture into businesses• It helps understand business processes and practices• It provides access to a stronger network base to support future start-up endeavours.

stArt-ups“Start-ups” are new entrepreneurs. The AEN’s objective is to achieve functionable and viable business models for start-ups. Therefore, these are its focus areas: • Advisory on setting strategy and direction• General insights on business functions: Finance,

marketing, HR, branding, operations (processes and systems), accounting, automation, etc.• Grant support for start-ups• Fundraising: Techniques on preparation and presentation• Connecting with potential investors/banks etcIt offers the following benefits: • It strengthens leadership skills• It ensures a functional business structure• It provides a clearer road map for the future of start-ups

develOping smes “Developing” SMEs are SMEs with an annual turnover of less than $1 million, less than three years in business, and fewer than 10 employees – in short, local small-scale SMEs with aspirations to grow and diversify.The AEN aims to strengthen and develop small-scale SMEs. Its objective is to help them achieve a sustainable business structure. Accordingly, for the “developing SMEs”, the AEN has the following focus areas:• Advisory and mentorship• Domain expertise in targeted business functions (share/fees)• Geographic growth consultation• Financial planning, budgeting, business development, branding, marketing solutions• Fundraising: Techniques on preparation and presentation• Connecting with potential investors/banks etc• Grant support from the SME CentreIn short, the AEN aims to adopt a provide a comprehensive support platform for new and developing SMEs to achieve their full potential.It will identify trusted consultants to provide the following optional services for its members:• Outsourced digital marketing• Outsourced financial, accounting and budgeting• Outsourced Government grants applications and submissions• Manpower placement• IT and automation for website, ERP systems, e-commerceBy way of further value-added support, an in-house Business Connect Concierge will cross-promote the members’ businesses and services to encourage potential collaborations and joint ventures.

The Aspiring Entrepreneurs Network seeks to help budding entrepreneurs, start-ups and small SMEs

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fficially launched in July last year, the SICCI Women Entrepreneur Network (WEN) is a dynamic forum for women to cultivate their passion for

entrepreneurship and develop a solid network with other ambitious women in business.“The goal of WEN is to be the platform where Indian women can come together to be empowered, motivated and inspired by other successful women,” said WEN Chairperson Dr Komathy Rajaratnam.WEN aims to empower women by providing knowledge, advice and services. It works with its partner entities in SICCI, other chambers of commerce and the Singapore government to develop the business acumen of women from the Indian community. It wants them to succeed. Promoting social mobility is its second major goal.WEN wishes to aid and support women entrepreneurs who face adverse circumstances. “We want to recognise the unsung heroes of our community and realise their true potential, no matter which walk of life they might come from,” it said in a press release on the eve of its inaugural awards ceremony this month.WEN is holding its inaugural Indian Women of the Year awards ceremony on April 25. Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, will be the guest of honour at the awards ceremony at The Ritz-Carlton Millenia, Singapore.The awards are a recognition of the achievements and contributions of women in the Singapore Indian community.The winners were yet to be announced when we went to press. They were chosen by a distinguished panel of judges -- Dr Uma Rajan, former director of School Health Services, Ms Elim Chew, who founded the 77th Street retail chain, Ms Zaibun Siraj, co-founder of the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) and Ms Juthika Ramanthan, the first Chief Executive Officer of the Supreme Court of Singapore. SICCI Vice-Chairman Mr Mahesh Sivaswamy, Chairman and CEO of Transworld Group Singapore, was the organising chairperson of the inaugural awards.The awards are to honour women who have had the strength to overcome barriers and become exemplary role models. WEN seeks to encourage women to have the confidence to step forward and embrace entrepreneurship, blazing a trail for a new generation of Indian women. These women will be showcased as an inspiration to the community and the nation as a whole.There were four categories of awards open to nomination by members of the public and a lifetime achievement award to be decided by a panel. The four open categories were Young Achiever Award, Herculean Award – Single Mother, Woman with a Heart Award, and Indian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Application forms were available online and at the SICCI Building in Stanley Street.We spoke to some of the nominees when they gathered at the Ritz Carlton on April 17 when the judges met. Ms Siti Safrin

Farah Binte Jahir Hussain, nominated for the Young Achiever Award, spoke about her passion for nursing following the death of her father and seeing her grandmother treated for cancer. Ms Mrinalini Venkatachalam, nominated for Woman with a Heart Award, said she had been working for gender equality for the last 10 years. Ms Menaka d/o Gopal, nominated for the same award, told the touching story of how she had been taking care of a girl left with her by a single mother while the girl’s father was in prison. The girl, who was three years old when left with her, is now 12 years old. The girl, who had various issues, having seen her father beat her mother, and who began speaking only at the age of five, now accompanies her when she does social work as a volunteer with the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA), said Ms Menaka. Ms Uma Balji, also a nominee for the Woman with a Heart Award, spoke about her work as chairperson of Project Smile, which helps underprivileged women learn new skills to support themselves and their families.WEN says it hopes to inspire confidence in greater numbers of women to step forward to implement their ideas and advance their business dreams.

The Women Entrepreneur Network aims to motivate and inspire Indian women

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n keeping with Singapore’s vision of becoming a Smart Nation, the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) is helping Singapore businesses

go digital.To encourage more merchants to adopt e-payments and e-commerce, SICCI is collaborating with various partners. It signed a memorandum of intent with the Info-communication Media Development Authority (IMDA), Enterprise Singapore and Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association (LISHA) on February 1 to collaborate on the digitalisation of Little India.“Going digital is the way of the future. It is not a question of whether you go digital, but when and how you do it,” said Mr S Iswaran, who was then Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry), at the signing of the memorandum. “It will help businesses in Little India to digitalise and implement e-payment services and e-commerce platforms.” Mr Iswaran is currently Minister for Communications and Information.Dr T Chandroo, Chairman of SICCI, said, “2019 will be a ground-breaking year for SICCI as we propagate digitalisation to better serve the needs of our members. In a changing business landscape where customer needs are shifting and market competition is increasing, it is imperative that merchants in Little India evolve and adapt to the times of going digital. We want as many merchants as possible to ride on the digital

bandwagon so as to enhance their businesses. The time could not be more apt to launch this programme as we look forward this year to celebrating the chamber’s 95th anniversary and its accomplishments.”Singaporean businesses are bracing for digitalisation. This emerged in a survey commissioned by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) last year. Forty-six per cent of the 114 Little India merchants who participated in the survey were already open to adopting digital technology.

SICCI is collaborating with partners to help Little India merchants adopt new technology

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One of the merchants who has benefited from embracing digital technology is Mr Selvam, the owner of Anushia Flower Shop. He has been running his business for more than 25 years in Little India. His business suffered when his rent increased. Forced to relocate away from the main road, he suffered a drop in walk-in customers. To revive his business and remain competitive, Mr Selvam explored an unorthodox option – he went online to sell flowers and Indian products. That brought opportunities he never expected. His sales now are overwhelming.SICCI was among the first to revamp its website and come out with a mobile app to benefit its members and customers. The website was launched with a bang on February by Minister Iswaran.“SICCI is proud to be the first business chamber in Singapore to offer a mobile app for its members to tap on the chamber’s services and membership privileges on the go,” said Mr K Barathan, Chief Executive Officer of SICCI. “We believe our new website will allow our visitors to have a very informative and interactive experience as we continue to grow and increase our membership,” he added, speaking at the launch.Visitors are encouraged to explore the website and sign up for

direct emails from the Chamber at www.sicci.com/contact-us.SICCI also signed two separate memorandums of understanding with the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) and James Cook University.Together with SINDA, SICCI aims to identify strategic partnerships with industry players to develop internship and employment opportunities for young Indian

S i n g a p o r e a n s studying at p o s t - s e c o n d a r y institutions. It is hoped this will help them make better career choices by providing them with meaningful work assignments and industry exposure. The understanding reached between SICCI and James Cook University aims to identify new opportunities for collaboration between them in international trade and business via research and c o n s u l t a n c y projects.James Cook U n i v e r s i t y Singapore will

provide research and development expertise or advisory services where appropriate as well as suitably qualified students to SICCI for student placements and internships.

“SiCCi is proud to be the first business chamber in Singapore to offer a mobile app for its members to tap on the chamber’s services and membership privileges on the go”Mr K Barathan


he Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry took one more step to help small and medium enterprises when it opened a second SME

centre in Little India. The new SME Centre, at Little India Arcade, was officially inaugurated by Mr S Iswaran, Minister for Communications and Information, on September 29 last year.It is a welcome addition to the SME Centre in the SICCI Building in Stanley Street. The latter was set up in 2008 in collaboration with Enterprise Singapore to offer business advisory services at no charge.The SME Centre@Little India was also set up jointly with Enterprise Singapore – and collaboration from the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association (LISHA).The new centre is to help Little India merchants go digital. Mr Iswaran said: “If you go to Chinatown and Little India, there are many shops engaged in traditional businesses. But even in the traditional businesses, we can introduce digital technology, change their business value proposition and enhance their competitiveness.”SICCI Chairman Dr T Chandroo said the SME Centre hoped

to help about 1,000 businesses in Little India keep up with evolving technological trends and stay viable. “It can’t get any better for SMEs and merchants in the Little India area with the SME Centre opened in the heart of the area. There is no reason for them to not visit and get advice, which can help them in expanding their business and getting expert advice,’’ he said.The centre provides advice on topics such as financing, human resource management and business development. Mr Iswaran said SME Centres can offer customised solutions to help businesses reorganise their processes, instead of just giving off-the-shelf options that may not allow them to derive the full benefits of transformation.SICCI has taken other initiatives to help businesses in Little India.In July last year, it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association to help Little India merchants improve business operations.It will also be working closely with other agencies like the Infocomm Media Development Authority, Workforce Singapore and Singapore Tourism Board to help businesses grow.

SICCI move to help local merchants modernise and grow their business

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aPriL 04SME Day

aPriL 08Board Meeting – Discussion of Financial Matters (AGM)

aPriL 17SME Conference

aPriL 25Indian Women of the Year Awards 2019

aPriL 26April BOD Meeting

aPriL 28Business Mission to Malaysia

2nd weekEntrepreneur Video Profiling - Vasantham

ongoingNew Membership Drive

may 03Charity Golf Tournament 2019 + Dinner

may 24Launch of SICCI Indian Entrepreneur Awards

TbCMembers’ Networking Night

1st weekFTA New Trade Documentation Service

may 31May BOD Meeting

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he Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) has proposed a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the Indian state of Gujarat for

Singapore’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The proposal was made to the Gujarat government by a SICCI delegation which visited the state in January during the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit. Led by SICCI Vice-Chairmen Prasoon Mukherjee and Mahesh Sivaswamy, the delegation included SICCI Chief Executive Officer K Barathan as well as senior executives from various organisations. They had a half-an-hour meeting with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the eve of the summit in Gandhinagar – a privilege extended to only five other international delegations. At the meeting, representatives of companies such as Singapore Airlines, Surbana Jurong and Transworld Group Singapore spoke to Mr Modi about their investments in Gujarat and other Indian states. “We had a good exchange with the Prime Minister. He expressed interest in furthering the business relations between Singapore and India,” said Singapore’s High Commissioner to India, Mr Limn Thuan Kuan, who attended the meeting along with Singapore’s Consul General in Mumbai, Mr Gavin Chay.SICCI signed a memorandum of understanding with the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry to further collaboration in business and trade.A Special Economic Zone for Singapore SMEs in Gujarat will benefit both sides. Singapore’s small and medium entrepreneurs, constrained by land shortage at home, will be able to expand their business. There will be more jobs for Indian workers, too. Singapore SMEs as well

as micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) should be allowed to operate in the zone.Mr Prasoon Mukherjee said, “SMEs and MSMEs in Singapore want to expand their operations and production capacities, but due to the dearth of land, they are not able to do much. If we are allowed to have a SEZ especially for Singapore’s small and medium entrepreneurs, then not only can we expand but also create lots of local employment in Gujarat.”SMEs play an important role in Singapore. According to the Singapore Department of Statistics, 262,600 or 99 per cent of the 263,900 enterprises in Singapore were small and medium enterprises in 2018 – and they accounted for 48 per cent of the

$445 billion nominal value added to the economy. Many Singapore SMEs and MSMEs have set up facilities in Malaysia, Indonesia, China and even in Bangladesh.India, nevertheless, has its attractions. As Mr Mukherjee said, by setting up shop in India, Singapore SMEs and MSMEs will not only have more production capacity to supply the global market; they will also be able to tap the Indian market. India is the world’s fastest growing major economy.SICCI called for the expansion of trade and business opportunities in logistics, start-ups, infrastructure, hospitality and technology-enabled services. The Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in the past attracted several companies from Asia and Europe to establish their presence in Gujarat. SICCI sought to leverage on this event to help its members take advantage of the business and investment opportunities in the state. “This summit will provide a suitable platform for Singapore companies to establish business networks and collaborations with Indian companies. This is an effort that SICCI has undertaken in line with its internationalisation strategy,” said Mr Mukherjee on the eve of the visit.“The delegation will also have the opportunity to network with key government agencies, business leaders and business

associations, to understand Gujarat’s economic and investment climate and policies and find partners for meaningful collaboration between Singapore and India,” said Mr Sivaswamy. The delegates did meet the heads of various government departments in Gujarat during the visit and explored good business opportunities. Gujarat, one of India’s most socio-economically developed regions, is a prime contributor to the country’s growth and India’s leading trade,

business and investment destination.The visit to Gujarat was in line with SICCI’s priorities. As part of its five-year strategy plan, SICCI is focusing on internationalisation via collaborations with trade associations and chambers, particularly in South Asia.

SICCI delegation to Gujarat proposes a Special Economic Zone in the state for Singapore SMEs

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he Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) signed a memorandum of understanding with the PHD Chamber of Commerce

and Industry (PHDCCI), Punjab, India, in December to promote business between Singapore and India.The SICCI Vice-Chairman, Mr Prasoon Mukherjee, and the PHDCCI President, Mr Rajeev Talwar, signed the memorandum in the presence of Punjab’s Minister of Education and Food Processing, Mr OP Soni.The event took place on December 6 at the Punjab International Trade Expo (PITEX) organised by the PHDCCI in

the holy city of Amritsar, India.Under the terms of the memorandum, SICCI and the PHDCCI will work together to organise trade and market research missions, conferences, symposia, B2B meetings, seminars, exhibitions and trade fairs in Singapore and India to further business relations between the two countries.The two Chambers will share information on economic developments in their respective regions as well as exchange official visits to foster cooperation for improved business relations.Addressing the inaugural function, Mr OP Soni said the Punjab government was committed to assisting industrialists and urged them to help strengthen the economy in Punjab.As a keynote speaker at PITEX, Mr Prasoon Mukherjee said, “Punjab is ready to work with Singapore companies to provide necessary manpower and resources that would aid in expanding their businesses in India. SICCI is well placed to assist Indian businesses, especially the SMEs, in their efforts to internationalise their business. In response to the interest and enquiries from companies and Chamber members about growing opportunities in the South Asia market, we are in the midst of setting up the South Asia desk as part of the Chamber's internationalisation

and focus strategy to assist Singapore SMEs in

their endeavours to look beyond Singapore's shores to expand their business into India. Encouraged by the positivity of the Punjab government, we may look into organising trade missions to Haryana and New Delhi in the third quarter of 2019.”In 2018, bilateral trade and

investment between Singapore and India amounted to US$150 billion and this figure is expected to grow to US$250 billion over the next five years.

SICCI signs memorandum of understanding with PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Amritsar

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The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) is one of the premier chambers in India. Established in 1905, it is a proactive National Apex Chamber working at the grassroot level and has strong national and international linkages. The Chamber acts as a catalyst in the promotion of industry, trade and entrepreneurship. The PHD Chamber, through its research-based policy advocacy role, positively impacts the economic growth and development of the nation.


deepAVAlI gAlA nIghT

No, it was neither Bollywood nor fairy tales which came up with the formula that good triumphs over evil. The story is as old as the Ramayana. Rama slew Ravana and returned with Sita to Ayodhya, where the people decorated their homes and lit lamps to welcome them. The tradition continues to this day in the Deepavali festival when we light lamps, decorate our homes, visit temples – and party. Our Deepavali Gala Night on November 2 was a hoot. Calendar Nazis might crib

Flashbacks to gabfests and galas hosted by your very own Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

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ixing business with pleasure, we not only help business grow but bring our members closer together too. Schmooze or talk shop, you will never be at a

loss for ideas and friends at any of our events, from insightful seminars to glittery galas. Networking, that’s us, for new ideas, new opportunities, good business and great friends. The camaraderie is loud and clear in some of these photos as we look back on some of the special moments that animated this 95-year-old august body of ours in recent months.


we binged four days before Deepavali. But you don’t have to stick to the date to get the spirits flowing! November 2 was perfect, thank God, it was a Friday. Nothing like the night before the weekend to get a party going. Cameras popped, music played, high-wattage smiles punctuated lively chatter, the occasion graced by the great and the good. Our thanks go to the Minister for Education Ong Ye Kung, who was the guest of honour, and Mr Vikram Nair, MP, the special guest.


“Think equal, build smart, innovate for change.” The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day on March 8 resonated in the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, especially now that we have a Women Entrepreneur Network. The day was celebrated in style. “International Women’s Day reminds us to celebrate women today and every day!” we were told. The ladies will be pleased. So are we with them. Kudos to the Women Entrepreneur Network for hosting a lively networking session to celebrate the spirit of Indian women entrepreneurs at The Swissotel, Singapore.

IndIA InTerIm budgeT semInAr

As we go to press, polling continues in the world’s largest democracy – a mammoth exercise lasting more than a month. India’s 900 million voters make up one-eighths of humanity, reminds the Guardian. Not just a country but a subcontinent, India is gargantuan in every respect, with expenses to match. India’s interim 2019 Budget with estimated US$380 billion revenues and

about US$470 billion total expenditure exceeds the gross domestic product of many countries. It came up for discussion at the India Interim Budget 2019 Seminar organised by us in collaboration with Enterprise Singapore on February 12. SICCI Vice Chairman Prasoon Mukherjee decoded the budget at the seminar which also looked at recent changes in India’s tax and regulatory landscape.

InTernATIonAl Women’s dAy celebrATIons


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“Love and marriage/They go together like a horse and carriage,” sang Frank Sinatra. In the same way, every budget is followed by post-budget analysis. We got into the act, bringing together eminent talking heads at the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Post-Budget Dialogue 2019 on March 27. Dr Tan Wu Meng, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Trade and Industry, was the guest of honour. SICCI Chief Executive Officer K Barathan moderated the discussion. Dr Tan highlighted the government’s efforts to help

Singapore SMEs. He had advice to offer on how companies could adapt to changing times and landscapes in order to propel their businesses. The dialogue was attended by staff from the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Enterprise Singapore, as well as current and new members of SICCI.The dialogue coincided with the Members Networking Night. New members received certificates of membership from SICCI Chairman Dr T Chandroo, who officially welcomed them.

Are you AlIgned? busIness complIAnce 2019

The times they are a-changin’, as every businessman knows. SICCI Chairman Dr T Chandroo shone a light on the changing landscape when he gave the opening address at the Are You Aligned? Business Compliance 2019 event on March 25. He offered insights into the proposed amendments to the Employment Act. SME Centre@SICCI organised a seminar for participants to learn about the latest amendments to the Employment Act and get updates on the Singapore data protection landscape. About 180 owners of small and medium enterprises turned up to hear Dr Chandroo. He stressed the need for SMEs to understand the importance of business compliance which ultimately ensures good corporate governance.


hen the new team of directors got inducted into the Indian Singapore Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s august board on March 2018, it was a vindication of

the hard work many of them had put into being elected.Nothing is more indicative of this dedication and passion than the manifesto they created. Titled the Navaratna or Nine Jewels, the manifesto is a powerful document of the aspirations and goals that they have for all the chamber’s members and the Singapore Indian community in general. It was also, perhaps, the first time in the 95-year old history of our chamber, that any team or individual vying for elections had come up with a manifesto.Some jewels we have already started implementing and some are a work-in-progress. Some of the nomenclature names may have changed but the goal remains the same: to help our members grow and prosper.

here is the manifesto:

Now is the time, to scale new heights; with newer ideas; with a newer team with the passion and the ability to deliver the promise.

Why are we – the “Now’s The Time” team – standing for elections to be the new board of directors of SICCI

Because we believe in our community of Indian business people! We have a vision of sustainable growth that embraces each and every member of our chamber with no one left out.

With a desire to develop SICCI into such an exemplary chamber that it will be a template for other industry-based associations, we have selected a talented, credible and highly experienced team of male and female entrepreneurs from all the major fields to bring in fresh blood, energy, innovation and professionalism without any legacy issues.

This is a critical time for the Chamber and for our members. We believe it is imperative that we work with determination and transparency to ensure that the Chamber is considered to be a valued, worthwhile and effective body on all fronts by all concerned.

The “Now’s The Team” – Team’s LeadershipWe believe that our team, headed by Dr T Chandroo, one of Singapore’s most successful and respected home-grown entrepreneurs, is the most credible and competent team to

help SICCI leapfrog into becoming the number one chamber in the region. We offer the kind of commitment, time energy, enthusiasm and regional experience that the SICCI management needs today to face the challenges of a fast-changing world.

The team brings with it a diversity of ethnic and religious groups and languages that correctly reflects the Indian diaspora in Singapore and Southeast Asia: our region of maximum engagement for the foreseeable future.

Our team also brings deep and wide entrepreneurial experience as well as a record of respected leadership roles. We have received the endorsement of SICCI’s most effective and respected past chairmen who have made a name for themselves in their fields and raised the profile of the chamber during their tenure.

The “Now’s The Time” Team – Team’s CommitmentWe are committed to making SICCI the best business association in the region through innovative and ethical processes and leadership. Every action we undertake will be totally professional and transparent and predicated only on one principle. Will it benefit all our members? That is non-negotiable.

The Nine Nava-Ratnas (Jewels) Of Our ManifestoOur manifesto is also inspired by what Minister of Trade and Industry Mr S Iswaran stated on March 31 at the SIEA 2018. “In today’s fast-moving world, rally together plugging into the community and the world… (adopt an) in-depth understanding of industry to adopt digital technology and globalise.”

1. We will grow SICCI exponentially. There are more than 8,000 Indian companies in Singapore but a large proportion remains untapped. Moreover, we have seen a drop in the number of members in the chamber over the last four years. Our goal is to rectify this immediately. We intend to bring at least 2,000 more into the fold within the next two years and thus strengthen the membership base. This will be done by:A team set up to do outreach to them via various media platforms (emailers, EDMs, social media, social events, and platforms for these companies to showcase themselves.

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2. While actively growing SICCI’s membership base, we shall continue to place great emphasis on helping small businesses as they are the lifeblood of our economy and deserve the very best support. We propose:

• Monthly networking events• Committee to look into skills, HR and fiscal needs• Help source employees/ interns• Help source trade partners and markets

3. Leveraging on Singapore’s chairmanship of ASEAN for 2018, we will add more muscle in promoting trade between Singapore and ASEAN for the benefit of our members through:

• A sub-committee to reach out to various think tanks such as ISEAS and ISAS• Monthly dialogues between Enterprise Singapore and the committee/ members• Quarterly dialogues with the heads of missions of ASEAN countries• Regular interaction with the media to communicate our plans and build mind-share in the business space.

4. Partnering with other chambers of commerce in Singapore with a view to:

• Fostering a strong working relationship with them• For example, SICCI can work with the Chinese Chambers on the mega One Belt, One Road• Helping members benefit through the Trans Pacific Partnership signed in early 2018• Holding annual or bi-annual conferences or trade shows

with industry giants in collaboration with other chambers

5. Fintech Focus. Singapore is a growing Fintech hub and India is an IT giant. SICCI must leverage on these two strengths to promote innovation by:

• Matchmaking local Indian businesses with local tech companies• Matchmaking local businesses with India-based tech start-ups• Increasing technological awareness (about blockchain, Internet of Things, 4D, etc) by getting experts to advise/consult• Getting more member companies to apply these technologies

6. Promote e-commerce and business through social media and digital platforms. We plan to assist SICCI members who are in bricks-and-mortar businesses to embrace digital and social media.

7. Internationalise our SMEs by:• Helping them understand and access various Government schemes• Assist them in brand management through partnerships with brand managers, communications specialists• Arrange regular trade missions• Regular interaction with trade and industry departments of embassies here• Arrange foreign internship exchanges

8. WIN (Women’s Indian Network)• We will increase the number of women members through

incentives such as reduced fee for the first year for up to a maximum of 100 members• Have a women-run committee to oversee the progress of this membership and ensure equal opportunities• Devise a series of women-centric entrepreneurial and leadership programmes• Aim to have 33 per cent of the board comprised of women directors

9. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). To become a leader and be sustainable, no company can afford to ignore the environment and ecosystem (society and nature) that goes into building it. CSR will be a key pillar of SICCI.

• Setting up a committee to implement CSR• Setting aside a budget for this• Working with social enterprises• Working with NGOs• Working with schools and educational institutions • Setting up a CSR award for the most socially responsible company of the year


s the plane approached Yangon airport, its bucolic periphery of green farmland studded with trees and rustic wooden

houses brought a wave of nostalgia washing over me, reminding me of upcountry airports in semi-rural Bengal and Assam.But Yangon as a city is as sophisticated in its urban sprawl as any Asian metropolis, although with more soul and serenity. Its decaying beauty and extraordinary collection of colonial buildings, some imposing, some delicate, some ravaged - reminds me of Kolkata - a less crowded and chaotic Kolkata, perhaps, but architecturally very similar. Not surprising, considering the British had tried to re-create a “little Calcutta” in what then was one of the finest cities in Southeast Asia, a little sister to the capital of their East Indian empire. Just down the road from our hotel is the Strand on the Rangoon River waterfront built to resemble

To those jaded by commercial travel, Myanmar’s capital city is a stirring reminder that some cities have not lost their souls

By shobhA TserIng bhAllA

memories of myanmar

A

TRAVEL


Kolkata’s famous Strand on the Hooghly river.In the city’s narrow apartment buildings built in the early 20th century there are further resonances to downtown Kolkata and the Chinese shophouses in Singapore and Penang. But we soon find that Yangon differs vastly from every other major city I have travelled to.But it is the golden pagodas of Myanmar that will remain

The golden pagodas of myanmar that will remain etched in any traveller’s memory. They stand out like

glowing reminders of a time when the land was greener and life

more civilised


etched in any traveller’s memory. They stand out like glowing reminders of a time when the land was greener and life more civilised. The Shwedagon Pagoda is the most imposing with its large maze-like grounds, dotted with intricately carved golden stupas and temples built in various elegant styles. The pagodas are at their surreal best at sunset when crowds of thousands stream in to gape and worship in hushed reverence.. So much about Myanmar reminded me of India, particularly the Northeast. From the types of weaves on the Longyi (traditional Burmese sarongs), to the kind of food they ate, to their mannerisms and language. Indeed, it is the people that sets Yangon apart from most cities I have visited. They are polite in an almost uninhibited, innocent way – like village people. There were times when I ran short of change in the local currency and strangers in the queue stepped up and proffered cash without expecting anything in return. On my way to a village a young man showed us the way to an orphanage and refused to take a tip because we were visitors.At other times in the market, my daughter would pick up an item she liked, such as the stone and bark for making thanaka (a traditional face pack) and the shop-keeper would refuse to take money because she was charmed by the fact that the young visitor liked it. When she spent hours playing with puppies in the pet market and offered to pay for taking photos, the owner, obviously a struggling vendor who could do with the cash, would not hear of

it. It was enough that this young woman loved dogs.The people of Myanmar are steeped in centuries of genteel civilisation that no amount of political upheavals seems to have tarnished. Sure, there are other countries that can boast ancient and glorious civilisations but in Myanmar it is an everyday thing, this habit of courteousness and civility among people from all walks of life. On the third day my daughter announced that she felt really safe in Yangon, so could she cycle around the city on her own? When I asked her what made her think it was

so safe, she said, “Men are so decent here. They always drop their gaze if they happen to meet mine by chance,” adding that she had heard there were hardly any rapes in the city. This was corroborated by almost every local

woman I met – from the young manicurist in the hotel to the fruit seller in the night market. For the average traveller, Yangon’s lack of a roaring nightlife, fast food dives, malls and tasteless theme parks may seem daunting. But the absence of these bland cookie cutter “attractions” are what add to Yangon’s undeniable charm.

TRAVEL


There are enough exciting night bazaars with seriously good food and open-air markets where one can find bargains like antique coins, furniture and gems – the latter literally. And connections can bring down even the price of Pigeon’s Blood rubies by a handsome amount. I ended up paying one-third less than what I would have paid even in India because the jewellery store owner was a long-time friend of my friend! I was extended the family discount.But the real gem for me was waiting to be found, sad and ignored in a side alley near the mythical Shwedagon. The tomb of India’s last Mughal Emperor. It was the reason I was in Yangon at all.For months I had been thinking of accompanying my husband to Yangon where he often travelled to on business. Along with its golden pagodas and beautiful culture, a long-dead Indian emperor with tragically melancholic eyes kept haunting me, playing on my weakness for history and romance.That longing turned into a compelling need when an acquaintance at a luncheon mentioned he had just returned from a business trip to Yangon where, among the sights he had taken in was the tomb of my royal obsession – Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor of India who had been exiled by the British to Yangon and died forlorn and

forgotten there. Once exalted by the people of India as a freedom fighter, he was exiled and made to live in deplorable conditions in this foreign land, until his death at the age of 87. Bristling with indignation and keen to see with my own eyes the treachery of the British, I set off for the tomb armed with a map and my research, a patient husband and a fellow journalist – my daughter. We were relieved to find the tomb, now turned into a shrine (darga), in pristine condition. It is looked after a Hindi/Urdu-speaking maulvi who recited Urdu couplets composed by the poetry-loving emperor himself and told us what must be the “official” version of the emperor’s last days and how his grave had been hidden and discovered by some road-diggers.But as I looking at the faded photographs of the aging emperor and his piteous poems scrawled on a wall because he was given no

paper or ink as he lay dying, I found my eyes too t e a r - s o a k e d to notice how rehearsed he sounded or how tawdry was the shiny green covering on the tomb of the last scion of India’s more than 3 0 0 - y e a r -old Mughal dynasty.

In some ways I found comfort in the fact that Bahadur Shah had been laid to rest in Yangon, a haven for strong souls. Like the great Lady, Aung San Su Kyi, he was jailed but he never surrendered.


ake a deep breath. That’s the first step in mindfulness, a form of meditation which requires you to concentrate on the present moment. Banish all thoughts. You have

to begin by concentrating on something you would hardly pay any attention to ordinarily such as popping a raisin in your mouth or taking a breath. Savour the raisin, note how it feels as you breathe in and out. That’s mindfulness, focusing on the present moment. It’s not mumbo-jumbo. Mindfulness, with its roots in Buddhism, is recommended for relieving stress, anxiety, depression and enhancing the powers of concentration and observation. That’s why companies such as Google and Apple have introduced mindfulness training for employees.Here’s what one of its foremost practitioners, Jon Kabat-Zinn, has to say. Professor of Medicine Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, he is the founder of the Centre for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society and its world-renowned Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Clinic. “Mindfulness is awareness, cultivated by paying attention in a sustained and particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally,” he says. When practising mindfulness, you are not supposed to judge how it feels as you eat the raisin or breathe in and out; you simply have to savour the moment. “The tack we take in meditation,” he says, “is simply to witness whatever comes up in the mind or the

body and to recognise it without condemning it or pursuing it… What we are interested in in meditation is direct contact with the experience itself… ”

Mindfulness is a form of meditation derived from an ancient Indian system. It is supported by companies like Google and Apple. What makes it so attractive?

Practising minDfuLness

T

HEALTH

By AbhIjIT nAg

“Mindfulness is awareness, cultivated

by paying attention in a sustained and

particular way: on purpose,in the

present moment, and non-judgmentally.”

jon KaBat-Zinn


One of the exercises he recommends for beginners is eating a raisin “mindfully”. Take a raisin and hold it in the palm of your hand or between your finger and thumb. Gaze at it, see the colour and the shape. Feel the texture. Put it in your mouth. Explore it with your tongue. Bite into its tender flesh, savour its sweetness. The exercise is meant to heighten your senses: You are not merely eating the raisin but noticing how it looks and feels and tastes. That’s why this exercise is called “raisin consciousness”. You could do the same exercise with any other food. The idea is to do what you are doing with a heightened awareness, engaging your senses.Another simple exercise is mindful breathing. Focus your attention on your breath. You can do this exercise while standing, but ideally you will be sitting on a chair or on the floor. You can keep your eyes open or closed, but it may be easier to concentrate if you

close your eyes. Inhale through your nostrils, hold your breath, then exhale through your mouth. Feel each intake and outflow of air as you breathe in and out, notice the gentle heave and swell of your chest, the slight contraction and expansion of your abdomen with every breath you take. You may not be able to focus on your breath for long, your mind may wander. Don’t be upset. Gently bring your attention back to your breath. You could start with a five-minute breathing exercise and extend the time span later. The point is to do it regularly, preferably at the same time every day. Meditation of any kind is said to yield better results if you can settle into a routine where it becomes a habit.

It is important to be comfortable and relaxed while you meditate. So, sit where you are comfortable. You may sit on a cushion or a prayer mat on the floor for greater comfort and keep your legs crossed if you can do so easily. The point is not to strain yourself. If sitting on a chair, let your feet touch the floor. Keep your back straight. Let your hands rest where they are comfortable. You may meditate with your eyes closed to avoid distraction. But you can keep your eyes open, too, as long as you can concentrate on your meditation and not be distracted by the objects around you. Ideally, you should pick a spot where you can be at peace and not disturbed. For the goal of meditation is peace and tranquillity. Meditation is also a means of communing with your inner self and something greater than yourself, of gaining insight and

wisdom – and that is what mindfulness is all about: being attuned to the present moment, and thus experiencing life more fully. “Mindfulness as a practice provides endless opportunities to cultivate greater intimacy with your own mind and to tap into and develop your deep interior resources for learning, growing, healing, and potentially for transforming your understanding of who you are and how you might live more wisely and with greater well-being, meaning, and happiness in this world,” says Kabat-Zinn. “Ultimately, I see mindfulness as a love affair — with life, with reality and imagination, with the beauty of your own being, with your heart and body and mind, and with the world.”Mindfulness can be incorporated in a walking meditation, too. This is how to do it, says Kabat-Zinn. Find a place indoors or outdoors where you can walk 10 to 15 paces back and forth. Walk that stretch, then pause and breathe for as long as you like. Now walk back and pause and breathe again. As you walk, concentrate on every step and breath you take. Notice the sensation of being in motion, the movement of your arms and legs, of contact with the ground; be alert to the sounds nearby; absorb what you see. When your mind wanders elsewhere, bring your attention back to yourself and your surroundings. Mindfulness, in short, is heightened awareness of the here and now and appreciating the present moment. It makes us more intensely alive. If that’s not a goal worth pursuing, what is?


ome after a long day at the office, signing mega deals and planning your next expansion? Unwind by spending some time in the kitchen.

According to mental health experts, this is the perfect way to bake your cake and eat it too. A study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology, found that tasks like cooking made people feel more enthusiastic about things the next day.There are many benefits associated with this activity. Cooking is a creative outlet to channel your energy. It can be a good distraction from your day-to-day grind and a way to express your emotions.Apart from these, it enables you to improve the quality of your life by eating better and healthier, and is a nice way to bond with your family and friends.Interestingly, cooking is also no longer just a woman’s job. Men too are taking to it thanks to the proliferation of television shows and social media. According to a survey held a few years ago, a higher proportion of American men – 43 per cent – have been cooking compared to 30 years ago. They are also spending more time – about 49 minutes a day doing so, up from 38 per cent and 40 minutes two decades ago.Here are some easy recipes that will help you whip up a delicious meal.

Unwind in the kitchen. Cooking’s good for you, say mental health experts, and the results can be toothsome

tasty theraPy

h

fOOD

limOnCellO mule

ingredients

◗ 1 oz Limoncello◗ 1 oz vodka ◗ 1 lemon-lime Ginger Beer

methOd

1. Add all the ingredients together in a Julep cup and mix.

2. Garnish with a lemon wheel and a mint sprig.


fOOD

simple sAlAd

ingredients

◗ 150 gm green leaves◗ 1 English cucumber, very thinly sliced◗ Half red onion, peeled and very thinly sliced◗ 1/2 cup toasted nuts

fOr dressing

◗ 3 tbsp olive oil◗ 1 tbsp lemon juice ◗ 1 tsp Dijon mustard◗ 1 small clove garlic, finely-minced ◗ 1/2 tsp fine sea salt◗ 1/4 tsp black pepper

methOd

1. For Dressing: Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl until combined.

2. Salad: Combine all ingredients in a large salad bowl and toss until evenly combined. Serve immediately and enjoy!

eAsy grilled CHiCken

ingredients

◗ 1/3 cup olive oil ◗ 1/4 cup red wine vinegar◗ 2 tbsp dijon mustard◗ 3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce◗ 2 tbsp lemon juice◗ 1 tbsp salt◗ 1 tbsp pepper◗ 2 tbsp Italian herbs◗ 1 tsp garlic pdr◗ 1 tbsp sugar◗ 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

methOd

1. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl or freezer bag. Add chicken breasts and toss well.

2. Marinade for at least one hour.

3. Preheat the grill to medium high heat.

4. Place the chicken breasts on the grill and cook each side for 7-8 minutes.

5. Let it rest for a few minutes before slicing. Serve with salad.


grit: the Power of Passion and PerseveranceBy angeLa DuckworthPublisher: Scribner

ard work beats talent in Angela Duckworth’s book. What you need to excel in anything, according to her, is “grit”, by which she means a blend of passion and

perseverance. She cites the writer John Irving. He earned a -C in high school English. Reading and writing did not come easily to him because he was dyslexic. He had to work harder than others. But that gave him stamina, he says, and helped him as a writer. “Rewriting is what I do best as a writer. I spend more time revising a novel or screenplay than I take to write the first draft.” His meticulousness has earned him accolades. His novel, The World According to Garth, won the National Book Award and his screenplay of his own novel, The Cider House Rules, won an Academy Award.Backing her own research with stories about how others like Irving succeeded by dint of hard work, Duckworth has produced an international bestseller. What makes the book more appealing is her own life story. She used to be told as a girl by her scientist father, “You’re no genius!” Yet she went on to win a MacArthur Fellowship, sometimes called a “genius grant”. Her career took unusual twists and turns. She attended both Harvard and Oxford and worked for McKinsey but quit it to be a schoolteacher. Later, she did research in psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, where she is now a professor. “I know that grit is mutable, not fixed, and I have insights from research about how to grow it,” she writes. That’s why the book is so popular. She offers hope and practical advice.Her interest in grit and talent goes back to her student days when she saw the documentary film Spellbound about American teenagers competing to be the national spelling bee champion. It made her wonder whether their ability to spell difficult words correctly was due to their talent or grit. She did a survey which showed “grittier kids went further in competition… by studying many more hours and, also, by competing in many more spelling bees”.In other words, hard work pays. She cites a study by the cognitive psychologist Anders Ericsson who found that the very best violinists at a German music academy had put in about 10,000 hours of practice over 10 years. Less accomplished violinists, on the other hand, had practised only half as much over the

same period. This is known as the “10,000-hour rule” – that to reach the top you have practise that long. People are likely to work harder if they like what they are doing. Duckworth quotes Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, who said: “You’ll find in life that if you’re not passionate about what it is you’re working on, you won’t be able to stick with it.” Helpfully, Duckworth includes a questionnaire in the book for you to answer and check how gritty you are based on how many points you score on what she calls the Grit Scale. You can become more gritty, she says and identifies the four prerequisites. “First comes interest. Passion begins with intrinsically enjoying what you do.” “Next comes the capacity to practise. One form of perseverance is the daily discipline of trying to do things better than we did yesterday.” “Third is purpose. What ripens passion is the conviction that your work matters.” “And, finally, hope. Hope is a rising-to-the-occasion kind of perseverance… it is inestimably important to learn to keep going even when things are difficult, even when we have doubts,” she writes. She is writing from her own experience. In her first year in college, she enrolled in neurobiology. She did so poorly in it that her assigned teaching assistant advised her to drop the course. Instead, she worked hard and got a B –“the lowest grade I’d get in four years, but, ultimately, the one that made me the proudest”. In her experience then, passion and perseverance may take one not to the very top but farther than expected. That’s what’s special about grit, a blend of passion and perseverance. It helps you succeed. Indeed, Duckworth made “grit” the reigning buzzword in education policy circles in America, according to the New York Times Book Review. She is certainly worth reading.

The power of passion and perseverance works wonders, writes Angela Duckworth, spelling out why grit is what you need to succeed

true grit

h

bOOKs

By AbhIjIT nAg


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mci (p) 115/04/2019 april 2019 business matters · 2019. 5. 9. · punjab and signed mous. others...

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