Tuesday, November 10, 2009
ONLY A PERSON WHO RISKS IS FREE
ONLY A PERSON WHO RISKS IS FREE
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach for another is to risk involvement.
To expose your feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To believe is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken,
because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live.
Chained by their attitudes they are slaves; they have forfeited their freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.
Hugo Prather
What do you think of above?
Can BOS (Blue Ocean Strategy) be applicable as well?
- wong chee tat :)
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach for another is to risk involvement.
To expose your feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To believe is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken,
because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live.
Chained by their attitudes they are slaves; they have forfeited their freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.
Hugo Prather
What do you think of above?
Can BOS (Blue Ocean Strategy) be applicable as well?
- wong chee tat :)
Monday, November 9, 2009
Project Updates / Status
Here are the updates for the projects:
I ought to provide some updates about the project status but I'm quite busy with other stuff and hence delay.
4th Nov: Last week , I'm very busy with project and of course the amended versions of last and the final HRM tutorial (presentation) on leadership.
My adviser told me the earlier portions of the algorithm were incorrect and needed refinements. I quickly made changes and did some refinements. Just got back the changes on Monday and these few days focused on adviser's comments and made necessary changes to the draft version.
Recheck and recheck before the final version. Don't forget 6th Nov is the deadline for the report!
5th Nov: 6th Nov is the deadline for the report! Progress? Panic.
A great deal of time spent just to check and check through the alignments, settings, configurations, and of course print and submit to respective Profs.
6th Nov: The deadline for the upcoming report!
Submitted. Now, there is still need to showcase / demo the simulations and presentations.
Just hope that everything will be fine.
// Re-edited on 11th Nov
- wong chee tat :)
I ought to provide some updates about the project status but I'm quite busy with other stuff and hence delay.
4th Nov: Last week , I'm very busy with project and of course the amended versions of last and the final HRM tutorial (presentation) on leadership.
My adviser told me the earlier portions of the algorithm were incorrect and needed refinements. I quickly made changes and did some refinements. Just got back the changes on Monday and these few days focused on adviser's comments and made necessary changes to the draft version.
Recheck and recheck before the final version. Don't forget 6th Nov is the deadline for the report!
5th Nov: 6th Nov is the deadline for the report! Progress? Panic.
A great deal of time spent just to check and check through the alignments, settings, configurations, and of course print and submit to respective Profs.
6th Nov: The deadline for the upcoming report!
Submitted. Now, there is still need to showcase / demo the simulations and presentations.
Just hope that everything will be fine.
// Re-edited on 11th Nov
- wong chee tat :)
Ubuntu 9.10
Ubuntu 9.10 already released for some time. Will focus on project and exams till vacations.Will update this soon.
- wong chee tat :)
- wong chee tat :)
Singapore to keep manufacturing an "integral" part of economy
Singapore to keep manufacturing an "integral" part of economy
Channel NewsAsia
SINGAPORE: Singapore aims to keep its manufacturing industry an "integral" part of the economy as it seeks new strategies to help it grow faster than other advanced countries.
Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang told Bloomberg that the government is "very reluctant" to let the industry’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) drop "sharply". This is due to its multiplier effects on other parts of the economy, including logistics and business services.
Manufacturing accounts for about a quarter of Singapore’s GDP.
Mr Lim said that over the years, Singapore has built up some competitive strengths and good market share of some niches, in areas such as electronics, pharmaceuticals and maintenance overhaul of aircraft.
While he recognised that some segments of manufacturing may not be competitive in Singapore and may have to move out, there is constant restructuring taking place.
On the Economic Strategies Committee, the minister said he believes the committee studying the importance of manufacturing would subscribe to this importance and see how Singapore can continue to encourage manufacturing investments to take place here and to grow it.
The committee was formed in May and is expected to unveil its main recommendations in January.
— 938LIVE/ir
How will Singapore continue to compete and yet be different from the rest of the world?
- wong chee tat :)
Channel NewsAsia
SINGAPORE: Singapore aims to keep its manufacturing industry an "integral" part of the economy as it seeks new strategies to help it grow faster than other advanced countries.
Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang told Bloomberg that the government is "very reluctant" to let the industry’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) drop "sharply". This is due to its multiplier effects on other parts of the economy, including logistics and business services.
Manufacturing accounts for about a quarter of Singapore’s GDP.
Mr Lim said that over the years, Singapore has built up some competitive strengths and good market share of some niches, in areas such as electronics, pharmaceuticals and maintenance overhaul of aircraft.
While he recognised that some segments of manufacturing may not be competitive in Singapore and may have to move out, there is constant restructuring taking place.
On the Economic Strategies Committee, the minister said he believes the committee studying the importance of manufacturing would subscribe to this importance and see how Singapore can continue to encourage manufacturing investments to take place here and to grow it.
The committee was formed in May and is expected to unveil its main recommendations in January.
— 938LIVE/ir
How will Singapore continue to compete and yet be different from the rest of the world?
- wong chee tat :)
Countdown
The school has sent an email regarding the dates of exams. Counting down for the upcoming exams.
- wong chee tat :)
- wong chee tat :)
Red Ocean and Blue Ocean
No more HRM lectures and tutorials. Remaining for the HRM is the HRM exam. Can we do a blue ocean?
- wong chee tat :)
Raja
Saw Raja taking the same bus as me and we chatted on the bus. He is currently on IA and will finish soon and he is going to church.
All the best!
- wong chee tat :)
All the best!
- wong chee tat :)
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
What recovery? Unemployment shoots past 10 percent
What recovery? Unemployment shoots past 10 percent
AP
By JEANNINE AVERSA and CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER, AP Economics Writers Jeannine Aversa And Christopher S. Rugaber, Ap Economics Writers – Fri Nov 6, 6:39 pm ET
WASHINGTON – Just when it was beginning to look a little better, the economy relapsed Friday with a return to double-digit unemployment for only the second time since World War II and warnings that next year will be even worse than previously thought.
The jobless rate rocketed to 10.2 percent in October, the highest since early 1983, dealing a psychological blow to Americans as they prepare holiday shopping lists. It was another worse-than-expected report casting a shadow over the struggling recovery.
President Barack Obama called it "a sobering number that underscores the economic challenges that lie ahead." He signed a measure to extend unemployment benefits and to expand a tax credit for homebuyers.
Economists had not expected the 10 percent mark to come so quickly and immediately darkened their forecasts. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com, and Joshua Shapiro, chief U.S. economist at MFR Inc., predicted the rate will peak at 11 percent by mid-2010. They earlier had projected 10.5 percent.
Unemployment at 11 percent would be a post-World War II record. Only once since then has joblessness hit double digits in the United States — from September 1982 to July 1983, topping out at 10.8 percent.
"It's not a good report," said Dan Greenhaus, chief economic strategist for New York-based investment firm Miller Tabak & Co. "What we're seeing is a validation of the idea that a jobless recovery is perfectly on track."
The Labor Department, using a survey of company payrolls, said the economy shed 190,000 jobs in October. A separate survey of households found 558,000 more people were unemployed last month than in September. Some 15.7 million Americans are out of work.
The survey of companies doesn't count the self-employed and undercounts employees of small businesses. So the economic picture could be even more dire.
One struggling small business, homebuilder Miller and Smith Inc. of McLean, Va., has trimmed its work force to about 100 from 350 at the height of the housing market in 2005. The company has been hurt by a slowdown in building and surging health care costs.
Troubles for small businesses could have a disproportionate effect on the economy, because they account for about 60 percent of the nation's jobs. They tend to rely on credit cards and home equity lines — both of which banks have tightened — for cash flow.
And the unemployment rate doesn't include people without jobs who have stopped looking, or those who have settled for part-time jobs. Counting those people, the unemployment rate would be 17.5 percent, the highest since at least 1994.
Economists had expected unemployment to rise to no more than 9.9 percent, up just a tick from September's 9.8 percent, and the surprising jump added to fears that the recovery could fizzle if Americans don't spend.
Already, consumer confidence for October came in well below what analysts were expecting. Shoppers' sentiments about the state of the economy are the gloomiest in nearly three decades.
Stores, always with an eye on holiday sales, are especially worried this year.
"This is a situation where the recovery balloon is getting off the ground but might not have enough power to keep rising," said Brian Bethune, economist at IHS Global Insight.
Sitting at a St. Louis unemployment center, Paul Branyon, who was laid off in July from a Williams-Sonoma factory in Tennessee and now lives with relatives, shook his head and laughed at the notion that the recession is over.
"It's getting actually harder right now," the 26-year-old said. "It seems like everywhere you go, people are losing jobs. People are cutting back. So it's going to get harder before it gets easier."
The economy actually grew from July to September for the first time in a year, but that's no consolation for people like Jose Betancourt, 57, who goes to a Miami-area career center twice a week to take computer education classes.
Betancourt has been out of work since July, when he was laid off from his supermarket maintenance job. He lives on about $600 a month in unemployment benefits, barely enough for the rent for his efficiency apartment, food and utilities.
He has trouble believing the recession is over. In his neighborhood, he sees other jobless people and empty stores.
"It's as if they just gave the economy a nice coat of varnish to make everyone feel better," he said. "I'm in a state of anxiety, and I see it all around Miami."
The worst recession since the 1930s may be over, but the recovery isn't expected to be strong enough to stem job losses and get businesses hiring again. And the unemployed are staying out of work longer. The count of people jobless for six months or longer stands at a record 5.6 million.
As for employers, few are confident enough in the recovery to hire. Art McKeen, plant manager of the Baldor Electric Co. factory in suburban St. Louis, says the plant has no plans add workers any time soon.
Baldor cut back production last year and put workers on part-time hours rather than lay them off. Orders have picked up again, but not enough to justify hiring. "We don't have the need for them right now," McKeen said.
Prospects that the government might pass a second stimulus bill appear dim. Congress is already grappling with sweeping health care legislation, raising concerns about further swelling the federal deficit.
"More debt, more spending ... clearly has not worked — particularly in a time of double-digit unemployment," said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Democrats said the economy would have been in worse shape without the first stimulus.
October was the 22nd straight month the U.S. economy has lost jobs, the longest on record dating back 70 years. Losses at factories, construction companies, retailers and financial services companies far outweighed gains in education and health care, professional and business services and elsewhere. Government payrolls were flat.
One faint sign of hope: Temporary employment grew by 33,700 jobs, its third straight month of gains after steep losses earlier this year. Employers are likely to add temporary workers before hiring permanent ones.
Chris Rupkey, an economist at the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, called the big jump in the jobless rate "a kick in the stomach" and predicted a slog ahead. It could take at least four years for the jobless rate to drop to more normal levels of 5 or 6 percent.
"The last two recoveries from recession in the '90s and 2001 were jobless, and this one is clearly headed down the same road," he said.
___
Associated Press Writers Jim Kuhnhenn and Anne Flaherty in Washington, Emily Fredrix in Milwaukee, Christopher Leonard in St. Louis, Adrian Sainz in Miami, Andrew Vanacore in New York and Tom Murphy in Indianapolis contributed to this report.
This is not a piece of good news. What will happen over here in Singapore?
- wong chee tat :)
AP
By JEANNINE AVERSA and CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER, AP Economics Writers Jeannine Aversa And Christopher S. Rugaber, Ap Economics Writers – Fri Nov 6, 6:39 pm ET
WASHINGTON – Just when it was beginning to look a little better, the economy relapsed Friday with a return to double-digit unemployment for only the second time since World War II and warnings that next year will be even worse than previously thought.
The jobless rate rocketed to 10.2 percent in October, the highest since early 1983, dealing a psychological blow to Americans as they prepare holiday shopping lists. It was another worse-than-expected report casting a shadow over the struggling recovery.
President Barack Obama called it "a sobering number that underscores the economic challenges that lie ahead." He signed a measure to extend unemployment benefits and to expand a tax credit for homebuyers.
Economists had not expected the 10 percent mark to come so quickly and immediately darkened their forecasts. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com, and Joshua Shapiro, chief U.S. economist at MFR Inc., predicted the rate will peak at 11 percent by mid-2010. They earlier had projected 10.5 percent.
Unemployment at 11 percent would be a post-World War II record. Only once since then has joblessness hit double digits in the United States — from September 1982 to July 1983, topping out at 10.8 percent.
"It's not a good report," said Dan Greenhaus, chief economic strategist for New York-based investment firm Miller Tabak & Co. "What we're seeing is a validation of the idea that a jobless recovery is perfectly on track."
The Labor Department, using a survey of company payrolls, said the economy shed 190,000 jobs in October. A separate survey of households found 558,000 more people were unemployed last month than in September. Some 15.7 million Americans are out of work.
The survey of companies doesn't count the self-employed and undercounts employees of small businesses. So the economic picture could be even more dire.
One struggling small business, homebuilder Miller and Smith Inc. of McLean, Va., has trimmed its work force to about 100 from 350 at the height of the housing market in 2005. The company has been hurt by a slowdown in building and surging health care costs.
Troubles for small businesses could have a disproportionate effect on the economy, because they account for about 60 percent of the nation's jobs. They tend to rely on credit cards and home equity lines — both of which banks have tightened — for cash flow.
And the unemployment rate doesn't include people without jobs who have stopped looking, or those who have settled for part-time jobs. Counting those people, the unemployment rate would be 17.5 percent, the highest since at least 1994.
Economists had expected unemployment to rise to no more than 9.9 percent, up just a tick from September's 9.8 percent, and the surprising jump added to fears that the recovery could fizzle if Americans don't spend.
Already, consumer confidence for October came in well below what analysts were expecting. Shoppers' sentiments about the state of the economy are the gloomiest in nearly three decades.
Stores, always with an eye on holiday sales, are especially worried this year.
"This is a situation where the recovery balloon is getting off the ground but might not have enough power to keep rising," said Brian Bethune, economist at IHS Global Insight.
Sitting at a St. Louis unemployment center, Paul Branyon, who was laid off in July from a Williams-Sonoma factory in Tennessee and now lives with relatives, shook his head and laughed at the notion that the recession is over.
"It's getting actually harder right now," the 26-year-old said. "It seems like everywhere you go, people are losing jobs. People are cutting back. So it's going to get harder before it gets easier."
The economy actually grew from July to September for the first time in a year, but that's no consolation for people like Jose Betancourt, 57, who goes to a Miami-area career center twice a week to take computer education classes.
Betancourt has been out of work since July, when he was laid off from his supermarket maintenance job. He lives on about $600 a month in unemployment benefits, barely enough for the rent for his efficiency apartment, food and utilities.
He has trouble believing the recession is over. In his neighborhood, he sees other jobless people and empty stores.
"It's as if they just gave the economy a nice coat of varnish to make everyone feel better," he said. "I'm in a state of anxiety, and I see it all around Miami."
The worst recession since the 1930s may be over, but the recovery isn't expected to be strong enough to stem job losses and get businesses hiring again. And the unemployed are staying out of work longer. The count of people jobless for six months or longer stands at a record 5.6 million.
As for employers, few are confident enough in the recovery to hire. Art McKeen, plant manager of the Baldor Electric Co. factory in suburban St. Louis, says the plant has no plans add workers any time soon.
Baldor cut back production last year and put workers on part-time hours rather than lay them off. Orders have picked up again, but not enough to justify hiring. "We don't have the need for them right now," McKeen said.
Prospects that the government might pass a second stimulus bill appear dim. Congress is already grappling with sweeping health care legislation, raising concerns about further swelling the federal deficit.
"More debt, more spending ... clearly has not worked — particularly in a time of double-digit unemployment," said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Democrats said the economy would have been in worse shape without the first stimulus.
October was the 22nd straight month the U.S. economy has lost jobs, the longest on record dating back 70 years. Losses at factories, construction companies, retailers and financial services companies far outweighed gains in education and health care, professional and business services and elsewhere. Government payrolls were flat.
One faint sign of hope: Temporary employment grew by 33,700 jobs, its third straight month of gains after steep losses earlier this year. Employers are likely to add temporary workers before hiring permanent ones.
Chris Rupkey, an economist at the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, called the big jump in the jobless rate "a kick in the stomach" and predicted a slog ahead. It could take at least four years for the jobless rate to drop to more normal levels of 5 or 6 percent.
"The last two recoveries from recession in the '90s and 2001 were jobless, and this one is clearly headed down the same road," he said.
___
Associated Press Writers Jim Kuhnhenn and Anne Flaherty in Washington, Emily Fredrix in Milwaukee, Christopher Leonard in St. Louis, Adrian Sainz in Miami, Andrew Vanacore in New York and Tom Murphy in Indianapolis contributed to this report.
This is not a piece of good news. What will happen over here in Singapore?
- wong chee tat :)
Friday, November 6, 2009
Supply of private home sites in Singapore to go up
Supply of private home sites in Singapore to go up
By Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 06 November 2009 1932 hrs
SINGAPORE: The Singapore government is boosting the supply of private residential sites in the first half of next year.
It has announced new sites for sale, which could yield over 10,500 homes – the highest number of units since the Government Land Sales (GLS) Programme started in the second half of 2001.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said on Friday that in deciding supply, it looks at market conditions and medium-term demand.
Demand has been buoyant, with over 5,700 units sold in the third quarter of this year alone – more than the total number in 2008.
While demand has cooled off slightly, following high prices and moves by the government to curb a speculative bubble, observers believe the property market is on the mend.
For the whole of 2009, regular land sales through the confirmed list were suspended due to poor market conditions. But scheduled sales will resume next year, with a site in Buangkok being one of the largest on offer.
The land parcel, located along Buangkok Drive, can be turned into a 520-unit executive condominium.
In total, eight residential sites are on the confirmed list of the GLS Programme for the first half of next year.
Located at Buangkok, Yishun, Choa Chu Kang, Tampines, Boon Lay, Simei, Sembawang and Upper Serangoon, these sites could see nearly 3,000 new homes built, all aimed at the mass market.
Choy Chan Pong, senior group director, Land Sales & Administration, URA, said: "They are all in suburban areas, so there's a limit to what prices can be. Some may be near MRT station, some may be further from MRT station, so we're really giving a very broad spread of choice for development."
Donald Han, managing director of Cushman & Wakefield, said: "A lot of these are mainly to tackle the concern if prices get out of synch in terms of market fundamentals, and if they get out of reach of the common people.
"In terms of the buyers, you won't have to panic... If you find that today's prices are not affordable, you can afford to wait. There are always alternatives.
"If you are getting married, if you need a place, you could rent first because rentals are still affordable. It has been softening over the last 12 months and it will continue to soften in the next six months."
The remaining 16 residential sites will be sold through the reserve list, which is triggered only when a developer makes a bid that the government considers acceptable.
The list includes a site at Ten Mile Junction at Bukit Panjang, which could see a 200-unit condominium built on top of existing developments. The site will be open for tender in January 2010.
More sites will also be released for hotel use under the GLS Programme.
- CNA/so
- wong chee tat :)
By Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 06 November 2009 1932 hrs
SINGAPORE: The Singapore government is boosting the supply of private residential sites in the first half of next year.
It has announced new sites for sale, which could yield over 10,500 homes – the highest number of units since the Government Land Sales (GLS) Programme started in the second half of 2001.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said on Friday that in deciding supply, it looks at market conditions and medium-term demand.
Demand has been buoyant, with over 5,700 units sold in the third quarter of this year alone – more than the total number in 2008.
While demand has cooled off slightly, following high prices and moves by the government to curb a speculative bubble, observers believe the property market is on the mend.
For the whole of 2009, regular land sales through the confirmed list were suspended due to poor market conditions. But scheduled sales will resume next year, with a site in Buangkok being one of the largest on offer.
The land parcel, located along Buangkok Drive, can be turned into a 520-unit executive condominium.
In total, eight residential sites are on the confirmed list of the GLS Programme for the first half of next year.
Located at Buangkok, Yishun, Choa Chu Kang, Tampines, Boon Lay, Simei, Sembawang and Upper Serangoon, these sites could see nearly 3,000 new homes built, all aimed at the mass market.
Choy Chan Pong, senior group director, Land Sales & Administration, URA, said: "They are all in suburban areas, so there's a limit to what prices can be. Some may be near MRT station, some may be further from MRT station, so we're really giving a very broad spread of choice for development."
Donald Han, managing director of Cushman & Wakefield, said: "A lot of these are mainly to tackle the concern if prices get out of synch in terms of market fundamentals, and if they get out of reach of the common people.
"In terms of the buyers, you won't have to panic... If you find that today's prices are not affordable, you can afford to wait. There are always alternatives.
"If you are getting married, if you need a place, you could rent first because rentals are still affordable. It has been softening over the last 12 months and it will continue to soften in the next six months."
The remaining 16 residential sites will be sold through the reserve list, which is triggered only when a developer makes a bid that the government considers acceptable.
The list includes a site at Ten Mile Junction at Bukit Panjang, which could see a 200-unit condominium built on top of existing developments. The site will be open for tender in January 2010.
More sites will also be released for hotel use under the GLS Programme.
- CNA/so
- wong chee tat :)
Quintiles to more than double Singapore workforce
Quintiles to more than double Singapore workforce
By 938LIVE
SINGAPORE: Clinical research organisation, Quintiles Transnational, is planning to expand its presence in Singapore. It is doubling its regional headquarters workforce to more than 500 employees.
Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong said these jobs would provide Singaporeans with the opportunity to play a key role in developing life-saving medicines that will impact patients worldwide.
Speaking at the official opening of Quintiles' Asia-Pacific regional headquarters in Singapore, Mr Gan said pharmaceutical and biotech companies are tapping more on external research resources.
This trend has increased the demand for contract clinical research services offered by companies like Quintiles.
The Economic Development Board (EDB) is also working with Quintiles to make available opportunities for Singaporeans to play a role in advancing human healthcare.
Mr Gan said: "To build up Singapore's pool of clinical researchers, EDB will launch 50 training positions in partnership with companies for Singapore residents who are keen on joining this sector. We are pleased that Quintiles is among the first to come on board this initiative."
Mr Gan added that the Workforce Development Agency is also working to develop a specialist track for clinical research professionals under the Process Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) framework.
"In future, clinical research companies can leverage on the WSQ courses to train new trainees and upskill existing workers. The specialist track will equip workers with relevant practical skills and enhance their knowledge in clinical trial management."
This is targeted to be available by the second quarter next year.
Singapore's biomedical sciences sector employs 16,000 people including 4,000 researchers.
The global contract clinical research market, worth US$20 billion last year, is expected to grow annually by 8.5 percent to reach US$35 billion in 2015.
- 938LIVE/ir
- wong chee tat :)
By 938LIVE
SINGAPORE: Clinical research organisation, Quintiles Transnational, is planning to expand its presence in Singapore. It is doubling its regional headquarters workforce to more than 500 employees.
Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong said these jobs would provide Singaporeans with the opportunity to play a key role in developing life-saving medicines that will impact patients worldwide.
Speaking at the official opening of Quintiles' Asia-Pacific regional headquarters in Singapore, Mr Gan said pharmaceutical and biotech companies are tapping more on external research resources.
This trend has increased the demand for contract clinical research services offered by companies like Quintiles.
The Economic Development Board (EDB) is also working with Quintiles to make available opportunities for Singaporeans to play a role in advancing human healthcare.
Mr Gan said: "To build up Singapore's pool of clinical researchers, EDB will launch 50 training positions in partnership with companies for Singapore residents who are keen on joining this sector. We are pleased that Quintiles is among the first to come on board this initiative."
Mr Gan added that the Workforce Development Agency is also working to develop a specialist track for clinical research professionals under the Process Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) framework.
"In future, clinical research companies can leverage on the WSQ courses to train new trainees and upskill existing workers. The specialist track will equip workers with relevant practical skills and enhance their knowledge in clinical trial management."
This is targeted to be available by the second quarter next year.
Singapore's biomedical sciences sector employs 16,000 people including 4,000 researchers.
The global contract clinical research market, worth US$20 billion last year, is expected to grow annually by 8.5 percent to reach US$35 billion in 2015.
- 938LIVE/ir
- wong chee tat :)
Kingdom of Heaven
Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven, and all else shall be added unto you. [Mathew]
- wong chee tat :)
- wong chee tat :)
Roche opens US$500m manufacturing plant in Singapore
Roche opens US$500m manufacturing facility in Singapore
By Yasmine Yahya, Channel NewsAsia
SINGAPORE : Swiss healthcare firm Roche has officially opened a US$500 million biologics manufacturing plant in Singapore.
The facility in Tuas comprises two manufacturing plants - one will produce two cancer drugs, Avastin and Herceptin, while the other will manufacture a medicine called Lucentis which treats patients with age-related macular degeneration, an eye disease.
The firm has no plans to expand the facility, as its global operations have sufficient capacity for its current and future manufacturing pipeline. But capacity is expected to be ramped up by improving manufacturing yields and productivity.
"This plant was designed for the E.coli or bacterial fermentation platform, but we can produce products like Nutropin, a growth hormone, here. And we also have other products in our pipeline that could potentially be produced here in the future," said Jim Miller, GM of Technical Operations at Roche, Singapore.
Roche has six biologics manufacturing sites around the world, with the one in Singapore being its first in the region. Miller said one reason why the firm decided to enter the Asian market was because of its growing sales potential.
"The market is changing. Where the US and Europe have been the predominant market leaders in the past for the types of medicines that we make, we really see that one of largest populations for cancer will be in Asia. So being here in Singapore is a very important part of the whole plan to supply, hopefully, the world someday with medicines," said Miller.
The Singapore facility currently employs 330 workers, and this figure is expected to rise to over 400 by the end of next year.
- CNA /ls
- wong chee tat :)
By Yasmine Yahya, Channel NewsAsia
SINGAPORE : Swiss healthcare firm Roche has officially opened a US$500 million biologics manufacturing plant in Singapore.
The facility in Tuas comprises two manufacturing plants - one will produce two cancer drugs, Avastin and Herceptin, while the other will manufacture a medicine called Lucentis which treats patients with age-related macular degeneration, an eye disease.
The firm has no plans to expand the facility, as its global operations have sufficient capacity for its current and future manufacturing pipeline. But capacity is expected to be ramped up by improving manufacturing yields and productivity.
"This plant was designed for the E.coli or bacterial fermentation platform, but we can produce products like Nutropin, a growth hormone, here. And we also have other products in our pipeline that could potentially be produced here in the future," said Jim Miller, GM of Technical Operations at Roche, Singapore.
Roche has six biologics manufacturing sites around the world, with the one in Singapore being its first in the region. Miller said one reason why the firm decided to enter the Asian market was because of its growing sales potential.
"The market is changing. Where the US and Europe have been the predominant market leaders in the past for the types of medicines that we make, we really see that one of largest populations for cancer will be in Asia. So being here in Singapore is a very important part of the whole plan to supply, hopefully, the world someday with medicines," said Miller.
The Singapore facility currently employs 330 workers, and this figure is expected to rise to over 400 by the end of next year.
- CNA /ls
- wong chee tat :)
US jobless rate hits 10.2% as 190,000 jobs lost
US jobless rate hits 10.2% as 190,000 jobs lost
WASHINGTON - US unemployment rate shot up to 10.2 percent in October as another 190,000 jobs were shed, the Labor Department said Friday.
The report highlighted ongoing struggles in the labor market: the jobless rate was the highest since 1983 but the number of jobs lost narrowed to the lowest level in over a year.
Overall, the Labor Department monthly report - one of the best indicators of
economic momentum - was worse than expectations for a 10 percent jobless rate and 175,000 job losses.
- AFP/ir
- wong chee tat :)
WASHINGTON - US unemployment rate shot up to 10.2 percent in October as another 190,000 jobs were shed, the Labor Department said Friday.
The report highlighted ongoing struggles in the labor market: the jobless rate was the highest since 1983 but the number of jobs lost narrowed to the lowest level in over a year.
Overall, the Labor Department monthly report - one of the best indicators of
economic momentum - was worse than expectations for a 10 percent jobless rate and 175,000 job losses.
- AFP/ir
- wong chee tat :)
IMF predicts "sluggish" growth for Asia in 2010 at 5.75%
IMF predicts "sluggish" growth for Asia in 2010 at 5.75%
By Ng Baoying, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 03 November 2009 2102 hrs
SINGAPORE: The International Monetary Fund expects Asia's economy to grow around 5.8 per cent next year. This is below the 6.7 per cent average recorded over the past decade.
But in its latest regional economic outlook report, the IMF has still described Asia's expansion next year as "sluggish".
It expects low consumption from the G7 economies to keep export demand weak.
Asian economies have been showing signs of recovering from the global financial crisis late last year.
And while the IMF said growth is expected to be sluggish, the expansion is still at a positive 5.8 per cent.
As widely-expected, China is expected to lead growth at nine per cent with India in second place at 6.5 per cent.
Newly industrialised economies such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan are not far behind, with growth projected to come in at between 3.5 and 4.3 per cent.
Harm Zebregs, resident representative, Singapore, International Monetary Fund, said: “We see Asia recovering quite strongly at the moment from the very sharp contraction late last year which continued into the first two months of this year. This recovery is led by a normalisation of exports, restocking in the US and Europe, and a very strong policy response of course by the governments here in the region, both fiscal and monetary policy.
“The IMF said that Asian policy makers have one key challenge in the near term - that is, to maintain stimulus policies long enough for a recovery - but not too long such that inflationary pressures, and fiscal sustainability issues creep up."
But the IMF also notes that there are some factors beyond the control of governments.
Mr Zebregs said: "The recovery that's taking shape in the US and Europe, if that falters, that will have an impact on Asia because Asia is still dependent on exports to these countries. At the same time if there would be renewed turbulence in financial markets, a return to risk aversion, that could lead to capital outflows from Asia and could create new stress in financial markets here."
He suggests that to mitigate this issue in the longer term, policy makers should tackle issues such as encouraging domestic consumption.
One way would be to provide better social safety nets to reduce the need for private precautionary savings.
- CNA/vm
- wong chee tat :)
By Ng Baoying, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 03 November 2009 2102 hrs
SINGAPORE: The International Monetary Fund expects Asia's economy to grow around 5.8 per cent next year. This is below the 6.7 per cent average recorded over the past decade.
But in its latest regional economic outlook report, the IMF has still described Asia's expansion next year as "sluggish".
It expects low consumption from the G7 economies to keep export demand weak.
Asian economies have been showing signs of recovering from the global financial crisis late last year.
And while the IMF said growth is expected to be sluggish, the expansion is still at a positive 5.8 per cent.
As widely-expected, China is expected to lead growth at nine per cent with India in second place at 6.5 per cent.
Newly industrialised economies such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan are not far behind, with growth projected to come in at between 3.5 and 4.3 per cent.
Harm Zebregs, resident representative, Singapore, International Monetary Fund, said: “We see Asia recovering quite strongly at the moment from the very sharp contraction late last year which continued into the first two months of this year. This recovery is led by a normalisation of exports, restocking in the US and Europe, and a very strong policy response of course by the governments here in the region, both fiscal and monetary policy.
“The IMF said that Asian policy makers have one key challenge in the near term - that is, to maintain stimulus policies long enough for a recovery - but not too long such that inflationary pressures, and fiscal sustainability issues creep up."
But the IMF also notes that there are some factors beyond the control of governments.
Mr Zebregs said: "The recovery that's taking shape in the US and Europe, if that falters, that will have an impact on Asia because Asia is still dependent on exports to these countries. At the same time if there would be renewed turbulence in financial markets, a return to risk aversion, that could lead to capital outflows from Asia and could create new stress in financial markets here."
He suggests that to mitigate this issue in the longer term, policy makers should tackle issues such as encouraging domestic consumption.
One way would be to provide better social safety nets to reduce the need for private precautionary savings.
- CNA/vm
- wong chee tat :)
Thursday, November 5, 2009
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