Is the Golden Age of Globalization Over?

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“The golden age of globalization that we experienced in the last 30 years since the end of the Cold War has ended clearly and we are entering a new era, a new era that will be marked by greater geopolitical contestation,” said Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong.

Agree?  Disagree?  Learn more.

Pushing Digitization Across the Asia-Pacific Region

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Fast Track Trade (FTT) is the first Singapore-headquartered operator to provide a blockchain-based digital trade platform to the local SME community.  They are working with Get Go Global (Go) to promote one another's platforms in an effort to push digitization across the Asia-Pacific region.

“It [the platform] allows SMEs to seek business partners and distributors, buy and sell goods, and track shipments. Additionally, it can receive and make payments, access financing and buy insurance via an eco-system of service providers on the FTT platform.”

Learn more here.

One Way to Grow? Find New Markets Globally.

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How do you get companies to seize opportunities in the current global environment?  Singapore has some ideas and they focus on the external economy.

So, the renewed push [by the government] is not so much about Singapore not having done well in the internationalisation story. Rather, it is about getting the companies to seize the opportunities in the current global downturn.

We all know that finding new markets through globalization is one way for the companies to grow.

Read more:  Going global -- will more government help make a difference?

Biggest Driver On The Planet: Entrepreneurship!

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I've written about my involvement with the World Entrepreneurship Forum, now I wish to turn you on to a fantastic 2011 White Paper, proceedings of the fourth World Entrepreneurship Forum held in Singapore November 2-5, 2011:

"Entrepreneurship, A Driver for Innovation and Technology"

To download the 56-page PDF-file report, first complete a five-second form ... it's worth it! 

Quote from Page 4:

If you think you are too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room. ~ Dame Anita Roddick, founder of the Body Shop

Watch the video here.   Learn more about the World Entrepreneurship Forum here.

LIVE From Singapore: The World Entrepreneurship Forum 2011

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The 2011 edition of the World Entrepreneurship Forum takes place in Singapore from November 2-5, 2011 at the Shangri-la Hotel, Singapore -- where 150 members from 70 countries, mainly entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs -- will gather for three days to suggest recommendations on "Entrepreneurship -- a Driver For Innovation and Technology."

• Opening session takes place Singapore time on November 2nd at 6.00 p.m.
• "Entrepreneur for the World" Gala Ceremony on November 3rd in the evening
• Closing lunch on November 5th at 12:30 noon

WorldEntrepreneurshipForum2011Presentation.pdf (Download PDF: 2.17 MB)

Watch LIVE here (look at left sidebar where it says DIRECT Access)

Related posts:  World Entrepreneurship Forum

Full disclosure:  Laurel Delaney is a member of the World Entrepreneurship Forum

Sweet Singapore

Photo credit:  Laurel Delaney, Singapore

Some tips and stats on doing business in Singapore.

Singapore: The Entrepreneurial Capital of the World
by Laurel Delaney, Import and Export Guide, About.com

Posted by:  The Global Small Business Blog

The Cool Factor: Singaporeans

Photo credit: Laurel Delaney, Singapore Changi Airport, 2/8/11.

I just returned from a trip to Singapore to attend a World Entrepreneurship Forum Board meeting. We will be hosting our fourth annual World Entrepreneurship Forum in Singapore November 2011 and wanted to make sure our venue choice is a good fit to our Forum's needs.

The Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have jointly become the third founding member of the World Entrepreneurship Forum.

Singapore will host the 4th annual conference of the World Entrepreneurship Forum in November 2011. This makes Singapore the first founding member from Asia to join the Forum, and the first country in Asia to host the Forum.

In the past, we hosted our event in Lyon, France.

No surprises here. Singapore is fantastic.   I consider it the entrepreneurial capital of the world and further, Singapore carries the "cool factor."  To find out why, read "Are Singaporeans Cool?"

Stay tuned for more information about our November event -- coming soon!

Essentials in Setting Up a Business in Singapore

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Unless you've been off the Internet, you've probably read somewhere (World Bank ranks Singapore #1 or The World Economic Forum through its "Global Competitiveness Report 2010-2011") about how Singapore (pictured) is one of the best and easiest places to establish a business.

Here's a primer on what you need to consider before you set up a business in Singapore.

5 Essential Things You Need to Know About Setting Up a Business in Singapore

Biggest mistake you can make?

Get a permit

After laying out your blueprint and choosing the right product to sell in the market, as well as deciding on your target customers, you are now ready to set up a business in Singapore. If you are a foreigner who is not a permanent resident and wanted to actively run a business in Singapore, you have to apply for an EntrePass from Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM). However, if you don’t want to apply for an EntrePass, you can appoint a person who is Singapore citizen to act on your behalf.

Blogging LIVE at the World Entrepreneurship Forum in Lyon, France

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I had the great honor and opportunity to listen to Minister Lee Yi Shyan, the State Minister of Trade and Industry, in charge of Entrepreneurship, Singapore talk about Singapore's strategy on entrepreneurship development.

Here are twenty (20) highlights:

1. How can government be a part of entrepreneurship (big question he was faced with)?

2. Ten percent (10%) of all businesses in Singapore are small businesses.

3. World Bank named Singapore the easiest place to do business.

4. Businesses in Singapore can no longer compete on the basis of low-cost pricing.

5. Projected growth for Singapore is 2-5 percent.

6. After a recession year, Singapore always bounces back.

7. Singapore involves the private sector to encourage and develop entrepreneurship.

8. They set up structures and the environment for entrepreneurship to thrive.

9. They also set up an action committee for entrepreneurs.

10. They set up a PRO enterprise panel to cut red tape and reduce regulatory burden; they seek and act on suggestions by the public.

11. Private equity platform; access to private equity financing (for those companies with high growth potential); micro-loan program -- up to $5 million dollars.

12. State Minister gave an analogy of how a tree grows in 10 years whereas a person takes a century.

13. Will check into his comment about a BlueSKY Festival which encourages SMBs to try out entrepreneurship and reach for their dreams.

14. Has a YES! School which helps schools develop entrepreneurship programs (ten percent of Singapore's schools reach 1,000 students).

15. Eighty-four percent (84%) of people would NOT give up business for better job!

16. There were 50,000 start-ups in 2009.

17. Launched a IES (International Enterprise Singapore) program.

18. Considered most innovative nation according to International Innovation Index.

19. Moving ahead: Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Scientists and Venture Capitalists = dollars + knowledge + market connections.

20. They participated in Global Entrepreneurship Week (this week) with 40 different programs.

Based on Minister Lee Yi Shyan's comments along with his high spirit, it is easy to understand why Singapore is flourishing with entrepreneurs!