The American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore

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The speeches and presentations found below express the author's views and do not necessarily reflect those of AmCham.

The Labor Crunch: Attracting Talent Without Compromising Your Customers' Experience

Speaker: Dr. Steve Hardesty, Ph.D. , Director, Consulting Services of ASSESS Systems

Date: Friday, June 20, 2008

AmCham members learned how their company can improve its methods of attracting, selecting, hiring, and retaining top talent and how some companies use assessments to reduce their overall cost of hiring people and the return on investments in reducing employee turnover.

In addition to talking about selecting the best employees, Dr. Hardesty will unveiled findings about international differences in personality traits that affect employees' abilities to perform their jobs effectively.

Click here to view Dr. Steve Hardesty's presentation

An ICT Analysts Panel Presents: IT Trends in Asia Pacific – What’s on the Horizon for 2009?

Moderator:
Ms. Puni Rajah, Contributing Analyst, The Governance Board

Panelists:
Mr. Raju Chellam, Vice President, Access Markets International (AMI)
Mr. Mike Lafford, GVP Sourcing and Vendor Management, Gartner AsiaPacific
Mr. Manoj Menon, Partner, Frost & Sullivan Singapore

Date: Friday, June 13, 2008

AmCham members attended an ICT panel discussion on what will be upcoming IT trends for 2009.

Mike Lafford of Gartner, Raju Chellam of Access Markets International (AMI), Manoj Menon of Frost & Sullivan, shared their views and predictions for IT trends in Asia Pacific while Puni Rajah of The Governance Board was the moderator.

Ultimately, the panelists concluded that profitable growth is not going to disappear in the coming years, but it may well be in the low single digits. For this reason, decision-makers must beware of disruptions coming from both the technology side and the consumer side. More complex decisions will present themselves as energy prices push up operating costs.

The panelists offered advice both to end-users of Information and Communications Technology and on how best to prepare for uncertain economic times. Cooperation and transparency must spread through the technology industry so that businesses will have the agility and flexibility to respond to unforeseen circumstances. Whereas Asia once seemed a market where anyone could succeed, it has become increasingly apparent that only the discerning can succeed in what has become the leading market in an integrated global economy.

Click here to view Raju Chellam's presentation

Click here to view Manoj Menon's presentation

For Mike Lafford's presentation, please email Jonathan Gould and include your name, designation,
company name and full company address, email address, and phone number.

Panelists:
Joseph Ong, Head of Risk Assurance group in Asia Pacific and Japan, Symantec
Matthew Read, Executive Vice President – Sales & Distribution (Asia), GE Money

Date: Monday, June 2, 2008

Transnational crime, in the forms of money laundering, corruption and bribery, has become an important issue in business today due to the increase of globalization in the current markets and the subsequent increase in government involvement. Companies are being subjected to further scrutiny of financial transactions and are becoming increasingly responsible for compliance to federal and international anti-corruption regulations.

Click here to view the presentation

Asia Leaders Series With Michael Ma

Speaker : Michael Ma, Multi-award winning entrepreneur; Group CEO and Founder
of IndoChine Group of Bars, Restaurants, Clubs, Hotels and Resorts

The IndoChine Group is a fast-expanding lifestyle group of companies with more than 26 bars, restaurants, clubs, cafés, hotels and resorts internationally. Renowned for its holistic lifestyle concept, the IndoChine Group has often been recognized as a trendsetter in the hospitality industry which caters to an ultra-premium clientele with a host of specially-designed lavish events, including the annual IndoChine Festival.

Michael Ma, Group CEO and Founder of the IndoChine Group, is the driving force behind the success of IndoChine. Constantly seeking creative innovation to set IndoChine apart from its competitors, Mr. Ma shared his thoughts and secrets on establishing a global brand that values attention in all senses – from groundbreaking concepts and ambience of its eateries to the food and drinks.

Joint Movie & Networking Night : Worldwide Premier of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Date: Thursday, May 22, 2008

Members of AmCham and the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce (SICC) had the chance to network and enjoy the the World Premier Day screening of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull at the Cathay Cineleisure's Preview Lounge.

AmCham Singapore and AmCham Malaysia had the opportunity to go on a site tour to the highlights of Iskandar Malaysia projects, located in Johor, the southern gateway to Peninsular Malaysia. The three hotspots of the Iskandar Malaysia were - Danga Bay Integrated Waterfront City, Nusajaya and Port of Tanjong Pelepas (PTP).

Iskandar Malaysia is set to become Southern Peninsular Malaysia's most developed region, where living, entertainment, environment and business seamlessly converge within a bustling and vibrant metropolis. Iskandar Malaysia is the ideal place to do business within the Johor-Singapore-Indonesia (JSI) Triangle. It offers state-of-the-art physical infrastructure and a world-class business environment offering excellent logistics facilities, cyber cities, and central business administration.

Roundtable Discussion with Marvin Ott, Professor, National War College

Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2008

This is a unique opportunity to learn more about the National War College and its Field Studies program.

The National War College (NWC) of the United States is a school within the National Defense University located in Theodore Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, the oldest active Army Post in existence today. Mid-level and senior military officers who are likely to be promoted to the most senior ranks are selected to study at the War College in preparation for higher staff and command positions.

According to Lieutenant General Leonard T. Gerow, President of the Board which recommended its formation, "The College is concerned with grand strategy and the utilization of the national resources necessary to implement that strategy... Its graduates will exercise a great influence on the formulation of national and foreign policy in both peace and war...."

To date, over 7,500 students have graduated from the College. One of the more notable graduates of the National War College was former U.S. Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colin Powell. The number of U.S. and international graduates who have been promoted to the top of their services or civilian agencies of the government is an indicator of the importance of the National War College, but its most profound effect has been on individual thinking and intellectual growth.

Global Leaders Series with Don Peppers

It’s ironic, but because of technology, your company’s culture – that is, what your employees do when no one’s looking – will increasingly drive your company’s success.

While it’s important for customer service staff to do a competent job using efficient processes, good service cannot spring solely from rules or systems. Rather, it is in the exceptions to the rules, the unusual and problematic situations, when a company has to rely on individual people to make wise decisions. And if you have the wrong employee culture, good systems and processes can actually magnify the problem.

Nowhere is your corporate culture going to play a more important role than in dealing with customers because this often requires non-process skills such as empathy, creativity, and sensitivity. Many companies try to cut costs by outsourcing and automating their more routine customer service tasks, but they often find out the hard way that it was a big mistake to outsource judgment calls.

In this keynote presentation, best-selling business author and consultant Don Peppers mixed humor, inspiration and analysis to show how to ensure that your employee culture is an asset providing a long-lasting competitive advantage - not an albatross with bad breath hung around your corporate neck.

Link here to Don Peppers' presentation

AmCham celebrate the 5th highly successful Tex-Mex Night at the Races in honor of the festivities of Batalla de Puebla, the historical victory for Mexico.

Members indulged in authentic Mexican cuisine and free flow of refreshing Brewerkz beer and Cafe Iguana margaritas. There were great food, trivia, games and fabulous prizes.

Entertaining at the Singapore Racecourse was a great way for members to build relationships with their colleagues and clients. The first race began at 6:30pm. We had our own betting booth with a great view of the races.

Speaker : Jack Perkowski, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
ASIMCO Technologies

Date: Monday, May 5, 2008

China is full of opportunities but doing business in China can be a big challenge. Well before others recognized the significant role that China would play in the global economy, Perkowski was doing business in China.

He shared his experience building ASIMCO from the ground up and the lessons he learned in developing the company’s local management team. He covered topics such as decentralization, China’s different cost perspective and how it created two markets for any product, intellectual property concerns, and practical advice on how to start a business in China.

ASIMCO has 17 factories and 52 sales offices located in every corner of the country, ASIMCO Technologies is unique. It is a foreign invested company, headquartered in Beijing, which was established in China to serve the China market.

Under Perkowski's leadership, ASIMCO gained a reputation for developing local management, and integrating a broad-based China operation into the global economy. In 2005, ASIMCO was ranked third in the “Ten Best Employers in China,” survey conducted by Hewitt Associates and 21st Century Business Herald.

Money, Oil & Politics

Speaker : Roman Scott, Managing Director, Calamander Capital

Date: Wednesday, April 30, 2008

As Ben Bernanke, the Federal Reserve Chairman, has finally admitted, “a recession is possible” within the U.S. economy. As a slowdown in growth becomes more evident, many pundits expect the U.S. housing and banking crisis to get worse before it gets better. Global stock markets have taken a beating, high yield bond investors are bleeding, property markets have slowed, and banks are withdrawing credit. It seems that uncertainty continues to reign over the financial markets with the real threat of volatility.

Pointing to the Fed’s active role, optimists and most official forecasts believe that that although U.S. growth is indeed slowing, a recession will be averted and the downturn will be short lived. On the other side, pessimists worry that a housing and banking crisis may last well into next year with inflationary pressures further harming the economy.

Businesses in Asia wonder whether the party days of the last few years are over, or whether the China/India miracle will continue to pull them along. A colorful lexicon of terms has appeared that have added to the confusion: 'V' and 'U' shapes, 'stagflation', and 'decoupling' being the most fashionable.

In recognition of this uncertainty, Mr. Roman Scott presented on the topic of “Money, Oil, & Politics” and briefed members on the Economic Outlook for 2008.

Singapore Cultural Series : Indian Culinary Experience

Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Members of AmCham had the privilege of an exclusive Indian cuisine hands-on cooking session with Instructor Manager Chef Sony Haq from India. As a chef who has been imparting his culinary skills and knowledge for the past 10 years, Chef Sony cooked for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's visit to India and represented his state in a regional cuisine workshop.

The Indian Culinary Experience is a very special and intimate one-on-one culinary experience. The essence of good Indian cooking revolves around the appropriate use of aromatic Indian spices.

At-Sunrice is a global chef academy with students from more than 25 countries. Its education experience is comprised of cuisine studies and a rigorous curriculum.

The Marketers' Marketplace : The Crossroads for Invaluable Marketing Exchange

With two successful events last year, The Marketers’ Marketplace came back with new hosts bringing new people from every discipline of marketing imaginable. With a focus on the Hospitality Industry, this event promises to attract hotshot marketers who know everything about wining, dining and sanctuaries away from home. With no structured program, the emphasis is on having fun. We returned at a stylish new venue, 102 meters up in the sky, with stunning views of the city, The Singapore Flyer and neighboring islands.

We thanked the following:

Event Partner:
- National Library Board Singapore

Hosts:
- Direct Marketing Association of Singapore (DMAS)
- Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI)
- PrimeTime Business and Professional Women's Association

Sponsors:
- Centre for American Education Singapore
- Epsilon International
- Go Direct!
- Fuji Xerox
- Hilton Singapore
- Jet Quay
- Royal Plaza On Scotts Singapore
- Santa Fe Relocation Services
- Singapore Post
- Spire Research & Consulting
- Tequila Singapore
- WorldHotels
- Yamagata
- Cornerstone International Consulting
- Small Cooks Big Meals

Speaker : The Honorable Patricia L. Herbold, US Ambassador to Singapore
Julie Kavanagh, Chief Consular Section
Susan Baker, Regional Treasury Attaché

Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2008

The Honorable Patricia L. Herbold, U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, and key Embassy officials briefed AmCham members on current issues facing the business community in Singapore. Julie Kavanagh updated members on the Consular section whilst Susan Baker talked about the rise of sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) globally and related public policy issues. She also detailed the Treasury Department’s work on SWF-related issues, including efforts at the international financial institutions to develop best practices for countries both providing and receiving SWFs investments. The Ambassador and her senior team discussed on an in-depth, off-the-record discussion about business and economic issues in Singapore today.

2008 US Presidential Elections Discussion Series : A View from the Wall Street Journal : "The Election to Date, the Upcoming Pennsylvania Primary and on to the Convention"

Speaker : Steve Okun, Vice Chairman, AmCham Singapore, Political Veteran

Date: Monday, April 21, 2008

This was the first in the AmCham/Wall Street Journal discussion series on the 2008 US Presidential elections. The program included a review of the Republican and Democratic primaries to-date, an analysis of how the Republican system produced an early winner, while the Democrats are still battling for a leading contender, a preview of the upcoming primaries, as well as the strategies leading into the Democratic convention.

AmCham Singapore's Vice Chairman Steve Okun, a political veteran prior to his posting to Singapore led this interactive discussion. Expert analysis live from Washington from the Wall Street Journal’s bureau chief, John Bussey, and investigative and political reporter Mary Jacoby. Mr. Bussey and Ms. Jacoby gave their perspectives on the campaigns to date, the effectiveness of the Clinton, Obama and McCain campaigns, and their relative strengths and weaknesses going forward. They also provided their insights on what figures to be the key economic issues which the candidates will need to face in the general election, as well as the role foreign policy will pay in shaping the elections.

Speaker : Mr. Aloysius Arlando, Assistant Chief Executive
Business Travel & MICE Group, Singapore Tourism Board

Date: Thursday, April 10, 2008

Singapore is currently undergoing an exciting transition and come 2010, this city will feature a plethora of new and unique tourism offerings. Many new developments will unfold over the next two years, from mega projects such as the two integrated resorts and Gardens by the Bay to major international events such as the Singapore International Water Week in June this year and the Youth Olympic Games in 2010.

Mr. Aloysius Arlando spoke on this amazing transformation in Singapore’s tourism landscape from now until 2010 and how these developments present as favorable opportunities for businesses operating in Singapore.

Thirty-five eager AmCham members and guests gathered at Changi Airport’s New Terminal 3 with representatives from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAAS) and AmCham Board member, Devin Kimble, Managing Director of Managing Director of MENU Pte. Ltd. Food & Drinks Group (which owns and operates restaurants and micorbreweries under the Brewerkz, Café Iguana and WineGarage brands). Members learned more about how the new terminal is supporting Singapore’s aggressive initiative of enhancing its position as a regional travel hub.

Speaker : Professor Steven J. DeKrey, Chairman, AmCham Hong Kong
and Management Professor, HKUST Business School

Date: Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Professor Steve Dekrey, shared his perspectives on styles of leadership in the region with more than 40 AmCham members and guests. He started the presentation with an interesting finding from an article of a journal in 1979 that most Fortune 500 CEOs did not do very well academically.

Link here to Prof. DeKrey's presentation

An ICT Analysts Panel Presents Trends in Asia Pacific – What’s on the Horizon for 2008?

Panelists:
Mr. Bertrand Bidaud, Managing Vice President, Gartner Asia/Pacific
Mr. Manoj Menon, Partner, Frost & Sullivan Singapore
Mr. John Ure, Director, Telecommunications Research Project Corporate

Moderator: Ms. Puni Rajah, Contributing Analyst, The Governance Board

Date: Tuesday, March 18, 2008

It was time again for AmCham's most talked-about social event - Trailing the Tap
on St. Patrick's Day.

Members in green, met new friends and took part in lots of fun and exciting activities.
The journey started off at 7 p.m. SHARP at Brewerkz, then to IndoChine - Forbidden City and end at Rupee Room by Harry's Bar.

One Day Without Documents: How Your Company Can Prepare For A Crisis

Speaker : Murray D. Martin, President & CEO, Pitney Bowes Inc.

Date: Monday, March 10, 2008

Severe weather. Utility disruptions. Heightened states of alert. Events can stop time at your time-critical operation centers - a fact that has become painfully clear in recent years. But for board members, auditors, regulators and customers, being aware of the need for contingency planning is one thing. Actually being prepared, though, is an entirely different matter. Invoices, statements, disclosures, and bills are the lifeblood of business. For over a decade, companies have taken steps to backup key information, creating duplicate files and establishing offsite systems locations - but safeguarding transactional data is only half the battle. According to Gartner, two of five businesses that experience a full-fledged disaster fail to recover at all.

That's why companies that had previously taken steps to protect data are now developing processes for putting that information to use - with sound business recovery strategies. These plans effectively close the loop, integrating data management with document creation and transactional mail processes, to ensure the continuous flow of communication.

Mr. Murray Martin will focus on:

- Importance of business continuity/ emergency preparedness in today's environment
- Maintaining a critical flow of communication in emergency preparedness - sharing a
9/11 experience from a participant's perspective
- Latest practices in emergency preparedness amongst US companies

Asia Leaders Series with Coca-Cola

Speaker : Shakir Moin, Region Manager of Coca-Cola Singapore, Malaysia
and Brunei

AmCham members, guests and media listened to the branding story of Coke Zero at AmCham’s Asia Leader Series held at The InterContinental Hotel.

Mr. Shakir Moin spoke about Coke Zero, Coca-Cola's most successful new product in 20 years and has had phenomenal global success in 52 markets since its initial U.S. debut in 2005.

In the first 18 months of Coke Zero's launch worldwide, enough Coke Zero was sold to fill almost 700 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Part of Coca-Cola’s strategy for Coke Zero was to test their product on consumers before the launch. What Coca-Cola’s studies found was that 91% of Singaporeans would try the product and 86% of Singaporeans who tried the product said they would definitely try it again.

Mr. Shakir also shared with the audience that Coca-Cola adopts different strategies for different markets. Apart from ad campaigns that suit each target market, timing is also an important factor.

He also spoke about “brand love” – a term he coined for how Coca-Cola builds a deep connection with its consumers. Mr. Shakir also shared with the audience some of Coca-Cola’s advertisements and emphasized the need to reach consumers on an emotional level so as to retain them as customers for a long time.

A Business Imperative for the 21st Century

Speaker : Murray Martin, President and CEO of Pitney Bowes

Mr. Murray Martin shared on business continuity and emergency preparedness in operating today's challenging environment. He explained the components involved in the process of business continuity which consist of impact analysis of the environment, crisis management and disaster recovery. The nature of business climate has evolved to be process-centric, more resilience and higher demand for enterprise survivability making business continuity more vital than ever.

Singapore Budget Update

Speaker : Shanker Iyer, Chairman & CEO, Shanker Iyer & Co

Mr. Shanker Iyer shared on overview of the Budget 2008 with AmCham members this morning.

Mr. Iyer started by comparing Hong Kong’s budget with similar competitive business environment. He highlighted a few areas which received more attention in the budget this year which are innovation in terms of nurturing research and development, promotions of financial hub, insurance business and marine hub as well as incentives for help to start-up companies.

It was an emotional goodbye for AmCham members and special guest, the U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, The Honorable Patricia L. Herbold. They attended a farewell reception for AmCham’s outgoing Chairman, Doug Miller. Doug, who has been AmCham’s Chairman since 2006, will soon return to the U.S. with his wife, Nancy.

Doug has also been actively involved with the Chamber and as a Board member for eight years. AmCham members were treated to a pleasant evening of wonderful food and drinks. The AmCham Executive Office put together a photo montage to thank Doug and presented him with a memorabilia to thank him for his valuable contributions to AmCham and the American community in Singapore.

Under Doug's leadership, AmCham membership has increased, the number and of quality of events has gone up, the AmCham constitution has been redrafted and the operational efficiency of the chamber has been significantly enhanced.

Together with the Board, Doug has worked to alert Washington of the negative impact of the Tax Increase Prevention & Reconciliation Act (TIPRA) and lobbied for changes to Section 911 legislation. His leadership and support have made our chamber one of the most vibrant and influential in the region.

The reception was held at Oosh, a cosy bar and restaurant with stunning views of lush greenery, landscaping and waterfalls.

Escaping the Price-Driven Sale
How World-Class Sellers Create Extraordinary Profit
– from the creators of SPIN® Selling

Speaker : Tom Snyder, President, Huthwaite Inc.

Mr. Tom Snyder spoke to a packed room of AmCham members and guests on “How World-Class Sellers Create Extraordinary Profit”.

Over the last decade, the sales process has been completely redefined. Mr. Synder spoke to AmCham members and guests on how to spin sell in a world which is hyper-competitive and where brand allegiance is virtually non-existent.

This lunch briefing, based on concepts from the new book “Escaping the Price-Driven Sale”, provided attendees with a ground-breaking strategy for using knowledge and experience to deliver insight to customers that command a premium price.

Link here to Tom Snyder's presentation

On February 20, 2008, U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, The Honorable Patricia Herbold hosted a reception for the American exhibitors in conjunction with Singapore Airshow at the Pan Pacific Hotel Ballroom. Nearly 300 AmCham and Aerospace Industry Association members and guests flocked to the reception after the Airshow.

The reception was a networking session for many American exhibitors to meet high-ranking U.S. military officials, Singapore government representatives and leaders of the aerospace industry.

Almost 70 AmCham members and guests met at a crowded and rowdy Brewerkz last Monday morning to watch a live broadcast of SuperBowl XLII. Certain die-hard fans arrived first at an early 5:45 am to grab the best seats in front of the giant screens. The tension between the Giants and Pats fans hung in the air as the doors officially opened at 6:00 am.

Guests enjoyed cinnamon rolls, coffee/tea and even beer and bloody mary’s. The game kicked off at 7:30am for what turned out to be one of the most nail-biting SuperBowls in recent history. With the excitement of the game, the cheers, and shouting, it certainly proved to be a very thrilling Monday morning compared to most. With an unexpected comeback led by quarterback Eli Manning, the NY Giants eventually shattered the New-England Patriots undefeated streak and claimed the NFL title with a 17-14 victory.

Joint Networking New Year's Dinner Celebration

Date: Thursday, January 31, 2008

The Indonesian Business Centre (IBC), together with its partners, The American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore, the Hongkong-Singapore Business Association, the Kowloon Cub and the Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce held a New Year Dinner Celebration at the Raffles Town Club.

Setyadi Ongkowidjaja, Chairman of the Board of Advisors of IBC gave opening remarks and highlighted IBC's program for 2008 to over 100 businessmen who were present.

The networking event was graced by His Excellency Ambassador Wardana, the Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore who delivered a message on the Indonesian Economic Outlook for 2008.

To celebrate the diversity of the attendees, there was a band playing Indonesian, Chinese and Western songs. Many sporting attendees also came dressed up in the National Costume of the countries they came from.

Attendees were also treated to free flow of beer and soft drinks, a sumptuous buffet dinner, a carpet auction and a lucky draw.

Speaker : Steven R. Okun, Vice President for Public Affairs, United Parcel Service

Steve Okun, AmCham’s Vice Chairman led a discussion on the U.S. Presidential Election with AmCham members and guests at The American Club.

With the aid of charts, tables and You Tube videos, Steve gave comprehensive analyses on the latest happenings in the U.S. election. The presentation included a discussion of the Republican and Democrats primaries to date, a preview of the January 29 Florida primary, and all the primaries on mega-Tuesday. There was also a review of the possible strategies leading into the general election, including an analysis of the possible Vice Presidential candidates.

“Steve was very clear and the You Tube videos he showed in the presentation were very entertaining. It’s comforting to know that a lot of Americans needed clarification about some election terms, not just us, Singaporeans!” said Go Shir Khim, Producer of Channel News Asia’s Prime Time Morning.

Steve Okun was a political veteran prior to his posting to Singapore and Vice President for Public Affairs for UPS in the Asia Pacific Region. Steve served in the Administration of President Bill Clinton at the Department of Transportation from 1994 to 1999. At the Department, he served as Deputy General Counsel and Aviation Advisor to the Secretary. In this capacity, he served as the Department’s liaison to the White House, Departments of Justice and State.

Link here to Steve Okun's presentation

Global Leaders Series with Professor Glenn Hubbard
Dean of Columbia Business School

Date: Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 – Professor Glenn Hubbard Dean of Columbia Business School started his presentation by sharing his opinion on a widespread fear. “I don’t think we’re going to see a recession in 2008,” he said.

In his presentation titled, “Challenges to Competitiveness, Productivity and Growth in the Global Economy,” Professor Hubbard talked about the current developments and challenges relating to competitiveness, productivity, and growth, especially as affected by the forces that determine production, consumption, savings, and investment.

Even though there are many unknowns such as future lending constraints, and the possibility of a generated credit crunch, Hubbard believes that the possibility of limited lending to households and small and medium businesses would not be overly-damaging to the U.S. economy.

Generate Demand and Close Sales with the Latest B-to-B Direct Marketing Tools and Techniques

Speaker : Ruth Stevens, President of eMarketing Strategy

Date: Wednesday, January 16, 2007

Ms. Ruth Stevens, President of eMarketing Strategy and a leading U.S. authority on B-to-B direct marketing, spoke to a full room of attendees at the InterContinental Singapore.

Ms. Stevens who consults on consumer acquisition and retention, spoke to attendees on the latest in marketing tools and tactics, the top techniques and applications that are working today, and shared some interesting experiments and cautionary stories. More than 80 marketers flocked to the event, organized by AmCham’s Marketing & Communications Committee (MCC).

The response was so fantastic that AmCham could not accept walk-ins as all available places were snapped up many days before the event. “It is rewarding to see that the membership appreciates our effort and responded with an overwhelming response and positive feedback,” said Cindy Payne, Co-Chair of AmCham’s MCC and Founder and Managing Director of Asia Pacific Connections, an integrated marketing consultancy. “Ruth represents the caliber of speaker that AmCham’s MCC Co-Chairs strive to present to AmCham members,” she added.

Link here to Ruth Stevens's presentation

The Digital Reality - Microsoft’s view of the changing Media & Advertising Landscape

Speaker : Chris Schaumann, Country Sales Manager–Singapore/MDAS Southeast Asia/Online Service Group

Date: Friday, December 7, 2007

AmCham’s Marketing & Communications Committee (MCC) gathered for a committee meeting and a presentation by Chris Schaumann, Country Sales Manager – Singapore/Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions Southeast Asia/Online Service Group.

Schaumann gave a presentation titled, “The Digital Reality - The Changing Media & Advertising Landscape”.

The presentation offered a glimpse into the future shape of advertising as Microsoft sees it, followed by the latest research about the changing media consumption habits of Asians and the related digital convergence.

China 2008-2012: Impact of 17th Party Congress on Business in China

Speaker : James Zimmerman, Chairman of AmCham, Beijing

Date: Friday, December 7, 2007

Following the 17th Party Congress recently held in Beijing in October 2007, many members of the business community have wondered about the overall impact of leadership changes, and the Party’s policy agenda on the business climate and foreign investment over the next two to five years.

While President Hu pledged to increase market access in accordance with international practices, and agreed to continue to liberalize and facilitate trade and investment, how will China implement these promises in practice? Will China continue to support the growth of both domestic and foreign enterprises alike and preserve competition in a manner that protects consumer interests?

Mr. Zimmerman provided insights to these questions and more in his talk, titled, “China 2008 - 2012: Impact of 17th Party Congress on Business in China”. Zimmerman spoke to a room packed with AmCham Singapore members from companies with business interests in China.

7th Annual AmCham UPS Thanksgiving Day Golf Tournament

Date: Wednesday, November 21, 2007

More than 120 people attended the 7th Annual AmCham UPS Thanksgiving Tournament at Raffles Country Club. AmCham has been holding this event since 2000. A golf tournament is held, followed by a mouth-watering Thanksgiving feast for all players and guests.

This year, there were two formats of play for participants: the UPS Cup Challenge and the Traditional Thanksgiving Day Foursomes. “This tournament is about getting together with friends and colleagues, particularly our European, Singaporean, and other non-American friends to celebrate this important Thanksgiving holiday. We appreciate the generous support of our sponsors and members who have made this day possible,” said Dom LaVigne, Executive Director of AmCham.

Date: Monday, November 19, 2007

15 representatives from various ASEAN AmChams met at AmCham with Murray Hiebert, Senior Director – Southeast Asia, for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC.

Mr. Hiebert was visiting the Asia Pacific region this past week, and spoke with the AmChams about ways in which the US Chamber could work more closely together with them, particularly in support of ASEAN business and economic objectives. These closer cooperative ties have been taking shape in recent months, and AmChams in Southeast Asia will look to coordinate more with the U.S. Chamber on relevant areas in the near future.

Date: Sunday, November 18, 2007

A group of 25 senior business executives from AmCham Singapore and other Southeast Asian AmChams, APCAC (Asia Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce), the US-ASEAN Business Council, and US Chamber of Commerce, met with Ambassador Susan Schwab, U.S. Trade Representative, and other USTR and US Embassy officials at the Marriott Hotel.

Speaker : Mr. Cunningham, President of Federal Express, Asia-Pacific Division

Date: Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Sometimes expansion into foreign markets can be challenging, but there is a great feeling once the task is completed. That is how David L. Cunningham Jr. described his company’s expansion into Japan in 1989.

Mr. Cunningham shared his insights on how access is changing the way we do business and what small businesses and large enterprises of this Access Generation need in order to stay ahead of the game.

Mr. Cunningham, responsible for developing and executing corporate strategies and operations talked about his company’s move into the Asian market.

How Not To Lead: How To Fail On A Global Scale

Speaker : Omar Khan, Founder and Senior Partner of Sensei International

Date: Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Mr. Omar Khan shared with a packed room of AmCham guests and members some valuable lessons on leadership.

Mr. Khan, whose vision is to make the leadership possibility “real,” shared with the audience his wealth of experience in enhancing the quality of business and communication through leadership.

Mr. Khan said that all companies’ limitations are not due to a lack of synergy, capital or technology but because of the lack of trust or synergy in leadership.

The place: The Singapore Flyer construction site. The look: hard hats and covered shoes. More than 20 AmCham members and guests visited the Singapore Flyer site to better understand what to anticipate once the Flyer opens in March 2008.

The Singapore Flyer is a giant observation wheel which features brilliant engineering breakthroughs a world apart from the traditional ferris wheel.

When completed, The Singapore Flyer is set to be Asia's most visible iconic visitor attraction and will provide breathtaking, panoramic views of Singapore and beyond.

East meets West:
What Every Foreign MNC Should Know About Its China Strategy

Speaker : Goh Hern Yin, Country Manager, Hay Group China

Date: Wednesday, October 31, 2007

There are some challenges to doing business in China, but Mr. Goh Hern Yin told AmCham members that they are hurdles that can be overcome. Mr. Goh briefed AmCham Singapore members at a breakfast at the American Club. He shared the results of a survey conducted with more than 4,000 corporate executives in China.

One of the findings showed that 37% of the companies that participated in the survey were concerned with performance. Two significant challenges posed are fierce competition in the Chinese market and shortage of local management talent. This situation is made even more difficult with the growing demand of jobs that outstrips the labor supply in China. The employees expect more from their employers, in terms of benefits and salary. Compared to their counterparts in Asia, the senior managers in China are much younger and less experienced. However at the senior level, their salaries tend to be the highest in Asia.

Meet the Embassy – The Silk Road

Date: Friday, October 19, 2007

Silk ruled the night as guests sashayed into Ambassador Herbold’s residence dressed in their finest. More than 120 members mingled with the embassy staff surrounded by beautiful Chinese lanterns and mixed oriental and Indian music.

Guests took part in trivia questions about the silk route and won prizes such as tea sets, bottles of wine and Beijing 2008 memorabilia. Judges walked through the crowds and picked out the best dressed guests who received prizes from Jim Thompson. ‘Best Dressed Male’ went to Dan Thompson and ‘Best Dressed Female’ to Cheryl Hudgins. Eric Derrickson walked away with the prize for ‘Most Innovatively Dressed’. Janice and Kirk Hulse (in the picture) won for ‘Best Dressed Couple’.

Amcham would like to thank IndoChine and Jim Thompson for their generous support of this event.

Making Singapore a Great Place to Live, Work and Play

Speaker : The Honorable Mah Bow Tan, Minister of National Development

Date: Thursday, October 18, 2007

Minister Mah Bow Tan addressed more than 55 AmCham members at a lunch briefing today.

The Minister spoke about the Singapore economy, how it has developed over the years, and gave insights into current and future planning for the island state, and the impact that this will have on Singaporeans, foreign residents, and others who are living and working here.

New Perspectives: Cambodia as a Land of Opportunity

Panelists:
Bretton Sciaroni, AmCham Cambodia
Michael Stephen, Cambodia Mekong Bank
Carie Phou, Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone
Jean-Boris Roux, French Cambodian Chamber of Commerce

Date: Friday, October 12, 2007

The panel of experts addressed nearly 55 AmCham members and guests on the business, economic, and political climate in Cambodia.

The Cambodian economy is following the footsteps of Thailand with the development of both private industry and individual investment. The emergence of a more affluent middle class is a by-product of the booming economy. However, the burgeoning economy is still largely a cash-economy, and the speakers felt there was still much change to be made.

Industries such as tourism, infrastructure and finance have vast potential and companies should look to go into those sectors. The development of special economic zones looks to catalyze this transition, but there were still some problems at hand. The first of these is the high cost of energy in Cambodia; an issue the government was addressing by looking into developing transmission lines with its neighbors. Secondly was the lack of skilled labor to support the business demand. Also, Cambodia’s legal system has yet to proactively address intellectual property rights, and counterfeit goods are a problem.

Foreign companies operating in Cambodia felt they had ready access to key government officials, and that the Cambodian government was undertaking steps toward greater transparency, such as televised national meetings. This has resulted in greater confidence among foreign investors to do business more easily in the country.

Truly Asia : Your Investment Destination in Malaysia

Speaker : Dato' Ikmal Hijaz Hashim, Chief Executive Officer
Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA)

                   Dato' Afifuddin Abdul Kadir, Senior Director of Investment Promotion,
                   Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA)

Date:         Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Dato' Ikmal briefed more than 25 AmCham members and provided in-depth information on the Iskandar Development Region. In the effort to have best practices, IRDA has been given the single authority for promotions, approvals, implementations and regulations for the IDR.

Dato' Afifuddin briefed members by giving them a general overview of the Malaysian economy. He also discussed performance and incentives for the manufacturing and service sectors. Dato Afifuddin also highlighted the major incentives provided for investors: pioneer status, investment tax allowances, reinvestment allowances and different tax incentives.

Link here to Dato' Afifuddin's presentation
Link here to Dato' Ikmal's presentation

History in the Making: Analyzing the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (KORUS)

Panelists:
John Fogarasi, Commercial Counselor, U.S. Embassy in Seoul
Drew Quinn, Economic Counselor, U.S. Embassy in Seoul
Tami Overby, President & CEO, AMCHAM Korea

AmCham Singapore and Korean Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (KOCHAM) members participated in a videoconference with AMCHAM Korea and U.S. Embassy officials in Seoul.

John Fogarasi, Commercial Counselor for the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, opened the session by giving an overview the significance of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The sheer size and volume of the Korean market has made it the world’s 12th largest economy, and even before the FTA, it was the United States eighth largest trading partner. With the KORUS FTA in place, the figure is expected to increase by USD 10-12 billion, covering 40% of all trade.

Drew Quinn, Economic Counselor, then spoke on other FTAs which are also currently going before Congress: Peru, Panama and Columbia. The KORUS would address areas such as Intellectual Property Rights. He added that the tariffs affecting the automotive and textile industries would cause a fair amount of anticipated apprehension. However, the general Korean population appeared to be in support of the move, with 62% of those polled expressing positive sentiments for the FTA. Indicative of the strength and implication of KORUS for US-Korean trade and investment, the European Union is also looking to sign an FTA with Korea in the near future.

Tami Overby, President and CEO of AMCHAM Korea, also shared her perspectives on the positive impact of this FTA. AMCHAM and other parties have formed a KORUS coalition that looks to address issues and garner support from members, in hopes of having the KORUS FTA ratified later this year or in 2008.

Speaker : Tony Chew, Director of Technology Risk Supervision from Monetary
Authority of Singapore (MAS)

Date: Thursday, September 27, 2007

Mr. Chew shared with AmCham members on the trends of cyber attack of Internet banking systems that are happening around the world. Internet banking fraud losses were estimated to exceed US$340 million annually. Various vectors of attacks, scams, fake websites and man-in-the-middle exploits were discussed. Tactical and strategic
countermeasures were proposed.

Exclusive Closed-Door Lunch Briefing with Alan VanderMolen
Asia-Pacific President for Edelman

Speaker : Alan VanderMolen, Asia-Pacific President for Edelman.

Date: Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Who Do They Trust? – Gaining Invaluable Insights for Your Business. Board members, committee leaders and selected AmCham members were invited to an intimate, closed-door lunch briefing with Mr. VanderMolen. Over an exquisite lunch provided by the Edelman team at the Shangri-La Hotel, Mr. VanderMolen shared his insights on the “to-be-released” findings from Edelman’s Asia Pacific Stakeholder Study, an annual study of more than 1,000 senior influencers across 10 markets in the Asia Pacific region.

Speaker : Paul French, Founder and the Chief China Representative of Access Asia

Date: Wednesday, September 26, 2007

The Government & Regional Affairs Committee hosted Mr. French for a breakfast briefing on the latest updates regarding North Korea and the possibility of forward motion.

As attendees looked at a mixture of pictures Mr. French took twelve years ago to three weeks ago, Mr. French acknowledged that it is difficult to tell which are which, because there has not been much change in North Korea over the last 12 years. The economy has continued to shrink, and this year, while there was the possibility of seeing 1% growth, recent flooding has caused a 10-15% loss of agricultural land.

More than 40 AmCham members and guests clad in their Slinger’s jerseys, gathered at the Indoor Stadium for a night of “Beer and Basketball Fever” as they watched the Singapore Slingers, Singapore’s first professional basketball team, take on the Melbourne Tigers for the opening game of the NBL basketball season. AmCham fans gathered for a pre-networking cocktail reception at the newly opened outlet of Brewerkz by the Singapore Indoor Stadium. After enjoying a few pints of Brewerkz’ latest brews and tasty menu items, members rushed court-side to cheer on the Slingers throughout the highly intense game.

The game started off close in the first period but in the last quarter the Tigers managed to pull the lead and ended with a 117-94 win over the Singapore Slingers.

AmCham would like to thank Brewerkz and Singapore Slingers for supporting this event. Go Slingers!

Speaker : Steve Forbes, President and Chief Executive Officer of Forbes and
Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Magazine, Forbes

Date: Thursday, September 14, 2007

Mr. Steve Forbes discussed the U.S. economy and his thoughts on the 2008 U.S. presidential race, before a packed house of more than 120 AmCham members and guests at a Global Leaders Series breakfast dialogue at the Pan Pacific that morning.

Mr. John Mullen shared his insights on innovation in the express industry with more than 50 AmCham members and guests as part of the Chamber’s Global Leaders Series at the Conrad Hotel. Mr. Mullen shared that in the express industry, most change is progressive and incremental from the business model to enhancement of a company’s products and services. However he added on, incremental changes can still revolutionize the industry such as proactive tracking and tracing, time-definite products, and containerization. He concluded that the environment is emerging to be a driver of change.

Singapore Tripartism Forum

Panelists:
Lim Swee Say, Secretary-General, National Trades Union Congress
Gan Kim Yong, Minister of State for Education & Manpower
Stephen Lee, President, Singapore National Employers Federation

Moderator:
Kristin Paulson, Immediate Past Chairman, AmCham

Date: Wednesday, September 5, 2007

The Tripartite Partners participated at AmCham's breakfast meeting with 40 AmCham members and guests under the “Singapore Tripartism Forum.” This forum, which had been done previously with the German and Japanese Chambers of Commerce in Singapore, briefed AmCham members on the relationship between employers, unions, and the government in Singapore, and discussed areas for cooperation in labor relations and good employment practices.

Speaker : Brendan May, International Head of Corporate Responsibility &
Sustainability, Weber Shandwick Worldwide

Date: Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Mr. Brendan May spoke to more than 50 AmCham members and guests about the emerging trends in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility. He stressed that CSR was not solely a singled-out charity drive or a donation to a worthy cause, but a mindset that had to begin from within the firm, with a company’s employees. Currently, the trend has been propelled by the increasingly visible actions taken by firms and the ease with which this information has been transmitted across the world.

The Impact on the Cost of Living in Singapore

Panelists:
Richard Moray Armstrong, Executive Director, CB Richard Ellis (Pte) Ltd
Alvin Tan, Executive Director (Resource Development), Economic Development Board (EDB)
Su-Yen Wong, Managing Director, Mercer Human Resource Consulting

Moderator:
Dom LaVigne, Executive Director, AmCham Singapore

Date: Thursday, Aug 23, 2007

Dom LaVigne, AmCham’s Executive Director, moderated a panel of three distinguished speakers who discussed the impact of the increasing cost of living in Singapore. This was a very-well attended briefing, with more than 80 AmCham members, guests, and Singapore government officials participating.

Leadership Without Borders

Speaker : Ed Cohen, SVP at School of Leadership, Satyam Computer Services Ltd,
Hyderabad, India

Date: Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007

Mr. Cohen provided a context for prioritizing global leadership competencies and an overview of the five key areas: leadership characteristics, global business acumen, people leadership, and business leadership. He also shared on the different perspectives of the complexities of global leadership, views on how world-class leaders adjust their style, expectations, and timelines to achieve the same outcomes as they would in their country origin.

Mr. Cohen concluded his briefing with sharing insights on the collective of successful strategies from world-class leaders. The morning ended with a lucky-draw for five of Mr. Cohen’s books, courtesy of John Wiley & Sons.

AmCham would like to thank John Wiley & Sons for helping to secure Mr. Cohen for this informative briefing.

What You Need To Know About Dengue Fever

Speaker : Dr Jeffrey Staples, Medical Director, Consulting Services in Asia Region
International SOS

Date: Monday, Aug 6, 2007

Dengue Fever is back with a vengeance. A mosquito-borne viral illness once thought to be largely contained, efforts to control Dengue outbreaks seem to be failing, with more cases on the rise globally. Unfortunately, with the continued urbanization of society, and travel on the rise, most experts believe that Dengue is a problem that is here to stay. Learn about the nature of the disease and the risks it poses to your employees and their dependents.

Dr. Staples discussed risk reduction initiatives at the individual, community, corporate, national and international levels. Topics addressed in the briefing included what employers need to know about how to protect their staff members, what types of preventative measures are effective, treatments that are available, and other commonly asked questions.

Link here to Dr. Jeffrey Staples's presentation

Asia Leaders Series: Minister Vivian Balakrishnan

Speaker : Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of Community Development, Youth
                   and Sports and Second Minister of Information, Communication and
                   the Arts

Date:         Thursday, Aug 2, 2007

Dr. Balakrishnan spoke to 65 AmCham members and media representatives during a luncheon briefing on “Positioning Singapore as an ICT Hub in the 21st Century.”

As part of AmCham’s Asia Leaders Series, Dr. Balakrishnan shared his perspective on Singapore’s successful information communication environment. Focusing on the innovation, integration and internationalization of Singapore’s 10-year master plan, IN2015, Dr. Balakrishnan highlighted how the current strength of Singapore’s IT landscape will continue to advance and develop in the future.

Update on the Asian Development Bank

Speaker : Ambassador Curtis Chin, U.S. Executive Director, Asian Development
Bank (ADB) in Manila

Date: Wednesday, Aug 1, 2007

Ambassador Chin spoke to AmCham members at a luncheon briefing at the AmCham Executive Office. Ambassador Chin spoke of his impressions of the ADB, the infrastructure and organization of the Bank and its efforts to integrate and develop local bond markets.

Having just arrived in Singapore from a 10-day tour of ADB projects in Indonesia, Ambassador Chin engaged in dialogue with AmCham members on topics such as the Bank’s infrastructure projects, economic development of Southeast Asia, and the future direction of the ADB.

Briefing on the U.S. Secure Freight Initiative

Speaker : Todd Horton, Director of the U.S. Secure Freight Initiative Program
                   Tracy Proctor-Mustin, Director- Second Line of Defense of the National
                   Nuclear Security Administration at the Department of Energy (DOE),

Date:         Thursday, July 26, 2007

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in cooperation with maritime industry and international government partners, are launching Phase I of the Secure Freight Initiative (SFI). SFI will deploy a globally integrated network of radiation detection and container imaging equipment to be operated in seaports worldwide. The purpose is to prevent terrorists from using nuclear or other radiological materials to attack the global maritime supply chain or using cargo containers to bring the resources for such an attack to the United States. The plan is to deploy next-generation tools and integrated systems, along with other proven technologies, to scan maritime container cargo. Phase I of the Secure Freight Initiative will leverage the DOE Megaports Initiative, DHS Container Security Initiative, DHS domestic nuclear detection program, and recent test deployments of relevant technology.

Mr. Horton and Ms. Proctor-Mustin, gave us an insightful discussion about SFI and how Singapore will play a role in this new U.S. global initiative.

An Update on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)

Speaker : Sandy Schick, Partner at Duane Morris, LLP

Date: Wednesday, July 25, 2007

During the 90-minute breakfast session, Mr. Schick explained exactly what the FCPA entailed and how it affected not only the business practices of American companies and their employees and contractors, but also foreign individuals who do business with American companies. Mr. Schick stated that this statute is geared toward the intent of a company and its employees, not necessarily the result. He cautioned that the fact that an attempt to bribe a government or individuals working for a foreign government produced no positive results and did not absolve the company involved in the attempted bribery of liability.

AmCham members attending the breakfast were eager to learn more about FCPA, and intense discussions resulted, even after the presentation concluded and the Q&A period had drawn to a close.

ASEAN and the USA – Opportunities and Challenges in an Enduring Partnership

Speaker : Ambassador Ong Keng Yong, Secretary-General, Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Date: Monday, July 23, 2007

Ambassador Ong briefed on how American businesses in ASEAN will benefit from very useful arrangements specifically aimed at facilitating closer trade and investment links between ASEAN and its major trade partners, particularly the USA through the Trade and Investment Facilitation Arrangement (TIFA) and other initiatives to be forged in the near future. The USA stands out as one of the top three foreign direct investment (FDI) sources and top three trade partners of ASEAN. US businesses are among the most important stakeholders of the fruitful ASEAN-US economic cooperation. To commemorate the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-USA Dialogue Relations, we need to innovate on and strengthen what has been developed in the ASEAN-USA partnership.

Speaker : Mr. Ryu Jong Hun, Head of KOTRA Singapore Branch

Date: Friday, July 6, 2007

The Korean economy recovered rapidly from the 1997 Asian financial crisis as the Korean government quickly implemented reforms to address economic vulnerabilities. The total amount of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for seven years since Asian Financial Crisis is three times greater than that of 35 years before 1998.

Mr. Ryu spoke on Korea's position in world economy through key indicators. He covered the latest Korean government’s economic policy directions, including FTA networks and progress, FDI blueprint, including the U.S. and South Korea free trade agreement mainly on the Korea-US FTA (KORUS).

Seven Habits of Highly Effective Communicators:
Crisis Prevention & Management

Speaker : Kelly Anchrum, Director of External Relations for ASEAN, Australasia and
India (AAI), Procter & Gamble

Date: Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Ms. Kelly Anchrum brings more than 20 years of professional communications experience and leadership to one of P&G’s fastest growing markets. Based on her own personal experiences, Ms. Anchrum will share the "Seven Habits of Highly Effective Communicators: Crisis Prevention & Management" which includes:

-Highly effective communication professionals engage as full business partners,
influencing product innovation and go-to-market plans in a way that reduces risk to the
reputation of their company and/or brands.
-Proven practices for anticipating issues and preventing crises.
-Proven tips on how to manage crisis.

Link here to Kelly Anchrum's presentation

The US Political Landscape: Insights on the New Democratic Congress,
the 2008 Elections, and the Impact on US Economic Policy

Speaker: Former United States Senator Don Riegle, Chairman of APCO

Date: Tuesday, June 19, 2007

With a new Democratic Congress, a “lame duck” Republican Administration, and an upcoming election in 2008, how is America’s political and economic landscape transforming? Former United States Senator Don Riegle provides fresh insights on the current Washington, DC political environment and how it will US domestic and foreign policy.

A Changing Market Landscape: The Evolution of IT is Shaping the Way Global Companies Do Business

Speaker: Nancy Gofus, Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer,
Verizon Business

Date: Tuesday, June 5, 2007

The Issues

The market landscape is changing across the globe with the growth and expansion of fundamental enterprise. Changing market dynamics has led to rapid adaptation in the business landscape and the requirement for new technologies and services. The drive for infrastructure and business optimization is putting information technology (IT) at the forefront of business change.

Link here to Nancy Gofus presentation

Problems and Prospects Facing Southeast Asia

Speaker : K. Kesavapany, Director, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies

Date: Thursday, May 24, 2007

The Issues

ASEAN faces a multitude of challenges that can be categorized into two groups - hot button issues and long term challenges. Hot button issues include: economic development and the provision of employment opportunities; political issues such as terrorism; resource constraints particularly energy and water shortages; and socio-cultural problems such as racial and religious harmony.

Members Only! Quarterly Briefing with the US Embassy

Speaker: The Honorable Patricia L. Herbold, US Ambassador to Singapore

Date: Tuesday, May 22, 2007

The Honorable Patricia L. Herbold, U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, and key Embassy personnel will brief AmCham members on current issues facing the business community in Singapore, including the upcoming U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA) review on March 11, Prime Minister Lee's visit to the United States, consular (visa-related) and homeland security updates, and other policy and commercial issues.

Indonesia's Midterm Prospects: What Lies Ahead?

Speaker: Adam Schwarz, Senior Fellow, McKinsey Global Institute

Date: Friday, May 18, 2007

The Issues

The election of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as Indonesia's first directly elected president in 2004 raised hopes that Indonesia would bounce back from the political turbulence and economic malaise that had bedeviled it since the late 1990s. Yudhoyono charted an ambitious reform program, but political rivalries, the impact of natural disasters, and his own caution have raised questions about his ability to follow through. This presentation will assess Indonesia's prospects and Yudhoyono's leadership as the country heads toward elections in 2009.

The Changing Dynamics of the Supply Chain in Asia

Speaker: Alan Gershenhorn, President of UPS International

Date: Thursday, May 17, 2007

Interact with a global leader from one of the world's largest package delivery companies and learned how one of the leading providers of specialized transportation and logistics services planned to continue enabling commerce with the changing dynamics in Asia and across the globe.

An Aussie Barbie for AmCham's Favourite Bloke

Date: Tuesday, May 15, 2007

We bid farewell to Greg Fergin, Government Affairs and Committee Manager for AmCham Singapore, who juggled up to 15 committees at the same time. He and his family will be leaving the Lion City in June for the grand harbour city of Sydney, Australia. In honor of his new destination, AmCham had a Down-Under Poolside BBQ at the Pan Pacific Billabong.

The Impact of Singapore's New Spam Control Legislation

Panelists:
Low Boon Kiat, Policy Officer, Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
Azhar Azib, Director of Central Marketing Communications, Microsoft Asia Pacific
Lisa Watson, Chairman, Direct Marketing Association of Singapore (DMAS)

Moderator:
Sheena Jacob, Partner, Alban Tay Mahtani & De Silva

Date: Thursday, May 10, 2007

The panelists explored what this legislation means to companies, as e-mail and mobile marketing have become a necessary part of business growth in the Information Age. The speakers looked at best practices and what was needed to remain in compliance with this new legislation.

Singapore's Electricity Market - 2006 Performance and Benefits of Market Liberalization

Speaker : Dave Carlson, Chief Executive Officer, Energy Market Company (EMC)

Date: Wednesday, May 9, 2007

The Issues

- What's in store for the first liberalized electricity market in Asia - Singapore?
- How have fuel price increases affected the price paid for electrical power to run
businesses?

This briefing offered insights into the plans and thinking of the operator of Singapore's wholesale electricity exchange.