ED 52 (Nov-Dec 2013)

MARKET INTELLIGENCE
MARKET INTELLIGENCE
From Start-Up to Grown-Up
Hearing and learning from peers and industry leaders allowed
participants of the 2nd Networking for Entrepreneurship Seminar
to obtain a little more insight into the path of entrepreneurship.
he ames of enterprise
T
still burns fervently in
Singapore. According to
the latest 2012 National
Report on Singapore published
by the Global Entrepreneurship
Monitor, Singapore’s total early-stage
entrepreneurship ratings for 2012 was
11.6 per cent, higher than 2011’s 6.6
per cent and only behind the United
States for early-stage ratings. One
reason posited by the research body for
such a high aspiring entrepreneurship
rate could be the continuation of
strong economic growth since the
2009 recession, instilling condence
in the populace to pursue their
entrepreneurial dreams. That having
been said, local entrepreneurs and
SME owners can still use all the help
they can get in the wake of mounting
cost pressures and the ever-present
specter of manpower.
Held for the 2nd year, the
theme of 2013’s Networking for
Entrepreneurship Seminar was
“Embracing the Spirit of Enterprise
Development.” Similar to the format
of last year’s successful seminar, the
event consisted of a sharing session
by industry leaders who were once
struggling start-ups, followed by
presentations on the various ways
SMEs can undertake to further their
business.
In his welcome address to the
150-strong crowd present at the
Seminar on 17 September 2013,
Mr Chan Chong Beng, President
of the ASME, focused his speech
on the two pillars of innovation and
internationalisation, both crucial
elements in any entrepreneurial
journey. “With the national onus on
driving up productivity, to do more
with less, innovation is fast becoming
a necessity to remain sustainable,”
Mr Chan highlighted. In addition, he
emphasised that Singapore is too
small a market, and for companies to
really ourish, reaching out to overseas
markets will be their best bet.
Participants listened intently as three
industry leaders – Mr Chan included
– shared on their own entrepreneurial
journeys, bringing to vivid life true
stories of hard work and perseverance.
Along with Mr Chan, who is also the
Chairman of Goodrich Global Pte Ltd,
Mr Adrin Loi, Executive Chairman of
Ya Kun International Pte Ltd as well
as Dr Ng Chin Siau, Group CEO of
Q&M Dental Group (Singapore) each
shared with participants the journeys
their companies took, from start-up to
grown up.
IE Singapore and the SME Centre@
ASME, supporting partners for the
Seminar, both featured presentations
on SME-centric programmes
entrepreneurs can leverage on. IE
Singapore gave a succinct session on
overseas expansion schemes offered
by the statutory board for SMEs,
while the SME Centre@ASME gave
a comprehensive discourse about
some of the more popular grants and
assistance schemes SMEs can make
use of.
Organised by the Association of
Small and Medium Enterprises
(ASME), the Seminar was supported
by Maybank as the Main Sponsor,
Microsoft as the Platinum Sponsor,
with 361 Degree Consultancy and Far
East Organisation onboard as Gold
Sponsors. E
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NOV DEC 2013
ENTREPRENEURS’ DIGEST