October 2010 - Association of Dutch Businessmen

Association of Dutch Businessmen in Singapore
www.adb.org.sg
OCT 2010
Business
Interview with Pauline Eizema
of the Dutch Embassy
MITA 373/03/2001
Extra
The inaugural Youth
Olympic Games 2010
Lifestyle
Nightlife in Singapore

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PROLOGUE
Board Members
New Developments...
Jan De Vegt
President
VP Asia Air France Cargo/KLM Cargo
Marie-HéLène Piederiet
Vice President/Honorary Secretary
Owner Past Perfect Collection
Ard Huisman
Honorary Treasurer
Director Finance Vopak Asia
Richard Van Der Werf
Member
GM T&T Bisso Salvage Asia
Frank Kuijsters
Member / Chief Editor
Director Digne Consult Asia Pacific
Marleen Dieleman
Member
Visiting fellow NUS Business School
Rutger Oudejans
Member
Regional Manager Provimi
Hans Loth
Member
Managing Director
Asia De Lage Landen
The sixth issue already of our magazine in the new house
style.
The next project was our website. Thanks to the creativity
of Michiel Sengers and Edwin Nijhof, this project is also
completed now. We would like to welcome you to
www.adb.org.sg.
The entrepreneurs panel, our joint event with DutchCham,
was again a success, thanks to everybody’s participation.
We hope to welcome you to our October event, which is a
company visit to LexMar Engineering. LexMar Engineering
has been in operation in Singapore for over 10 years and is
a leading provider of Diving Equipment and Services to the
Offshore Industry. As mentioned by Hans in the previous
prologue, we unfortunately had to cancel our Dinner &
Dance in August, but we are happy to inform you of the
new date for this event: Saturday, the 11 th of December. It’s
going to be ADB’s first Christmas Dinner & Dance, so please
save the date. More info will follow soon.
Participation is a special word in our association, as every
association is run by volunteers. This means that we invite
our members to inform us of ideas and suggestions for
future events. Finally, we would also like to stress that we
need your participation in timely registration, cancellation
of events and timely payment of your subscription to the
ADB and events, if applicable. This way the Board can
spend all their time on events and the nice magazine you
are about to read.
Happy reading and see you soon at one of our events.
Secretariat
Lineke van Nederpelt
Operations Executive
WWF International
“The ADB provides opportunities for Dutch business
people to meet, interact and share knowledge by
means of company visits, lectures, networking events
and membership communications.”
Jan de Vegt

Contents
Vol. 20 / No. 8 / Oct 2010
Prologue 1 By Jan de Vegt, ADB president
Events 3 Dutch pioneers
Business 4 Interview with Mrs Pauline Eizema
6 Working together for brighter and stronger futures -
Flour Fortification Initiative
8 Prinsjesdag 2010: Tax package for 2011 announced
DutchCham News 9 Latest news by DutchCham
Extra 10 The inaugural Youth Olympic Games 2010;
a legacy that will remain Singapore’s forever!
Interview 12 Interview with Ben Vree
Bizz News 14 Dutch business news and regional conferences
Know your tax 16 Tax benefits in the Netherlands for foreign employees
– 30%-ruling
Column 17 Going local
Green Page 18 Corporate Social Responsibility
Lifestyle 20 Singapore night life
Not to miss 22 Things to do in Singapore
Embassy News 23 Latest news by the Dutch Embassy
ADB News 24 Announcements, member info and more
P4
Pauline Eizema, Deputy Head
of Dutch Mission, tells about
her past career, personal life
and her short term objectives in
Singapore.
P10
An insight of the YOG 2010.
What makes that the YOG
2010 will remain a legacy for
Singapore?
P20
What are the options for dancing
and lounging the night away in
Singapore?

Events
Dutch pioneers
Text Wilco Alberda
Bertel Aukema kicked-off the ‘Entrepreneurship Panel
Discussion’ with an introduction on the meaning of
entrepreneur, which he jocularly concluded with: “it means
actually nothing”. Entrepreneurship already exists over
more than a century, but still remains a hot topic. Even in
the Straits Times of that day, there were three items on
the cover page on entrepreneurs: a cosmetics millionaire
who got burnt, Singapore entrepreneur success story and
a story on an unexpected entrepreneur: the maid, who
seems to be making more money by having many ‘illegal’
work aside.
Bertel, a remarkable facilitator, went on introducing the
four panel members: Caroline van der Meer (ATC Trustees),
Subramanian Pillai (Colin Ng & Partners), Pieter Kalis
(Damen Shipyard) and Cliff Go (Schroders & Co). He asked
them to share their experiences in pioneering new business
activities in Singapore.
Caroline worked in Curaçao before she came to
Singapore, as a Managing Director of ATC Trustees. Berthel
inquired whether there are large differences between
entrepreneurship in Curaçao and Singapore. She replied
by saying that surprisingly the differences are not that big,
as it all evolves around ‘knowing people’. Networking is
the key essential in setting up a business. Subramanian,
partner at Colin Ng & Partners, continued by focusing on
the legal aspect of entrepreneurship, and how much of
that is underestimated: the key essential being a good
legal counsel. Pieter Kalis, the intrapreneur of the panel,
was wisely asked why he did not become an entrepreneur.
He straightforwardly stated that he was not frustrated
enough to leave his employer and start his own company.
Cliff Go made a note on the fact that entrepreneurship
with a partner(s) is actually a marriage and that it is very
important to set out the framework and expectations
beforehand. Also, a good ‘prenob’ does not hurt, when
parties decide to split.
The focus then went on to ‘cultural differences’, with
Subramanian elaborating on being naked in a Turkish bath
proved to be the best way of doing business in China for
one of his clients. Even though it is important to be aware of
cultural differences, it is most important to have a good deal,
and others willing to grant you the deal.
Then the discussion was directed to management of
Singaporean employees. The short tenure can be overcome
by involvement from the management, encouraging selfreflection
and good employment benefits.
Of course, as it was an open discussion, some highly
interesting questions were asked by the ever attentive
audience. Pieter Kalis seemed to present an experience
intrapreneur as most questions were directed to him.
The final round of interesting topics dealt with mistakes
made by the panel members, and how they can be
prevented in the future. Caroline had too much of a Dutch
mentality when dealing with governmental institutions,
by challenging their authority with too many ‘why’
questions. Cliff gently explained his difficult encounters with
Singaporeans and his errors of judgment. Pieter experienced
that in dealing with governmental organizations the difficulty
lies in their indecisiveness. The contractual decisions were
postponed continuously, which eventually ended in a
boondoggle. His advise is that one should be aware who
they are dealing with and anticipate that behaviour. Rather
than sharing his own experience, Subramanian shared that
it is of importance to appreciate the potential legal pitfalls
and seeking timely legal support may prevent you to incur
the financial losses when dealing with various parties as
one of his clients experienced when they were involved in a
transaction with venture capitalists without seeking proper
legal support.
After the successful panel discussion jointly organised by
the DutchCham and the ADB, all participants received a warm
thank you from Marleen Dieleman and Richard Canneman.

Business
Interview with
Mrs Pauline Eizema
Deputy Head of Dutch Mission / Counsellor at Embassy of the
Netherlands in Singapore
Text Gene Kwee

Business
Pauline Danielle Eizema was born in Sittard on 4 September
1968. She grew up in Oss where she went to the primary
and secondary school (gymnasium). Upon graduating she
went on to the University of Tilburg to study economics.
During her study, she grew an interest in international
economic affairs. This translated into her spending a year at
the University of Bologna, Italy.
She graduated from University in 1993 and continued
to pursue her postgraduate education (post doctoraal) at
the College of Europe in Brugge, Belgium. This institute for
European studies underpins the specific area of her interest
of international economic affairs.
I had the great opportunity to meet her and welcome
her to Singapore.
Can you please summarise your career so far?
For the past 15 years, I have worked for the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands (Ministerie van
Buitenlandse Zaken). The Ministry sends its diplomats to
different postings every three to four years. As you will see,
I was very fortunate with my postings.
I started working for the Ministry in 1995. After the
six month training programme (diplomatenklasje) at the
Institute of Clingendael, I started working in the Department
for European Integration within the Ministry in The Hague.
My studies at the University and the College of Europe gave
me an excellent background for this job.
From 1998 until 2001, I worked as the Second Secretary
in the political section of the Embassy of the Netherlands
in London. Considering my strong economic background, it
was good for me to focus on political issues to enhance my
field of expertise.
After London, I was sent back to the Ministry in The
Hague. From 2001 until 2005, I worked in the department
dealing with International Financial Institutions. I
concentrated on debt relief for developing countries.
In 2005, I started working for the representation of
the Netherlands to the United Nations in New York. I
represented my country in international UN meetings,
such as the General Assembly and the Board of the United
Nations Development Programme. The work involved a
lot of negotiations. I enjoyed working with many different
nationalities and cultures every day.
Towards the end of the posting in New York, I was
informed of the opening in Singapore. Since this would be
an ideal next posting for myself and my family, I immediately
applied. I called the Ambassador to underline my interest
in this posting. I was very happy and grateful when I heard
that my request for a posting in Singapore was granted. The
assignment is for four years.
What would you consider to be your main short term
objectives in Singapore?
On a personal level, I am very happy that my family has
now moved into our new apartment. This was the first time
that my husband and I moved with our two young children
(11 months and 3 years old) and we found it is much more
complicated and hectic than when we were just with the
two of us! After having spent two months in a hotel, we are
relieved to be in our new place.
From a business perspective, I am excited about the
change processes that are taking place within the Embassy.
The Embassy has undergone a ‘branding exercise’, which
involved talking and thinking about what the Embassy
stands for and what we want to achieve collectively.
We developed a mission statement which is now on
our website. We are also working very hard to improve
communication with our clients, such as through providing
more information on our website. The telephone system has
been changed, we have created a reception desk for visitors
and we will shortly introduce an appointment system for
visa and passports. We hope that these changes will improve
our efficiency and client friendliness and I would be very
interested in hearing feedback from your readers.
As the head of the Economic Section in the Embassy,
which deals with trade, science and technology, investment
and agriculture, I am working hard with the team towards a
more integrated approach. This is already creating synergies.
Having had postings in the ‘west’, were there any valuable
lessons learned that you may want to use in the ‘east’?
From every posting I learnt specific lessons which I can use in
my future career. The knowledge of EU issues, for example,
is very valuable since the EU system is quite complicated. In
New York, I learnt to deal with many different cultures and
how cultural differences influence international negotiations.
My husband, Peter Kloprogge, and I are very fond of
South-East Asia which we have visited many times. Peter
spent a few years in Malaysia as a child and we went back to
his ‘roots’ on several trips. We love the people, the food, the
climate, and the wonderful nature.
I am keen to understand the Asian culture better and I am
grateful to my Singaporean colleagues in the Embassy who
are providing me with valuable information. For example,
I asked one of them to train me how to exchange business
cards in Asia!
On a personal level, as a mother of two young children,
what are your views on work-life balance and participation
of women in the labour market?
I am grateful that both my husband and my employer are
very supportive of my career. We have been fortunate that
my husband, who is running his own business in marketing
analytics, has been able to strategically expand his business
venture with my subsequent postings in London and New
York. Besides being an entrepreneur, he has proven to be a
dedicated father as well. Furthermore, I am very pleased with
my employer, who has been open and considerate looking at
the needs and circumstances of the family with each posting
I had so far.
So I am quite happy and fortunate with these two
enabling factors allowing me to strike a good work-life
balance.
If you were asked to write a book, what would it be about?
I would have to think about that more carefully, but one
idea might be to write a book sharing my experiences with
negotiations. In international negotiations, it is crucial to
understand the person you are negotiating with and to find
out what he or she really wants. You can only find out by
creating an informal setting (I spent a lot of time in the UN
coffee bar!) and listening very well. After you know what
the other side wants, it is often possible to find a ‘win win’
solution. It is also crucial to add as many variables as possible
to a negotiation, so that you have different elements to
‘exchange’ and you can create a situation in which both
parties are happy with some aspects of the deal.
The above is a mere summary of the extensive discussion we
had on various topics and may short change the person that
Pauline Eizema is. For those who have met or who will meet
her, I believe that we can agree that she is a combination of
being a dedicated business woman and a fun loving family
person. To this I salute you.

Business
Working together for brighter
and stronger futures - Flour
Fortification Initiative
Text Annoek van den Wijngaart
Photos Annoek van den Wijngaart and UNICEF
Annoek van den Wijngaart, a public health nutritionist, has
been working with the Flour Fortification Initiative (FFI) for
just over a year. She is currently based in Singapore and
works free lance for FFI. From Singapore she is responsible
for covering FFI activities in countries in the Asian region.
Hidden Hunger
One of the great misconceptions about malnutrition is
that it is simply an issue of not getting enough to eat. We
all have probably seen pictures on CNN with images of
starving children in a famine. This is only the tip of the
iceberg of nutrition related problems.
For people to reach their full potential, they need
adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals. Some
examples of these nutrients or micronutrients as they are
needed only in very small amounts - are for example iron,
folic acid, iodine, zinc and vitamin A. It is not the obvious
hunger of poor people who are not able to afford enough
to eat. It is about the consumption of often cheap and
filling food that lack micronutrients. Families or certain
family members might not have access to foods that are
rich in micronutrients, such as fruits, vegetables, fish and
meat. For these kinds of nutrition problems that are often
not visible to us, the term ‘Hidden Hunger’ is used.
Deficiencies of these micronutrients can limit a child’s
academic achievement, reduce adult productivity, and
cause disabling or fatal birth defects. All of this may lead to
more people falling ill and dying. The lower levels of work
productivity and educational achievement are responsible
for countries not reaching their full potential with regards
to national development and economic progress.

Business
Wheat Flour Fortification
One way to provide micronutrients, such as iron, folic acid,
iodine Vitamin A and zinc is by adding them to foods which
are already consumed by the population which needs
them. This process is called food fortification.
Flour Fortification Initiative (FFI), the group which
Annoek works with, aims to make wheat flour fortification
a standard practice everywhere. Wheat consumption in
the world, particularly also in Asia, has been on the rise
since years. With growing economies people spend a larger
part of their income on flour based products, especially
(instant) noodles, bread and biscuits.
The process of adding the vitamins and minerals to
the flour is very straight forward. The same equipment is
used that modern mills already use to add flour improvers
such as enzymes to the wheat flour. Wheat contains
micronutrients naturally, mostly in the outer layers of the
grain or in the germ. Much of this is lost as the grain is
milled. By adding micronutrients through fortification one
is basically replacing nutrients that were already there.
Common questions about flour fortification
Annoek: “People often ask me if food fortification changes
the taste and/or appearance of the bread and noodles
we all consume. We have carried out studies in China,
India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Philippines
which show that Asian food products made with fortified
flour are just as acceptable to consumers as those made
with unfortified flour. In addition, in Indonesia and the
Philippines, all flour has been fortified for several years
with no consumer complaints of negative impacts on
flour-based foods”.
And what about the cost of flour fortification? The
costs of fortifying flour depend on which vitamins and
minerals are added, the amounts added and the type of
fortificant used. In 2008, a panel of economists produced
the “Copenhagen Consensus”, which indicated that
supplementation of micronutrients is the single most costeffective
strategy to improve lives of populations. Several
studies have established that flour fortification with folic
acid and iron costs less than 25 US cents per person per
year.
Currently, 60 countries have national standards to
fortify flour as part of their strategy to improve lives
of their populations. As mentioned before, in Asia it is
mandatory to fortify flour with micronutrients in Indonesia
and the Philippines. “We hope that many countries in the
region soon will follow with similar legislation”.
Flour Fortification Initiative
FFI is a network of individuals and organizations working
to make flour fortification standard practice everywhere.
Partners include public and private sector as well as civic
groups and academic institutions. Some private sector
examples are Akzo Nobel, Bühler, Cargill, General Mills,
Interflour and Seaboard Corporation. Examples from the
public and civil sector are:, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Global
Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), UNICEF, World
Food Programme, World Health Organisation and many
more.
Annoek: “What I love about my work with FFI is
working together towards the common goal of improving
people’s lives, with so many people who at first seem to
have different interests. The partnership aspect of my
work, especially between the public and civic sector on
one side and the private sector such as the millers and
food companies on the other, is the biggest but also most
interesting challenge.”
For more information about Flour Fortification
Initiative, visit the website: www.ffinetwork.org or
contact Annoek van den Wijngaart directly: annoek@
publicnutritionsolutions.com
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Business
Prinsjesdag 2010: Tax package
for 2011 announced
Text Barend van Drooge and Gene Kwee
As always, on the third Tuesday in September of 2010,
the Dutch government outlined the proposed policy and
budget for the coming year on Budget Day (‘Prinsjesdag’),
including the Tax Plan for 2011. The 2011 Tax Plan has
several important new tax measures for individuals and
corporations. We will provide a brief overview of these
new proposals.
Most of the proposed measures will or are set to take
effect on 1 January 2011, albeit subject to approval and
possible amendments.
Background
This year, the tradition of Prinsjesdag was somewhat
undone of its formalities, which was due to the fact that
the elections of last 9th June haven’t led to the formation
of a new government. Nonetheless, the budget has been
composed by the resigning government; which should/
may no longer be in office when these plans are executed.
Considering the state of the current defunct government,
the general deliberations (‘Algemene beschouwingen’) on
the budget plans have been postponed until the formation
of the new government has been completed. Despite
the peculiar political situation of this year’s Prinsjesdag,
the proposed tax measures are expected to be accepted
and executed by the new government and therefore may
warrant a close inspection.
Tax Plan 2011
The recent financial crisis still puts a big mark on
government policy and the Tax Plan 2011 has been heavily
influenced by post crisis-related considerations. In brief, on
a corporate level the Tax Plan encourages entrepreneurship
and innovation, while combating tax avoidance. At the
individual level the Tax Plan promotes labour participation.
Tax measures for individuals
Personal income tax in the first bracket (‘ eerste schijf’)
will be reduced by 0.45% to 33% (15.10% for senior
citizens). The brackets will also be expanded (on top of
regular indexation), with €300 over the first, €550 over the
second and €1000 over the third. To further encourage
labour participation, the earned income tax credit will be
increased.
On a personal income tax front, the facility to claim
the mortgage interest relief upon having rented out
one’s house in the Netherlands, will be extended and will
continue to apply in 2012.
The transfer tax due upon subsequent transaction
(within a 12 months period) of one’s house in 2011 will be
limited to the excess value of the two transactions.
Tax measures for corporations
To encourage entrepreneurship, the corporate income tax
rate will be reduced. The general corporate income tax
rate will be reduced by 0.5% to 25% and the temporarily
reduced rate of 20% for the first €200,000 profit, the socalled
“SME rate”, will be made permanent.
Furthermore, the liquidity position of businesses may
be strengthened by three measures.
1. The existing facility to carry-back losses for three years
(instead of just one year) will be extended to apply until
the end of 2011. However as a trade-off, the period to
carry forward tax losses will be reduced to 6 years (from
nine years).
2. The temporary measure allowing a quarterly reporting
of VAT returns (instead of monthly) will be made
permanent.
3. The accelerated depreciation scheme for investments in
business assets will also be extended to apply until the
end of 2011, which means that any such investments in
2011 can be depreciated in two years.
In addition, to encourage innovation the so-called
“innovationbox”, which provides for income/profits related
to specified innovative activities to be subjected to a lower
corporate income tax rate of 5%, will be extended to
include profits from such activities in the period between
application and approval of a patent.
At the request of employers, the work-related costs
schemes (‘werkkostenregeling’) will be liberalised, to
include amongst others tax free provision of literature,
membership of professional bodies etc.
Finally, several anti-avoidance measures have been
proposed. In the past companies have and undertaken
measures as to avoid paying transfer taxes on transactions
of shares in so-called ‘onroerende zaaklichaam’ or ‘OZL’.
For this reason, the criterium to be classified as an ‘OZL’
has been adjusted. A transaction of shares of such an OZL
will be subjected to transfer taxes.
Furthermore, the government proposed to end the
practice of trading in empty corporations that have
incurred pre-acquisition losses for the sole purpose
of offsetting these losses against future profits of the
acquiring company. This practice is ended by no longer
allowing any pre-acquisition losses to be carried forward
after the acquistion (including same-year losses). This also
applies in the reverse scenario: when an acquirer inserts
divisions with losses into a corporation that made profits.
Other measures
Other measures, include the extension of the tax benefits
(purchase tax or ‘BPM’ and ‘MRB’) for highly fuel-efficient
cars. There will also be good news for those planning to
renovate the house, as the VAT rate for labour costs in
renovation projects in the period 1 October 2010 to 1 July
2011 will be reduced to 6% (instead of the regular rate of
19%).
More details on any of the above can be found on
www.minfin.nl.

DutchCham News
Singapore
International
Energy Week
Energy
Committee
With our new Energy
committee / interest group,
we are creating a platform to
promote and facilitate business
opportunities between
Singapore and the Netherlands
within the Energy sector. For
more information on news,
resources and events regarding Energy and our Energy
Committee please visit: http://www.dutchcham.sg/about/energy
Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) 2010
will take place 27 October – 4 November 2010.
The programme features a range of highlevel
conferences & exhibitions and networking
sessions, enabling energy professionals to
discover best practices, find out what’s on the
horizon and to connect with energy sector leaders.
The Singapore International Energy Week
(SIEW) is an annual platform for energy
professionals, policy makers and commentators to
discuss energy issues, strategies and solutions.
The appetite for economic development and
urban progress, coupled with climate change
concerns and the development of more efficient
energy technologies, is driving change amongst
consumers and in the energy industry.
SIEW aims to facilitate the exchange of ideas
and discussions on pertinent energy-related
issues, while simultaneously meeting the
strategic objectives of Singapore’s commitment to
becoming a global leading energy hub.
First held in 2008, attendance at SIEW
doubled from about 2,500 participants in 2008 to
over 5,000 last year.
The Dutch Chamber of Commerce (S) and its
Energy Committee will be exhibiting at the Clean
Energy Expo 2010 at Suntec Singapore to promote
and facilitate Dutch business from within the
European Pavilion.
27-28
27-29
1
2-4
2-4
EVENTS
October
Carbon Forum Asia
International experts discuss carbon credits and
CDM project financing opportunities in Asia, as
well as low carbon technologies and solutions.
Downstream Asia 2010
This conference focuses on the downstream,
refining and petrochemical sectors, and will
forecast future trends and opportunities for
investment & growth.
November
Singapore Energy Summit
Minister S. Iswaran, policy makers, and business
leaders examine the energy landscape across
Asia-Pacific.
• Bridging the green financing gap
• Kick-starting the energy technology revolution
Clean Energy Expo Asia
The conference will consider the outlook for
clean energy projects, investment opportunities
and carbon finance, and technology innovation.
POWER-GEN Asia
Conference and exhibition on power generation,
transmission and distribution. Session topics
include carbon markets and their financing.
More information on these and other events can be found
on our website: www.dutchcham.sg
PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY:
Dutch Chamber of Commerce Singapore - 1 Raffles Boulevard - #05-517 Suntec City - Singapore 039593 - T +65 6884 5084 - E info@dutchcham.sg

Extra
The inaugural Youth Olympic Games 2010;
a legacy that will remain Singapore’s forever!
Text Rutger Oudejans
As a sports fan and active participant of different sports,
the opportunity of being part of the Olympic Games has
always appealed to me. When I learned that the inaugural
Youth Olympics Games (YOG) would be held in Singapore,
I decided to apply as a volunteer, despite my very busy
working life. I considered this opportunity to be a once
in a life time experience. And I was not proven wrong.
Even International Olympic Committee president Jacques
Rogge who had conceptualized the YOG in 2001 could not
have envisioned such successful inaugural Games. As the
12-day sporting party drew to a close, Rogge said the YOG
had vastly exceeded his highest expectations. “Hats off to
Singapore for what they’ve done. I now have 22 Olympic
Games under my belt and the YOG is ranking at the very
top.”
The YOG were held in Singapore from 14 - 26 August
2010, catering to athletes aged between 14 and 18. Besides
the competition in the 26 Olympic sports, it included a
simultaneous cultural and educational component. The
integration was one of many firsts of the Games. The world
also witnessed a diving event held in the open at night and
the use of laser shooting in the modern pentathlon for
the first time. New formats like three-on-three basketball
and mixed-team events in tennis, triathlon and swimming
were also introduced. In a bid to reach out to youths,
the Games also made its presence felt on YouTube and
social networking sites. 45,000 articles were written by
some 1,200 journalists, and the YOG was broadcasted in
166 countries. In addition, a five-billion-strong audience
watched YOG YouTube clips while four million people
visited its Face book page. Another interesting statistic:
Of the 204 National Olympic Committees that were
represented at the YOG, 98 returned with at least one
medal. This was 12 more than in the 2008 Beijing Olympics,
and a sign of increased universality.
After the closing ceremony IOC chief Rogge played
down talk that he was the father of the Games, but paid
tribute to the birthplace of the Olympic movement’s
new pride and joy: “Let me say that there is one mother
– Singapore.”
Volunteer at Tennis
Tennis at the YOG can be considered a professional event
as the participants are already playing at professional level.
As the International Tennis Federation (ITF) was awarding
official world ranking points, the tournament attracted
the top 20 players of the world both in the girls and boys
events. This included the winners of both boys and girls
Wimbledon and Roland Garros singles for instance.
As a member of the Board of the Singapore Tennis
Association (STA) and a reasonable tennis player myself,
the link to become a volunteer in the beautiful game of
tennis was an obvious one. Having some experience in
refereeing tennis matches, I was bombarded Supervisor
of referees, which implied that my role was to actually
plan and coordinate the allocation of both chair and line
referees for all matches played at Kallang Tennis Centre.
Training for the YOG started a few months ago with
a large group of volunteers, most of them without any
practical experience in refereeing a match, let alone a
match at professional level. Practice sessions were focused
on training on speed of the ball, signs and gestures
and professional etiquette on court as the world was
watching. The group of volunteers was mostly Singaporean,
complemented with some foreign referees and a lot of
follow up and repetition was required. The YOG itself was
challenging as the players are used to professional umpiring
but the refereeing drew a lot of praise from players, coaches
and media. On television, the chair umpires and referees
were branded as “excellent”, a compliment for us all.
10

Extra
Overall the tennis event at YOG was very successful.
Jacques Rogge attended the final day of tennis and left
with the impression that the players really enjoyed their
experience. “I think it is good promotion at all levels,”
he said. “It brings the dream of Olympic sport to young
players.”
Spirit of the Games
It was a remarkable moment that summed up the spirit
of the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. Rain stopped
play at Kallang Tennis Centre mid-way through the boys’
doubles final on late Friday evening, leaving a sold-out
Centre Court crowd with nothing to watch. That was until
Timea Babos and Daria Gavrilova, the newly crowned
Youth Olympic singles champion, treated spectators to
a spontaneous dance-off. The two players, who were
scheduled to face each other in the bronze medal doubles
match, showed off an array of dance moves – each one
greeted by cheers from the watching fans. The Centre
Court party was so popular that other players came to join
in. Russian doubles pair Victor Baluda and Mikhail Biryukov
arrived with Damir Dzumhur, and then they were joined by
Oliver Golding, Yulia Putintseva and Darian King, to name
just some. It wasn’t only the players getting in on the act,
though. Staff and members of the public were also invited
to take part as the resident DJ increased the volume and
drummed up support over the loud speaker. As more and
more people joined, Centre Court began to resemble a late
night disco rather than an Olympic field of play.
team, whose matches drew large crowds from the Dutch
community. Equally important however was the experience
gained by the whole youthful Olympic team in an equal
setting as the real Olympic Games.
The first winter edition of the YOG will be hosted in
Innsbruck, Austria in 2012. The next summer YOG will be
hosted in Chinese Nanjing, in 2014.
Holland and the Games
Naturally, the Netherlands was also present at the YOG, as
we have a great tradition in participating in the Olympic
Games. 36 athletes and support crew defended our flag in
Singapore in a multiple range of sports. Ad Roskam, Chef
de Mission of the Dutch team mentioned on the fare-well
reception, hosted by our ambassador His Excellency Mr.
Jansing, that the overall performance was outstanding. Half
of the athletes reached either a finale or a top 8 position.
As icing on the cake there were four hard fought medals;
the Bronze medal for the cycling team, Silver medals for
archery with Rick van den Oever and sailor Daphne van
der Vaart and of course the Gold Medal for the Hockey
Facts and figures of the First Youth Olympic Games held
2 Number of silver medals Singapore won
(Rainer Ng, 18, swimmer, 50m backstroke;
and Isabelle Li, 15, table tennis girls’ singles)
6 Most number of gold medals won by an
athlete (Tang Yi, 17, Chinese swimmer)
70 Most number of goals scored by one team
in a handball match (South Korea’s 70-4 win
against Cook Islands)
204 National Olympic Committees took part in
the YOG
1,151 medals were given out
1,200 media representatives covered the action
2,880 table-tennis balls were used
3,600 athletes participated in the 26 sports
4,200 tennis balls were used
5,600 bags of laundry were handled each day by
the Village laundry service
6,000 highest attendance at a football match
(Singapore versus Haiti semi-final)
20,000 local and international volunteers signed up
for duty
22,000 Average number of meals consumed by
athletes at the Youth Olympic Village each
day
370,000 spectators attended the Games
600,000 batteries of different sizes were used
1,800,000 liters of beverages were prepared
throughout the Games
11

Interview
Interview
with Ben Vree
Former ADB President
Text Wilco Alberda
As the ADB exists 20 years this year, we asked some
of our former members to share with us some of their
experiences during their time in Singapore. Fortunately,
my great example and our former ADB President, Ben Vree
was very happy to accede and to answer some questions.
Ben Vree lived in Singapore from 1991 to 2000 and is
currently CEO of SMIT Internationale N.V. He will resign on
1 January 2011.
Why did you come to Singapore and how long did you
stay here?
During one of my first visits to Singapore I met with Carel
van den Driest from Van Ommeren who was responsible
for the construction of a new tankstorage farm on Pulau
Sebarok. At that moment I said to myself: That is what I
want to do one day as well.
A few years later I joined Van Ommeren and after some
years with Van Ommeren in the Netherlands I was asked
to move to Singapore to manage the operation which
had motivated me earlier to change jobs. We stayed in
Singapore for nearly 9 years which is a rather long period,
but we enjoyed every day of it.
How did you and your family experience Singapore?
The only down side of living in Singapore is that there will
be a day that you have to leave the country again! We all
enjoyed living in Singapore and our kids still have some
friends from those days.
What did you really miss about Holland during your stay
in Singapore?
In fact there is not much I missed besides friends and
family. The food in Singapore is very international, the
shopping is better than in Holland, the Hollandse Club and
ADB offers a fantastic platform for making new friends.
Housing, schooling, etc are well organised. So what did
I miss? Maybe watching a good game of soccer in a real
stadium is the only thing one may miss.
Why did you join the Association of Dutch Businessmen
and even became President?
In the beginning the ADB was still a rather small and
informal group of people. Abel Dutilh who I knew from
before introduced me to it. From day one I enjoyed the
spirit of friendship and support while it was an easy
platform to make new friends soon upon arrival in a new
environment. I became President for two reasons; one is
that I believe that you should not always consume only
but produce as well. Secondly, I had a nice and pleasant
group of people together in the Board which enforced the
relationship amongst each other. I am still much grateful to
my fellow Board members with whom I worked with during
my years as President to organise speakers, business visits,
Black Tie dinners, etc.
Could you in any way reap the fruits of your membership/
presidency of the ADB?
One of the interesting issues is of course when officials are
visiting Singapore. During my years as a Board member of
the ADB, I met many CEO’s of multinationals, high ranking
officials, ministers and even our Crown Prince Willem
Alexander; people you will normally not meet that easily.
12

Interview
What is the best thing about Singapore?
For me, one of the best things about Singapore is the fact
that you can sail with beautiful weather year round. In
addition, most people living in Singapore are travelling
quite a bit in the region as well. The benefit of Singapore is
that you can easily leave your family back home when you
have to travel, since they are in safe hands and enjoying
their lives.
You once told me: “The worst thing about Singapore is
that you never want to leave”. Was it hard to go back to
Holland?
For me, it was not too hard to get used to Holland again
since I stepped into a new job with many challenges. In
the beginning for my kids it was maybe difficult to make a
choice what to wear when going to school instead of the
uniforms like in Singapore. However, they immediately
made many new friends in school. For my wife it might
have been most difficult, since we had been away for quite
a long time, which meant that she had to invest in buildingup
her network of friends again.
How do you feel about Singapore now when you are
visiting? Has it changed much? Does it feel like coming
home?
Funny enough it still feels like coming back home, but
home is changing constantly. The general way of living,
communications and doing business with partners and
colleagues is still the same, but the infrastructure is rapidly
changing.
Your predecessor as President, Abel Dutilh, will also
contribute to the 20 th anniversary of the ADB. Could you
indicate how Abel contributed to your stay in Singapore.
Apart from the fact that Abel introduced me to the ADB and
apart from a number of his friends, we worked close together
as well when organising an event like the ADB Black Tie
dinner. Abel always arranged the Police Band for the musical
part, while I organised the catering and accommodation of
the ADB. The day of the dinner itself we were usually at the
Hollandse Club early in the morning to support Mr Woon
and Mr Boon with all arrangements during the day. Nearly all
times we finished just before the first guests arrived.
Anything else that you would like to share with the ADB
members?
I strongly believe that ADB is important for networking,
information exchange etc. As I often say: “Het meervoud
van kennis, is kennissen!” and that is applicable for the ADB
as well.
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13
12/9/09 4:13:43 PM

Bizz News
Gouda Holland, Edam Holland to get protected status
Dutch Gouda and Edammer cheese are to be given protected status under EU rules on local products, quoting a European
Commission official. The decision ends a seven-year campaign by the Dutch dairy board to win protected status for the two
classic products. Producers in other countries such as Germany had argued against giving protected status to the Dutch
cheese. Gouda and Edam-style products are even made in the US. Foreign producers will still be allowed to produce cheese
described as Edam and Gouda, but only cheese made in the Netherlands will be known as ‘Edam Holland’ and ‘Gouda
Holland’. The formal decision is expected soon. In 2007, jenever, or Dutch gin, became the sixth Dutch product to be given
EU status. Jenever joined the Opperdoezer Ronde (a potato from the West-Friesian region Opperdoes) and four cheeses
(Boeren Leidse, Kanter, Noord-Hollandse Edammer and Noord-Hollandse Gouda). Gouda and Edam account for some 50%
of the 700 tonnes of cheese produced in the Netherlands each year. The market for the two sorts is put at €1.3bn.
Slight increase in women in boardroom jobs
The number of women in the top levels of Dutch listed companies rose
by just two last year, despite a number of initiatives to boost women
executives. According to the annual Female Board Index, eight women
were appointed to board level jobs over the past year, while six left. In
total, women now account for 8.1% of the country’s top boardroom jobs
or 61 out of 749 functions. In 2007, when the first index was published,
the figure was 5.9%. IT company Nedap has proportionately the most
women on its boards – two out of six. Ahold has four top female executives
out of 13 and KPN three out of 11, the index shows. Erasmus University
researcher Mijntje Lückerath-Rovers, who compiles the index, said the
economic crisis could be a reason for the slow-down.
Crisis
‘Perhaps companies are sticking with what they know because of the
crisis,’ she said. ‘Maybe they do not dare to do something unusual, such as
appoint a woman to the management board.’ Last year, a majority of MPs
was in favour of the introduction of a quota for boardrooms. Lückerath-
Rovers said she would rather companies took steps towards employing
more senior women out of choice rather than being forced to do so.
EU appoints Dutch
diplomats to top
foreign affairs jobs
Dutch diplomat Roeland van de
Geer has been named the head of
the EU’s delegation to South Africa,
considered one of the top jobs in the
new EU foreign affairs’ set up. Van
Geer is a former Dutch ambassador
to Mozambique and Afghanistan and
the EU’s special representative to the
African Great Lakes region. The head
of the EU’s delegation to Lebanon to
be is Dutch woman Angelina Eichhorst.
The EU’s foreign affairs minister
Catherine Ashton announced 28
diplomatic postings.
Rabobank issues 100-
year bonds
Cooperative bank Rabobank sold $350
million worth of bonds which are set
to mature in 100 years. It is the first
time a bank has sold senior bonds
with such a long maturity. The deal
‘reflects the stability of Rabobank’s
triple A credit ratings despite jitters
about banks’ creditworthiness two
years after Lehman Brothers filed for
bankruptcy.’
Demand for care workers set to slow
The home and nursing care services will need some 140,000 employees up to 2030, according to researchers at the
government’s social policy unit SCP. The SCP says growth in the number of care workers will be 1.2% a year. Until now,
growth has been assumed to be 1.8%. But researchers say fewer people will be needed because the elderly population
is also becoming healthier. The research was carried out on behalf of caretaker health minister Ab Klink who wanted to
know what the likely effect of the greying population would be on the residential care sector.
Efficiency
Meanwhile, Eelco Daamen, chairman of the Amsterdam home care group Cordaan, says that care groups should work on
a smaller scale and improve their alliances with family doctors, welfare groups and other local networks. This means, the
frail elderly would go to their doctor for medical care and a community centre to play games. At the moment, there is a
lot of inefficiency and double capacity, he said.
14

Bizz News
Kilometre tax ‘best option’
to cut congestion
The introduction of a kilometre tax on motoring is
the best way to combat traffic congestion according
to a new report by the Dutch environment
assessment agency PBL. The PBL’s biannual report
on the living environment in the Netherlands
states, that not only would the kilometre tax cut
congestion, but it would also improve the quality
of life. Without it, tens of billions of euros will
need to be spent on building new roads, the report
said. Nevertheless, the quality of the Dutch living
environment has improved markedly over the past
20 years, the PBL states. Air is cleaner, cities are
more attractive and there is more room for nature.
The caretaker cabinet was forced to abandon plans
to introduce a kilometre tax when the government
fell. The three right-wing parties are currently in
talks on forming a new government and are all
opposed to road pricing.
Philips sets growth target 2%
above global economy
Electronics giant Philips wants to book annual
sales growth 2% above growth in the global
economy, the company said in a strategic update.
In addition, earnings per share should be double of
sales growth, the company said in its Vision 2015
document. Five years ago, the company set a target
of 6% sales growth a year.
Three pillars
The company also reaffirmed its commitment to its
three-pillar strategy of lighting, medical equipment
and consumer electronics. ‘We will continue to build
on the key global trends to expand our leadership
in key businesses, such as home healthcare, LED
lighting solutions and healthy living and personal
care,’ CEO Gerard Kleisterlee said. According to
Reuters, analysts have suggested Philips may have
to abandon this because synergies between lighting,
healthcare and consumer electronics are limited.
New cabinet not right wing,
says CDA leader
The Christian Democratic party is a ‘middle party’,
so a cabinet involving the CDA cannot be termed
right wing, CDA leader Maxime Verhagen is quoted
as saying. Verhagen made the comment before
joining VVD leader Mark Rutte and Geert Wilders
of the anti-Islam PVV for a new round of talks on
forming a cabinet. When the talks were halted 10
days ago, VVD leader Mark Rutte said the three
parties had already agreed policies which would
make ‘right wing voters lick their lips’.
Conference Agenda
2
2-4
8-11
9-10
9-11
9-12
10-11
10-11
11
11
16-18
18-19
21-24
22-24
23-24
25-26
November
Brazil on the World Stage: New Trajectories
for Growth
Abu Dhabi
Connecting the Next Billion
Jakarta
The 3 rd Annual Deepwater Asia Pacific
Convention 2010
Shanghai
5 th FLNG Asia Pacific Summit
Seoul
Safety in Mining 2010
Brisbane
23 rd Annual AVCJ Forum: Asia’s Private Equity
Week 2010
Hong Kong
TradeTech Asia 2010
Singapore
9 th Annual Procurement Asia Summit
Kuala Lumpur
Hedge Funds Trading & Investments Summit
Asia
Singapore
Shutdowns and Turnarounds Masterclass
Sydney
FinTech World Australia 2010
Sydney
Asia Pacific Inflation Linked Bonds &
Investment Conference 2010
Seoul
Private Equity World MENA 2010
Dubai
Real Estate Investment World India 2010
Mumbai
Data Centre Management 2010
Singapore
Talent Management
Perth
Log on to www.conferencebay.com for more
information on these and other events
15

know your tax
Tax benefits in the Netherlands
for foreign employees – 30%-ruling
TEXT RINA DRIECE AND PIETER DE RIDDER OF LOYENS LOEFF
In order to attract foreign companies and their employees
to The Netherlands, a beneficial tax facility has been
introduced in Dutch tax law: the 30%-ruling. By benefiting
from this tax incentive, either the tax burden for the
employee or the cost for the employer can be reduced.
Moreover, the social security cost can be limited if the
income does not exceed certain amounts and a resident
employee can optimize his personal income tax position by
choosing to be treated as a partial non-resident tax-payer.
Below we will explain the benefits and the requirements of
the 30% ruling in more detail.
The 30%-ruling is a Dutch wage tax law facility and is
open to employees who come from abroad to work in The
Netherlands and meet specific conditions. As the employee
is assumed to incur extra expenses for working outside his
home country, his employer may give him a fixed tax-free
allowance in view of these “extraterritorial expenses” up to
30% of his wages”.
The candidate for the 30%-ruling must have the status
of employee; statutory directors and supervisory directors
of a Dutch company may also qualify, self-employed
persons do not.
The employee must be recruited from abroad by
or seconded to a ‘withholding entity’, i.e. an employer
running a Dutch wage tax administration, which can also
be a non-resident company seconding employees to The
Netherlands.
The employee must have specific skills which are not
or scarcely available on the Dutch labour market which the
employer must be able to demonstrate. If an employee
- at a middle or higher level - who has worked within the
group of companies for more than 2.5 years -, is sent to the
Netherlands on the basis of “job rotation”, he is assumed
to have the required scarce specific skills.
Employer and employee together must file an
application for the 30%-ruling with the Dutch tax office
through a special application form. The tax office will
review the situation and give a formal approval. It is
possible to appeal against a negative decision.
In order to apply the 30%-ruling as of the first working
day, the application must be filed within four months as
of the start of the employment. If the request is filed too
late, the ruling can be applied as of the month following
the month in which the application has been filed only. It is
possible to meet this deadline by filing a formal application
if for whatever reason it is not possible to file a complete
application package in time.
The basis on which the 30%-allowance is calculated
is the taxable wages, which may include all wages from
present employment. The 30%-ruling cannot be applied
on termination payments or pension benefits. Tuition
fees for international schools can be reimbursed tax-free
in addition to the 30%-allowance. Any other additional
allowances for extraterritorial expenses (e.g. double
housing expenses, home leave, etc.) cannot be paid taxfree
if the 30%-allowance is paid.
In order to not increase the cost for the employer,
the contractual gross salary must be reduced with the
30%-allowance. For practical reasons, in the payroll
administration an administrative split into taxable wage
and tax-free 30%-allowance can be made, taking the
original gross salary as a basis. The condition is that
employer and employee agree in writing that the 30%-
ruling will be applied as well as that the consequences of
reducing the contractual gross salary will be implemented
correctly in the payroll calculations. Such agreement
should preferably be laid down in an addendum to the
employment/secondment contract. The split of the wages
into taxable wages and tax-free 30%-allowance is not
allowed if parties do not sign such addendum!
The 30%-ruling is granted for a period of ten years at
a maximum. The ten years-period is reduced with periods
of earlier presence or working in The Netherlands. After
five years, a re-evaluation of scarce specific skills should be
made.
If an employee does not satisfy the conditions of
the 30%-ruling or the actual extraterritorial expenses
exceed the fixed amount of 30% of the wages, the actual
extraterritorial expenses can be reimbursed tax-free,
but in that case evidence will have to be provided by the
employer.
If the employee comes to live in The Netherlands and
becomes a resident tax payer, he can - if the 30%-ruling
has been granted - choose to be treated as a partial nonresident
tax payer, his tax liability in The Netherlands thus
being limited which may be very beneficial.
Note that the above could be applicable to expatriates
returning to the Netherlands, but only if the expat spent at
least 10 years abroad.
16

column
GOING LOCAL
by Richard Soemita
“If you do want to
save money, have a
multi cultural environment
and meet ‘real people’,
please do find yourself a
nice HDB block.”
Since I have filed for my PR status I may as well go HDB too.
Recently, I have moved to an HDB apartment since I got fed
up of being ripped off by the landlord, only used the gym
twice and never used the squash court or the swimming
pool in the last 3 years. My new flat is right next to an MRT
Station and I could go to work now without an umbrella.
The only problem would be if I have to swim to the entrance
of my building on Orchard Road during one of its usual
floodings. So, hailstones, rain or snow this guy will always be
dry and sheltered from door to door. Thanks to SMRT there
is a train every few minutes and no more waiting for taxi’s
especially when it rains.
The only funny thing in the morning is that I am the
only person at the train platform that wears a suit and has a
trendy briefcase, which often causes looks like: which planet
is this fellow from? Most of you must wonder what it feels
like to be in an HDB hood. Well, quite a few big differences.
The apartments are a lot bigger and for sure more practical
than some of the new condos I have seen so far. If stated
3 bedrooms you will be able to get a 2-person bed in each
room. The new condo’s sometimes state 1 bedroom +1.
The ‘1’ assumes to be a bedroom unless you plan to sleep
tightened up and vertical, because the only way to get a bed
in that room would be putting your 1-person bed vertical! A
prison cell would be a suite compared to this box-room. The
more expensive the condo is, the more pathetic the people
are. These tend to be populated by the Generation-Y snobs
that never bother to say ‘hi’ to you even if they have been
living next door for the last 3 years. The HDB folks are very
friendly and early evening when the sun goes down they
all come out and sit around the HDB square whilst the kids
are running around and having fun. The garage is usually
in a separate block whilst most condo’s have their garage
underneath. In my last condo we had a Ferrari owner that
reffed up the engine as soon as he passed the ramp. This was
the only place where he probably could ‘speed’ and didn’t
care if it was only for 60 meters. One day I went straight up
to him and said that there could be kids playing around and
that it was only causing more air pollution in the garage. All
he did was grab his GSM and pretend to receive a call. My
HDB garage has 6 floors and is mostly populated by careful
driving taxi’s that have finished their duty. The next HDB
block has a hawker centre with great food, whilst in condo
areas you will never find a food court in the nearest 5 miles.
I really thought I would be the only angmoh living in
this block, but to my big surprise I see more expats in the
morning when entering the metro. If you do want to save
money, have a multi cultural environment and meet ‘real
people’, please do find yourself a nice HDB block. And if you
used to live in the Bijlmermeer or an ethnic neighborhood in
Rotterdam, for sure any HBD flat in Singapore would feel like
living in the Hyatt (not the ones in Ghana or Morocco). So,
now that I can save more money due to half the rent that I
pay now, I can go to Amsterdam at least once a month!
17

Green Page
Corporate Social Responsibility
Text Michiel Sengers Source Csr Asia
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a term covering the
way how the business community can take responsibility with
respect to its impact on people, planet and profit. Although
there are many ways to describe CSR, this definition is
widely recognized. In different countries, there are different
priorities, standards, and values, which shapes the way
business acts accordingly. Responsible corporations optimize
their business strategies to create sustainable solutions for
human beings, the environment and the economy.
CSR in Asia
Certain CSR practices that have been proved successful
in the West, might not work well in Asia. Like in other
regions, CSR in Asia must be shaped by priorities of Asian
stakeholders. Asia is characterized by a governmentled,
top-down model where CSR practices are forced on
businesses rather than voluntarily initiated by them. Drivers
of CSR in the region include powerful institutions such
as governments and stock exchanges. They are setting
up requirements and standards to encourage CSR. In
some countries, certain CSR activities have even become
mandatory by law. International initiatives on CSR have
had a limited impact in Asia. Many are actually seen to
be Western focused, rather than international. While
international initiatives play a big role, many countries in
Asia prefer local adaptations of international standards and
guidelines of such initiatives. Countries in the Asian region
are keeping a close eye on impact from businesses on the
environment and environmental performance is increasingly
playing part of a company’s reputation and brand.
Across Asia, implementation varies hugely. In certain
countries, CSR has a clear history and companies often
have sophisticated CSR strategies. In other parts of Asia,
companies are only starting to recognize the role of CSR.
In China, much interest comes from the government which
has developed a number of guidelines and initiatives
around CSR. In Hong Kong, non-governmental organizations
have demanded improved CSR initiatives from large listed
companies. Some companies are global leaders on CSR, but
others are lagging behind. In both Malaysia and Australia,
leadership on CSR issues comes from stock exchanges.
In Vietnam, leadership is assumed by the Chamber of
Commerce working in partnership with the United Nations
Development Program. Singapore’s approach includes
business, government and trade unions. Governance
has been a focus in Thailand, but other aspects of CSR
SALVAGE ASIA PTE LTD
12A Jln Samulun • Singapore 629131 • Tel : +65 6591 5288 • Fax : +65 6591 5289 • www.ttbisso.com • info@ttbisso.com
18

Green Page
are under-developed. In Indonesia, highly controversial
laws covering CSR have been enacted and are now being
opposed by businesses who accuse the government of
merely introducing a social tax. In both Japan and Korea
there is an emphasis on reporting. Japanese companies
have been leaders on environmental initiatives. In India,
a huge number of voluntary initiatives on CSR have been
established. Bangladesh has introduced tax exemptions for
companies engaging in CSR programs.
Opportunities and threats
Businesses themselves are recognizing the value of CSR.
It is clear that more companies in Asia are now beginning
to understand the business case for CSR. With more Asian
companies now establishing their own global brands, they
are realizing that reputation and brand can be enhanced
by good CSR. It is likely that such brands will become more
interested in demonstrating good CSR practices.
There is recognition, particularly in the financial sector,
that there are huge risks and opportunities in Asia relating
to the environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.
New indices and ratings are now tracking the performance
of companies in the region based on ESG indicators.
Environmental practices can reduce costs for a
company, particularly in the manufacturing sector. Yet,
this is not always understood, and there may be out-dated
management systems, old technology and a drive to make
products at ever cheaper prices. The nature of much of the
outsourced manufacturing in the region means that labor
standards and health and safety issues can be seen as more
important than environmental issues.
Other specific challenges in the region include underdeveloped
governance policies within companies and a
continued concern about bribery and corruption. Impact
from businesses on the environment now plays a larger
role in Asia and environmental performance is increasingly
part of a company’s reputation and brand. Climate change
can lead to significant business risks. Climate change, air
pollution, water scarcity, deforestation, loss of biodiversity
and land-use change are the biggest environmental
challenges in the region. Resource-dependent sectors, (e.g.
forestry, F&B, and oil and gas) which are important to Asia’s
emerging economies, will be most affected by the impacts
of environmental trends.
Concerns over labor abuses and human rights violations
remain. More attention is now being given to companies’
impacts on local communities. Product safety has been a
source of many scandals and there is more focus on product
responsibility. From India to China, corporations are being
monitored. Large corporations have found themselves
attacked and allegations of unethical operations across
Asia have been made on issues that range from workplace
discrimination, health tests, and sackings to environmental
degradation. Increased attention is being paid to local
companies as well, including manufacturers who supply
goods to global brands.
There is no doubt that the new media is now playing
an important role in driving CSR in the region. The last
three years have seen a dramatic rise in ordinary people
posting information online about their own experiences
with unethical corporate conduct. Much of this is picked
up by the mainstream media. Civil society organizations
have started to use social media as a potent means to put
pressure on corporations to act ethically. Asian stakeholders
are developing very clear views about how companies
should behave and the Internet has given them a platform
to make their voices heard.
There are huge opportunities for implementing CSR
practices in Asia. Businesses and communities can benefit
from carefully planned initiatives. Initiatives that focus
on key challenges such as the environment and climate
change, supply chain concerns and pro-poor community
development will have a big impact. Helping to develop
social enterprises and social entrepreneurship are important
aspects to challenge poverty and improve economic
development. Making sure products and services are
responsible and add value to the needs of people in Asia is
key to a good CSR strategy.
SKYPE
INTERNET
AANSLUITING
SOFTWARE
&
HARDWARE
19

Lifestyle
Singapore night life
Text Marieke Ghijsen
In addition to last month’s overview of rooftop bars in
Singapore, we will now give you the options for dancing or
lounging the night away!
Cafe Del Mar
KPO
KPO is one of the places to be. It is located in the iconic
Killiney Post Office, and serves as a stylish cafe-bar during
daytime, while being a chill-out bar at night. With its downtempo
beats, long teak wood bar counters, raw concrete
walls and flooring together with the open-air decks and
terraces, it offers a good alternative for the clubs and pubs.
1 Killiney Road
Right on the beach of Sentosa Island, Cafe Del Mar gives
you the Ibiza vibes. Daybeds, jacuzzis, a swimming pool,
sea and sand are combined with the well-known lounge
sounds. The recent re-launch has given the place a
refreshing look and feel.
40 Siloso Beach Walk
Sentosa Beach, Sentosa Island
20

Lifestyle
KU DE TA
Stereolab & Stereolounge
KU DE TA, the leading lifestyle destination in Bali, recently
opened in Singapore on the SkyPark of the Marina Bay
Sands. Besides serving a menu of modern asian cuisine,
KU DE TA offers its guests a 360 degree panoramic view
of the city’s skyline and Straits of Singapore. KU DE TA
comprises of three separate yet integrated outlets; a
restaurant, a pool side terrace that offers a panoramic view
of the city and a club lounge with adjoining Vue Terrace
that showcases the venues impressive musical direction. A
place to be and be seen!
1 Bayfront Avenue
Sands SkyPark, Marina Bay Sands
The Living Room
Opened in August 2009, Stereolab aimes at ‘well-heeled
clubbers aged 25 years and up’ and hosted many successful
parties featuring legends of electronic music. The
atmosphere is described as sexy, intimate, mysterious and
yet homely. Adjoining bar Stereolounge – plush velveteen
seats, wood and bronze mirrors - serves Latin and Cuban
inspired food.
Pan Pacific Singapore
7 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square
St James Power Station
Singapore’s largest one-stop nightlife destination is housed
within Singapore’s first coal-fired power station, built in
1927. Paying the cover charge for one of the outlets will
enable you to visit the other ten outlets as well, each with
their own theme, spanning from Latin music and R&B, to
contemporary dance and Mando-Pop. The only recently
opened Wine Bar & Bistro offers an international menu and
more than 50 wines until far after midnight.
3 Sentosa Gateway #01-01
If you really can’t get enough, go to The Living Room. Part
of the St James Group. This New York style bar stays open
until 6am.
320 Orchard Road, Marriott Hotel
Opening soon?
Rumour has it that by the end of this year Pangaea and
Avalon, two well-known American night club brands,
will be opened in the Crystal Pavilion next to the Marina
Bay Sands. However, at the time of writing no additional
information was disclosed. To be continued.
21

Not to miss
The 26 th French Film Festival
1-10 October
For the past 26 years, The Singapore French FilmFestival has brought the French
language, arts, history, culture and daily lives to audiences in Singapore. This year’s
rich programme will kick off with Luc Besson’s humorous, brave and bold heroine
on a quest - The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec - a tale of a quest set
in Paris in the years before and after World War I. Little Nicholas by Laurent Tirard
will be screened as the festival’s closing film, telling the story of a little boy’s happy
existence until it unexpectedly change forever– his mother is pregnant!
This year’s festival will showcase a collection of works by Jean-Pierre Melville
(October 20, 1917 – August 2, 1973), an independent French filmmaker known for
histragic, minimalist film noirs which included The Samurai (1967) and The Red
Circle (1969).
INTERNET www.alliancefrancaise.org.sg/whats.html
Battle of the Year Breakdance
8-10 October
Once again, Singapore Street Festival hosts Battle of the Year (BOTY) South East
Asia breakdance competition here in Singapore. Neighbouring South East Asia
crews making their way to Singapore (including our Singapore Bboys) in serious
battle for the South East Asia Champion Title. The Champion gets to represent the
South East Asia Best Breakdance crew in the Battle of the Year (BOTY) Finals at
Montpellier, France in November 2010.
An event not to be missed as you get to witness creative move with the
toughest skills of control and discipline in highly powered by energy and stamina
till the whole battle is done!
INTERNET www.singaporestreetfestival.com
VAMPIRE WEEKEND
26 October
Vampire Weekend first gained notoriety when their self-titled debut album of
2008 drew greedily on the music of climates hot and cold. It fused punk speed
with Anglophile indie pop and the melodic guitar flurries of west Africa. Their
second album, Contra, borrows gleefully from Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Mexico,
as well as Californian ska-punk. You can hear the Caribbean sources best tonight
on “Holiday”, a frantic uptight skank that packs observations about print fonts and
dithering into one joyous outburst.
INTERNET www.vampireweekend.com
Barclays Singapore Open
11-14 November
This year’s Barclays Singapore Open will see a US$1 million increase in prize money
and feature marquee players Phil Mickelson from the United States, Australian
Adam Scott, Ireland’s Padraig Harrington and Yang Yong-eun from Korea.
To be played for the sixth successive season at Sentosa Golf Club from
November 11 to 14 the total purse will be a staggering US$6 million.
A host of other star players will be announced over the next few months for a
tournament that will also see some exciting new changes to its format.
INTERNET singaporeopen.barclaysgolf.com
22

Embassy News
September 2010
Aan de Nederlandse gemeenschap
Na een hopelijk fijne zomerpauze hebben de meesten hun dagelijks leven weer opgepakt. De scholen zijn
weer begonnen en er zijn ongetwijfeld veel nieuwkomers in Singapore.
Mijn “zomerverlof” begint pas in september. Medio oktober ben ik weer terug, tijd om kort nadien een
koffieochtend op de Residentie te houden.
Jullie zijn van harte welkom op vrijdag 29 oktober vanaf 10 uur.
Die bijeenkomst is een goede gelegenheid om “nieuwkomers” in Singapore op een ongedwongen
manier kennis te laten maken met de hier al langer verblijvende Nederlanders. Zo zullen ook de NCA
(Netherlands Charity Association) en de Hollandse Club aanwezig zijn.
Verder heb ik Gonneke Verschoor, Nederlandse Keramiste, bereid gevonden om ons over haar bijzondere
werkplek bij de Jalan Bahar Clay Studios en haar recent Aziatisch project te vertellen.
Voor de bevestiging van je komst of nadere inlichtingen graag contact opnemen met Mw. Jenny Born van
de Nederlandse Ambassade: tel 6739 1116 of e-mail jenny.born@minbuza.nl
Met vriendelijke groet en hopelijk tot de 29ste oktober.
Barbara Jansing
Echtgenote v/d Ambassadeur van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
23, Ridout Road
Singapore
The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is participating in:
Study in Europe (Education fair on Studying & Living in Europe)
Saturday, 10am - 5.30pm, 16 October 2010
Hilton Hotel Singapore 581 Orchard Road
www.studyineurope.sg
The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands will be closed on:
Friday 5 November (Deepavali)
In case of an emergency, please contact the duty officer on HP: 9661 5704
23

ADB News
visit to LexMar Engineering
18 October
We are happy to announce that the next ADB event will be a visit to
LexMar Engineering.
LexMar Engineering, a Singapore company in operation for over
14 years is a leading provider of Diving Equipment and Services to the
Offshore Industry. They are specialised in the design, manufacturing
and servicing of Hyperbaric and Diving Systems.
After a presentation of the company there will be a tour through
the 4,500sqm facility where you’ll have the unique opportunity to
have a close look at an almost completed 12 man modular Saturation
Diving System that LexMar is currently building.
Program:
19:30 Arrive at LexMar Engineering; welcome drinks and snacks
20:00 Presentation
20.45 Tour
21.30 End
Registration is required, please register by the 14 th of October at
http://adb.org.sg/en_events_20101018_invitation.html
Address: LexMar Engineering
3 Loyang Way 6 Singapore 507077
We hope to see you on the 18 th of October.
New Members
Cynthia Haselier, Helutrans Group
Dennis Bras, APL
Eliënne de Vries, Loyens & Loeff
Erwin Boon, ABN Amro Bank
Henk de Jong, Philips
Jan Benes, Philips
Joep Kusters, Expeditors Singapore
Michiel van Akkooi, BHP Billiton
Pauline Eizema, Embassy of the
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Pieter Bonsma, Alpha & Omega
Peter Kloprogge, Pointlogic
Richard Leistra, Atlas Services Group
Robert Sunderman, ING Bank
Leaving Members
Frank Oerlemans
Karlijn Buijs, Embassy of the Kingdom
of the Netherlands
Marco Robbertsen, Credit Suisse
Nicolien Luijsterburg, Loyens & Loeff
Wilco Alberda, Smit Internationale
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
Frank Kuijsters, Chief Editor
Gene Kwee
Lineke van Nederpelt
Marieke Ghijsen
Michiel Sengers
Richard Soemita
Wilco Alberda
SECRETARIAT
Lineke van Nederpelt
MAILING ADDRESS
c/o 22 Camden Park
Singapore 299814
Telephone: 9101 6201
email: adb@pacific.net.sg
WEBSITE
www.adb.org.sg
DESIGN
Michiel Sengers
Jennifer Phua
PRINTER Khoo Sun Printing Pte Ltd
MITA 373/03/2001
This magazine is distributed free of
charge to all members and relations
of the ADB.
We invite members to contribute to
the next issue.
The contents of this magazine are
partly based on information received
from third parties. The Committee
does not take responsibility for the
correctness of the articles
Membership fee is S$ 100 per
calendar year. For registration, please
see the website www.adb.org.sg
Membership is renewed
automatically effective the first
month of the new calendar year.
Make your cheque payable to
“Assocation of Dutch Businessmen”
and send to ADB, c/o 22 Camden
Park, Singapore 299814.
Termination of membership must
be received by ADB Secretariat in
writing before 1 January. Please
notify the ADB secretariat of any
changes in employer, (email)
addresses or any other personal
particulars that might be of interest
to the ADB administration.
24

ADB Christmas
Save the Date
Dinner & Dance
Saturday 11 December 2010