The recent push back on immigration and PR approvals [4] for qualified foreign nationals from certain countries has created uncertainty and risks upsetting the momentum that has been built up over the last decade. The last thing Singapore needs at this point is to catch the west’s economic malaise by restricting investors and entrepreneurs who want to build global businesses in the country.
Singapore’s tryst with destiny
As greater affluence and economic integration makes political divisions less relevant, Singapore has the opportunity to become a major center of entrepreneurial activity in Asia. Its efficient administration, cutting-edge infrastructure and access to international multi-lingual talent make it a safe-haven for entrepreneurs, from which to build regional and global businesses.
The IFC’s annual ‘Ease of doing business survey’ consistently ranks Singapore at the top [5]. According to Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Teo Chee Hean, 5000+ new tech enterprises have been registered in Singapore every year since 2006 [6]. He also shared that 61 percent of all enterprises survive for more than three years. These are impressive credentials!
It is often said that chaos breeds creativity. Asia as a whole should be a hotbed of creativity – and it is. However, a factor that is often ignored is that unsupported creativity often leads to failure. Creativity needs nurturing and support to turn it into something tangible.
混沌は創造性を育むとよく言われる。アジア全体が、創造性の宝庫となることには疑いの余地がなく、実際そうである。しかしながらしばしば見過ごされるのは、創造性も適切なサポートがなければ失敗に陥るということだ。創造性が実際の形を成すまで、育まれ守られる必要があるのである。
混沌が創造を育てると良く言われる。アジア一体で創造性の温床となるべきで、実際にそうである。
然しながらしばしば忘れられてしまうのは支援を受けない創造は失敗に終わるということだ。創造を何か実態のあるものに変化させるには育て支援する事が必要だ。
At the confluence of three powerful socio-economic spheres, Singapore seems to offer the perfect environment for great ideas to convert into great businesses. It remains to be seen if this small island will seize a historic opportunity and position itself as a crucible of great ideas and businesses.
