Let's Talk, Singapore

A joint collaboration between Financial Times and Cytiva, the Global Biopharma Resilience Index assesses the biopharma capabilities and resilience of 20 countries across the world following the Covid-19 pandemic crisis. The Index provides ways in which countries can learn from each other to futureproof to tackle the challenges now and beyond the pandemic. Francis Van Parys, Vice President, Asia Pacific, Cytiva shares more about Cytiva's brand transformation journey and what the biopharma industry in Singapore and the region is currently like. 

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RCEP is now the world's largest Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to date, comprising about 30 percent of global gross domestic product and covering countries that add up to close to a third of the world's population. Lennard Yong, Group CEO, Tricor shares how RCEP has impacted the region’s trade and investment and how businesses in Singapore can take advantage of RCEP.

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Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen, unheard and little talked about.  Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts.

The Straits Times' regional correspondent Tan Jia Ning narrates and also speaks to Muhammad In’am Amin, 44, in Indonesia.

He is the founder of Kopi Gandroeng in Jogjakarta, the base for his counter-terrorism organisation Yayasan Lingkar Perdamaian (Peace Network Foundation).

In'am's brother, Wildan Mukhollad, was the first Indonesian to die fighting for the Islamic State terrorist group in the Middle East, in 2014. Wildan was only 19. 

1. In'am recalls how Wildan became radicalised soon after leaving to study in Egypt  (2:25)
2. Their family is labelled as "terrorists" and ostracised in their village after Wildan's death (3:28)
3. In'am rebuilds life in Jogjakarta, helping to pull vulnerable youth back from the brink of religious extremism (4:49)
4. His strategy proves an effective alternative to the government’s deradicalisation programmes (6:17)
5. The Quran's words of tolerance, mercy and kindness must ring louder than those of war and jihad, In'am says (8:35)

Read Tan Jia Ning's story here: https://str.sg/Jjhe

Produced by: Tan Jia Ning, Magdalene Fung, Ernest Luis & Adam Azlee

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Discover ST's Invisible Asia podcast series:

Channel: https://str.sg/wuZn

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wu3s

Spotify: https://str.sg/wuJH

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Invisible Asia Videos: https://str.sg/wuTU

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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iCHEF Singapore, has been working closely with local F&B SMEs by offering digital solutions to help them to remain competitive amid the pandemic and the ever-changing F&B landscape. But is just going digital enough? And what trends can we expect from the F&B scene this year? Jay Teo, International Director, iCHEF Singapore shares more.

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On The Bigger Picture, Gary Dugan, CEO, The Global CIO Office gives his analysis on the OPEC+ alliance surprised decision to keep output unchanged, whether the jump in bond yields could go higher and if the STI need a makeover, by following in the steps of Hang Seng Index.

 

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Companies in the sanitation and hygiene sector such as LIXIL Water Technology are turning the Covid-19 into an opportunity, committing themselves to innovation and investing in R&D. Satoshi Konagai, Leader, LIXIL Water Technology, Asia Pacific shares more on how LIXIL has responded to the pandemic and their solutions. 

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This week, ASEAN foreign ministers called on Myanmar's military to refrain from instigating further violence and for a peaceful solution through constructive dialogue. But just one day after efforts, 38 people were killed in the bloodiest day since the coup began, when police and soldiers opened fire with live rounds in several cities and towns. Tan Hui Yee, Straits Times, Indochina Bureau Chief shares more about the situation on the ground, and what options the UN can take against the military.

 

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Sani Hamid, Director of Wealth Management, Financial Alliance, discusses whether the Straits Times Index needs a revamp to have more diversity of sectors and equal weightings of individual companies.

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Due to Covid-19 restrictions this year's Chingay parade, which is into its 49th year, went digital for the first time on February 20th. Tan Swee Leng, Vice Chairperson, Chingay 2021 EXCO and Director (SCENE), People’s Association shares more on how different has it been to organise up a digital Chingay, and what the response has been like. 

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According to a new study by Oracle, 76 percent of Singaporean consumers and business leaders trust a robot more than a human to manage finances and 55 percent believe robots will replace corporate finance professionals in the next five years. Guruprasad Gaonkar, Global Go-to-Market Leader Cloud ERP & Digital Supply Chain, Oracle shares more on the findings, and how finance teams can find new ways to add value to businesses in light of this.

 

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