News

The Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) published yesterday it's growth previsions for the country in 2012. With an estimate between 1% and 3%, Growth is showing an impressive slow down compared to previous years: 14,5% last year (2010), and a prevision of 5% this year

The figure that was released is the worst since the 2008-2009 crisis (-0,8% in 2009). It could yet be revised if the global economic context continued to degrade, with the debt in the Euro zone, or in case of a global financial crisis.

Such a weak growth perspective should have a negative impact on the job market and lead to pressure to lower salaries. A situation that leads to no enthusiasm on the front of international mobility and concerning the opportunities for job seekers and potential new entrepreneurs.

The news had been released in a number of media, it is still only a project:  offering 10000 free tickets to Japan in order to encourage tourists to rediscover the country. Beneficiaries of those free tickets would as a counterpart publish a report on what they have seen and visited.

According to the Japan Tourism Agency, the project is currently non confirmed, pending budgetary approval. The Agency is otherwise warning the public not to be deceived by would be intermediaries for the program.

More information on this website, as soon as the program will have been officialized.

The French based outplacement cabinet NEXMOVE joins ARBORA GLOBAL CAREER PARTNERS, one of the most important outplacement network, with a presence in 29 countries in Europe, Asia-Pacific and America.

The French Distribution Giant Carrefour is to appoint Mr Shafie Shamsuddin, the first Asian director to be relocated to the company's Headquarters in France, as it's new global talent management and organization development executive director.

M Shafie Samsuddin, who joined Carrefour in 1996 after graduating from Nanyang University, is currently the CEO of Carrefour Indonesia. In his new position he will be in charge of revamping the company's global organization with a particular focus on attracting, retaining and developping talents. His appointment is a sure sign that carrefour, which runs more than 12000 supermarkets, hypermarkets and convenience stores in 29 countries and employs about 475000 employees, is investing on developping a global talent pool and increasing synergies throughout it's operations in Asia, Europe and Latin America, as a key tool to serve it's global ambitions.

Jacques Attali was the guest of ASEF in Singapore on January 13th, where he was invited to share his perception of the world situation and his vision for the future. Is the world still in crisis? For the french writter, former Président François Miterrand advisor, founder of the BERD, co-founder and President, amongst other initiatives, of plaNet finance, the answer is yes. We are in permanent situation of crisis, with the persistance of structural inbalances, and the inability for leaders to manage it because of a lack of long term vision and failure to promote political integration. 

Jacques Attali had been invited by ASEF, Asia Europe Foundation, an institution created in 1997 to promote mutual understanding between Europe and Asia throughout intellectual, cultural and artistic exchange programs. Alternately using traits of humor and penetrating thoughts, he went through the challenging exercize of enlightening our understanding of the world situation, the current risks and what is at stakes for the future.

The whole dualexpat team wishes you an happy New Year!

► Discover the Singapore guide.

The Singapore guide gives a hint of how country files are designed. Synthesis to grasp the essential of economics, history and cultural environment. A focus on employment: job search and business start up, with links to websites we found the most useful and pertinent.

Following the path of Procter & Gamble in February, it is now the turn of Unilever to announce the launch of a regional leadership development centre in Singapore. The Food giant announcement thus gives weight to the City State's ambition to emerge as a leading talent hub in Asia.