>> Singapore: Trusted bench-mark


"ONE OF THE things that sets us apart is our trustworthiness. When I was in Beijing recently, I met a Singaporean who was a general manager of a Chinese-owned real estate company. He told me that one of the reasons he and a good number of other Singaporeans are sought by the Chinese for senior managerial positions is that the Chinese know Singaporeans can be trusted.

This is not an isolated observation, it has been repeated in the different countries that I have visited. When I met officials in Hyderabad, India, they were very keen for our Singapore companies to develop townships there. They told me that with Singapore, they know they will get what they contract for.

Many IP-rich companies that seek a regional presence make a beeline for Singapore because of our reputation for high standards of integrity and honesty. They know that we respect and will protect their copyright and so they locate their most sensitive intellectual property facilities in Singapore. The World Intellectual Property Office has set up its Asian office here, the first in the Asia Pacific.

Our Singapore name is held in such high regard that it is becoming a trusted reference used by many other countries and companies - be it for the purchase of commercial planes or sophisticated weaponry. Boeing and Airbus vie to have us buy their planes partly because they know that others will see our purchase as confirmation of quality.

And in a world powered by knowledge, being regarded as a trusted reference is a critical advantage. It is a distinctive and competitive attribute that cannot be easily commodotised like widgets or copied like tax incentives. "


--- RAYMOND LIM, Minister in Prime Minister's Office and 2nd Minister for Finance and Foreign Affairs, concluding a talk Mr Lim gave at a corporate associates lunch held by the Institute of Policy Studies on 28 Oct 2005.

>> Boeing picks Singapore as R&D partner


IN A THREE-YEAR landmark deal, Boeing's research and development arm - Boeing Phantom Works - picked Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) for joint aerospace projects. A*Star is one of Boeing's 14 worldwide partners in research and development.

The collaboration will boost Singapore's position as the centre for aerospace engineering in Asia-Pacific. Currently, the aviation sector - of about 100 companies here - employs 13,000 and earns more than $4b yearly. And more growth is projected over the next decade.

To help sustain this growth, the Singapore Government approved the R&D investment. A*Star's Managing Director, Mr Boon Swan Foo explained: "An investment in aerospace R&D will position Singapore to tackle some of the existing and future challenges in aviation, such as security, intelligence systems, seamless communications and composite materials for aircraft parts."

"Our goal is to carve for a niche ourselves by innovating and providing value-added services with and for our partners."

Technologies from the Boeing/A*Star co-ventures may be applied to new Boeing aerospace products.

>> Givenchy nightwear on Singapore Airlines' flights


IN YET ANOTHER trail-blazing move ahead of its competition, Singapore Airlines (SIA) pampers its first-class passengers - gratis, of course - with its latest creature comfort: designer pyjamas.

The jazzy garment is versatile enough for use, on and off the plane, as much for sports as for snoozes. It is now available on return flights from Singapore to Shanghai, Beijing, London and Sydney. And soon all other flights will carry it too.

The Givenchy-inspired 'Sleeper-Suit' - its official name - sports avant-garde collars and sleeves complete with zippers; and is available in four sizes and two colours.

Donning it, passengers can lounge in comfort and feel at home, especially on long-haul routes. It is the latest addition to a long list of freebies given to SIA's first-class travellers. Other popular gifts include duvet, body lotion, aftershave and eye shades.

In 2007, sleeper suits are also expected to be offered on Airbus A380 when the giant of the airways flies its inaugural scheduled passenger service with SIA.

>> Singapore to be Airbus A380's first Asian stop

AN AIRBUS A380 will visit Singapore - the first stop on its Asian tour - in November 2005. The 12-hour direct long-haul from Toulouse, France to Changi will be A380's longest flight to date and its first outside of Europe.

It will be a test flight of sorts for the prototype aircraft. The crew will monitor its first route-proving flight and test A380's capabilities en-route to Singapore. The mega-airbus will also stop at Sydney and Kuala Lumpur.

At Singapore Changi Airport, the aircraft will participate in trials including ground-handling, docking at the new A380 bay among others. Through these trials, Singapore Airlines and Singapore's Civil Aviation Authority hope to test airport systems enhanced to meet A380 requirements.

Infrastructure enhancements at Changi costing $68m include 19 new gates and larger embarkation rooms designed for A380 and its passengers.

After its flight-testing programme, airworthiness certification by France, Britain and the United States is scheduled by mid-2006. Following this, the first aircraft is planned for delivery to Singapore Airlines - A380's launch customer - by November 2006.

Singapore Airlines placed orders for ten aircraft and options for 15.