The Knowledge to Decide

With global warming gradually melting away polar ice caps, new opportunities are slowly, but surprisingly, emerging for trade, tourism and natural resource extraction in the Arctic Circle. But is developing such opportunities at odds with environmental sustainability? Arctic sea ice sank to yet another record annual low in September 2012, at 44% below the 1981-2010 average. The Arctic Ocean is projected to be almost ice-free by the end of this century; with the ice melting at an accelerating rate, quicker than predicted by any climate model. A decade ago, Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” drew world attention to the moral consequences of global warming. These included the destruction of farming, the flooding of coastal land displacing millions of people and the spread of tropical diseases to new parts of the global population. Though the consequences of global warming on the Arctic are inherently detrimental, the shrinking icecaps herald new opportunities for trade, tour

Spire Research and Consulting was honored to be invited as a speaker at Anderson Junior College in Singapore. Spire’s CEO Leon Perera spoke on entrepreneurial opportunities in the global Halal product market, a subject where Spire has published research articles and has been quoted in global media outlets. Leon Perera, Chief Executive Officer of the Spire Research and Consulting, was privileged to give a talk to students organized by the Anderson Junior College’s Malay Language, Literary and Debating Society on 24 March 2017. Perera shared his insights on the size, growth and outlook for the global Halal products market, with a focus on entrepreneurial opportunities for Singapore-based firms. Furthermore, he discussed certification methods used in different countries while also touching on opportunities in non-food Halal categories like skincare and logistics. Finally, he shared his experiences and expertise on entrepreneurship followed by an interactive question an

On 28 September, Spire and Yamada Business Consulting (YBC) jointly held a breakfast seminar in Singapore to discuss emerging business opportunities in Asia facing Japanese firms. Leon Perera, Chief Executive Officer of Spire Research and Consulting, Japnit Singh, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Spire; Yasuyuki (Luke) Kita, General Manager of YBC (Singapore) and Takuya Makimura, Manager of YBC (Singapore), addressed the session. Spire Singapore and YBC discussed emerging business opportunities in Asia for Japan Regional HQs. Seminar attendees, who were senior executives in Japanese, heard about how the Asian market can contribute substantially to the revenue of Japanese companies with regional headquarters in Singapore. The speakers talked about under-appreciated opportunities in Asia for Japanese companies. E-commerce will be an important pathway to access markets in Indonesia and India where complex channel structures have often proved forbidding to Japanese investors

On 23 September, Spire and Yamada Business Consulting (YBC) jointly held a breakfast seminar in Singapore to shed light on business opportunities in today’s dynamic Japan. Leon Perera, Chief Executive Officer of Spire Research and Consulting, Japnit Singh, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Spire and Yasuyuki (Luke) Kita, General Manager of YBC (Singapore), addressed the session. Yamada Business Consulting recently acquired an 80% stake in the Spire Research and Consulting group. This acquisition gives Spire access to YBC’s extensive network of 5 offices and over 400 consultants in Japan to conduct research and advise clients on Japan market entry and growth. Spire Singapore and YBC discussed emerging business opportunities in Asia for Japan Regional HQs. Seminar attendees heard about how the Japan market can contribute substantially to the revenue of Singapore-based companies. The speakers talked about the macro-factors buoying Japan’s economic growth while also highlig

The ASEAN region will see double-digit growth for e-commerce. Indonesia has the highest retail sales in ASEAN at USD469 billion and is expected to see robust e-commerce growth. Jeffrey Bahar, Deputy Chief Executive Office of Spire Research and Consulting group, highlighted the growth potential and key opportunities present in this sector during his presentation at the third Annual South East Asia Retail Expansion Summit in October 2015. The number of online shoppers in Indonesia is set to reach 8.7 million in 2016. Indonesia boasts of being among the top six retail e-commerce markets with a total retail value at USD1.3 billion (in 2013). Bahar mentioned that 51% of Indonesian online shoppers fall in the 21-27 age category where free shipping, exclusive deals, product warranty and safe payment methods are strong motivators. Key growth categories are books (22%) and fashion products (20.5%). Nonetheless, challenges remain. Barriers that need to be addressed to promote Indon

One out of every three manufacturing jobs in Australia is in the food and grocery sector, which directly employs around 300,000 people. The food and beverage market in Australia is climbing greater heights, buoyed by a growing population with an appetite for good food. Jeffrey Bahar, Deputy Chief Executive Office of Spire Research and Consulting, highlighted the key opportunities in this sector during his presentation at the Sydney Franchise and Business Expo in August 2015. As the population of Australia is set to reach 23.5 million in 2014, the food and beverage industry looks upbeat. A major portion of the population is present in the cities, like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. The weekly average household spending per person on restaurant meals in these cities is AUD32 –a ripe market opportunity. Bahar opined that food industry growth is directly proportional to the number of food outlets. With 58,602 commercial outlets and 15,954 institutionalized outlets recorde

Service standards in Singapore are still not at par with some Asian counterparts. Can Singapore build a strong service culture? Leon Perera, Chief Executive Officer of Spire Research and Consulting shared his insights in The Business Times – Views from the Top section on how Singapore can inculcate higher standards of service. Service standards begin with a strong foundation right from school. Ample opportunities to practice good service in school through role-playing games and competitions will help inculcate this culture. Perera opined that it is crucial that older students undergo at least one internship that involves a front-facing role. The objective of this should be to instil an ethic in humility – to serve customers with pride and not view it as humiliation. This standard should be reinforced in the workplace by business leaders who set a personal example. Business leaders should set aside time to serve customers directly, underscoring the importance of good servi

Indonesia has emerged as an attractive healthcare market. The industry has surged by 300% since 2005, with national healthcare expenditure reaching USD26 billion in 2014. Recognizing the investment potential, the South East Asia (SEA) Hospital Expansion Summit 2015 gathered industry leaders and government officials to discuss opportunities and challenges in this sector. Jeffrey Bahar, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Spire Research and Consulting group, was invited as a guest speaker at the South East Asia Hospital Expansion Summit 2015. In his presentation, Bahar gave a brief overview of Indonesia’s healthcare sector, focusing on investment prospects for private firms. Bahar mentioned that in 2012, Indonesians spent around USD11.5 billion (yearly) for healthcare services abroad. Wealthy Indonesians still opt for medical treatment overseas to treat complicated conditions, preferring medical tourism destinations like India, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. To promote

With Automotive Aftermarket demand expected to soar at 13% from 2010 to 2018, how can industry players cash in on this market opportunity? Japnit Singh, Senior Director, Singapore and India of Spire Research and Consulting shared his insights in the Lube Report Asia magazine. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in the automotive industry are operating in highly competitive markets. In most countries, they are fighting for market share via promotions and heavy price discounts. OEMs are always on the look-out for new income streams. It is in this context that industry players and manufacturers in Indonesia and Malaysia have been zeroing in on the lubricant oil market. Singh highlighted that post-sales services – inclusive of oil change and regular maintenance check – generate higher profit margins than vehicle sales. The current low oil prices have encouraged motorists to use their cars more often – raising demand for aftermarket services and parts, including lubricant oil.