Thứ Năm, 31 tháng 10, 2013

Couples compete for $60000 wedding package

Three couples are taking part in Kiss92′s Perfect Match competition to win a $60,000 wedding package.


Today, we feature sales consultant Amet Nicolas, 24, and Miss Victoria Hoo, 23, owner of fashion retail shops Victoria Jomo and Marked Down Market. The couple met through a mutual friend three years ago.


1 MANY COUPLES ARE MARRYING LATER. WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO TIE THE KNOT EARLY?


Mr Amet: We wanted it to be later but we found out that we secured a flat, so we decided to get married. It’s the same thing – whether we get married now or later.


Miss Hoo: We know that we are meant for each other. People want to focus on their careers, but we value other things more, like spending time with our loved ones.


2 WHAT IS YOUR SECRET TO A GREAT RELATIONSHIP?


Mr Amet: Understanding the needs of each other is important, and so is discussion. There may be times when there are a lot of issues that need ironing out, so confide in each other.


If both parties have the same attitude towards the relationship, things will work out.


Miss Hoo: Having the ability to be patient and to think clearly and objectively even when things are not going well.


3 IF YOU DON’T WIN THE CONTEST, HOW DO YOU PLAN TO PAY FOR YOUR WEDDING?


Mr Amet: As per normal. It was only during the contest that we found out we got the flat. We were not expecting to secure a home so early, so we did not plan the wedding to be so soon either.


Miss Hoo: We won’t do an elaborate wedding. We can just have a simple dinner with our family.


4 WHAT MAKES YOU WANT TO MARRY YOUR PARTNER?


Mr Amet: She knows me well. We are different, but our differences are good points for us because it allows us to learn new things.


Miss Hoo: He’s the type of person who never gives up, so I know he will never give up on me.



e2cb6 tnp logo Im from Singapore and enjoy spending short breaks in Bangkok
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Couples compete for $60000 wedding package

What"s the best passport in the world for travellers?

4ff1f 9265544 Im from Singapore and enjoy spending short breaks in Bangkok





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Best stopovers for Kiwis leaving this hemisphere for another












The NZ passport has been ranked as one of the best in the world for travellers, based on the number of countries Kiwis can visit without a visa.


The best passports are from the UK, Finland and Sweden, according to an index by Henley Partners, a consultancy in residence and citizenship planning.


Each of the top three passports scored 173 in the rankings, meaning they can be used to enter 173 countries and territories without a visa.


The joint second-ranked countries are Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg and the US with a score of 172.


Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands hold a joint third rank of 171, followed by Canada in fourth with 170, then Switzerland, Austria and New Zealand fifth with 168.


Australia is ranked equal sixth with Greece and Singapore with visa-free entry to 167 countries.


The worst passport, number 93 on the list, is from Afghanistan with a score of just 28, closely followed by Iraq (31), Somalia and Pakistan (32 each).


Their lowly scores indicate their citizens have the least freedom of travel.


The annual Henley Partners Visa Restrictions Index started in 2006.


According to the company, visa restrictions are an important tool for governments to control the movement of foreigners across borders.


“At the same time, visa requirements, or the lack thereof, are also an indication of the relationship between individual nations and the status of a country within the international community of nations,” a company statement said.


“Some visa application processes are easier than others,” a spokesman for Flight Centre said. “The US has an electronic system (ESTA) which is easy for customers to complete online while the process to obtain a Chinese or Indian visa can sometimes take a few months. In Russia, as another example, you need written approval so the approval process can take a while.”


In addition, some countries such as Argentina charge a reciprocity fee to enter the country. Citizens of Australia, the US and Canada are charged a US$100 fee that has been imposed in response to these countries charging Argentine citizens upon entry. Kiwi travellers do not need to pay this fee.


Meanwhile, India has announced it is looking to ease visa rules for more than 40 countries by issuing visas on arrival to boost its tourism industry.





The US, Britain, Canada, Brazil, France, Australia and Germany will be among the countries to benefit from India’s new rules .


India already issues visas on arrival to visitors from about a dozen countries, including New Zealand.


Best countries to have a passport from


1. UK, Finland, Sweden (number of visa-free countries 173)


2. Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, USA (172)


3. Belgium, Italy, Netherlands (171)


4. Canada, France, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain (170)


5. New Zealand, Switzerland, Austria (168)


6. Australia, Greece, Singapore (167)


7. South Korea (166)


8. Iceland (165)


9. Malaysia, Malta (163)


10. Liechtenstein (159)


… and the worst


Afghanistan (28)


Iraq (31)


Pakistan, Somalia (32)



– FFX Aus














What"s the best passport in the world for travellers?

Paul Gauguin Cruises Offers Free Hotel Overnight In Exotic Singapore On 2014 ...





BELLEVUE, Wash., Oct. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Paul Gauguin Cruises (www.pgcruises.com), operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin, and the 90-guest m/v Tere Moana, offers a free hotel overnight at the Shangri-La Hotel Singapore for guests who book one of The Gauguin’s 2014 14-night Australia Southeast Asia voyages by December 31, 2013.


Set amid lush tropical gardens, the Deluxe Shangri-La Hotel is located in the heart of Singapore offering luxurious amenities, as well as easy access to the city’s world-class shopping, restaurants, and attractions. Overnight accommodations in a Tower Room, breakfast, transfers, and a guided city tour highlighting the Raffles Hotel, Little India, Arab Street, Merlion Park and Marina Bay, and Chinatown, are included with the free hotel overnight offer.


On the Australia Southeast Asia voyages, The Gauguin sails between Cairns, Australia, and Singapore visiting less-traveled tropical ports of Australia such as Thursday Island, once a World War II military outpost, and Darwin, with its lively yet laidback ambiance.  Indonesian ports include Komodo Island, home of the Komodo dragon; beautiful Bali, a coveted destination for generations; and Semarang, with its fascinating history and gateway to the temples of Borobudur. In addition to the free hotel overnight offer, guests save 50% off standard all-inclusive cruise fares and enjoy included airfare from Los Angeles. Cruise fares for the June 25, 2014, sailing start from $7,395 per person and cruise fares for the August 4, 2014, sailing start from $7,095 per person.  


On both voyages, a variety of special guests will lecture, perform, or provide demonstrations. Parisian celebrity chef Jean-Pierre Vigato, champion freediver Herbert Nitsch, and extreme artist Jean Francois Detaille will be aboard the June 25, 2014, voyage.  Joining the August 4, 2014, voyage are Nobel Peace Prize winner John E. Hay, islands expert Helen Henry, and Paul Gauguin Cruises chairman Richard Bailey. Art history professor and Paul Gauguin expert Caroline Boyle-Turner will lecture on both sailings.


For rates or more information on Paul Gauguin Cruises, please contact a Travel Professional, call 800-848-6172, or visit www.pgcruises.com.


About Paul Gauguin Cruises
Owned by Pacific Beachcomber S.C., French Polynesia’s leading luxury hotel and cruise operator, Paul Gauguin Cruises operates the 5+-star cruise ship, the 332-guest m/s Paul Gauguin, providing a deluxe cruise experience tailored to the unparalleled wonders of Tahiti, French Polynesia, the South Pacific, and Southeast Asia. It is one of the top exclusive charter and incentive group venues in the industry and has completed more than 570 South Pacific cruises, serving more than 176,250 guests, including more than 15,000 honeymooners, since its inaugural sail in 1998. The Gauguin’s accolades include recognition as “Top Small-Ship Cruise Line for Families” in Travel + Leisure’s 2013 “World’s Best Awards” and one of the “Top 20 Small Cruise Ships” in 2013 for the 15th year in a row by readers of Conde Nast Traveler.


In December 2012, the m/v Tere Moana began sailing under the Paul Gauguin Cruises banner after completing a multifaceted renovation and offers voyages in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe.  At 330 feet long and 46 feet wide, The Moana has a draft of 11.5 feet, and accommodates 90 guests with a staff of 60.


Media Contact:
Vanessa Bloy
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Director of Public Relations
(425) 440-6255
vbloy@pgcruises.com


*Free hotel overnight offer available only while space lasts. New bookings only. Cruise prices shown do not include port, security, and handling fees of $225 per person. Economy class airfare from Los Angeles included in cruise fare. One-night pre- or post-cruise hotel offer applies to Air/Sea packages only, is capacity controlled, and can be withdrawn at any time. Hotel offer does not include meals other than those indicated, international, and domestic airfares, and items of a personal nature, such as alcoholic beverages, telephone calls, and laundry, etc. Hotel rating is based on www.hotelandtravelindex.com classifications. Offer expires December 31, 2013.



SOURCE Paul Gauguin Cruises


RELATED LINKS
http://www.pgcruises.com/



Paul Gauguin Cruises Offers Free Hotel Overnight In Exotic Singapore On 2014 ...

Paul Gauguin Cruises Offers Free Hotel Overnight In Exotic Singapore On 2014 ...





BELLEVUE, Wash., Oct. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Paul Gauguin Cruises (www.pgcruises.com), operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin, and the 90-guest m/v Tere Moana, offers a free hotel overnight at the Shangri-La Hotel Singapore for guests who book one of The Gauguin’s 2014 14-night Australia Southeast Asia voyages by December 31, 2013.


Set amid lush tropical gardens, the Deluxe Shangri-La Hotel is located in the heart of Singapore offering luxurious amenities, as well as easy access to the city’s world-class shopping, restaurants, and attractions. Overnight accommodations in a Tower Room, breakfast, transfers, and a guided city tour highlighting the Raffles Hotel, Little India, Arab Street, Merlion Park and Marina Bay, and Chinatown, are included with the free hotel overnight offer.


On the Australia Southeast Asia voyages, The Gauguin sails between Cairns, Australia, and Singapore visiting less-traveled tropical ports of Australia such as Thursday Island, once a World War II military outpost, and Darwin, with its lively yet laidback ambiance.  Indonesian ports include Komodo Island, home of the Komodo dragon; beautiful Bali, a coveted destination for generations; and Semarang, with its fascinating history and gateway to the temples of Borobudur. In addition to the free hotel overnight offer, guests save 50% off standard all-inclusive cruise fares and enjoy included airfare from Los Angeles. Cruise fares for the June 25, 2014, sailing start from $7,395 per person and cruise fares for the August 4, 2014, sailing start from $7,095 per person.  


On both voyages, a variety of special guests will lecture, perform, or provide demonstrations. Parisian celebrity chef Jean-Pierre Vigato, champion freediver Herbert Nitsch, and extreme artist Jean Francois Detaille will be aboard the June 25, 2014, voyage.  Joining the August 4, 2014, voyage are Nobel Peace Prize winner John E. Hay, islands expert Helen Henry, and Paul Gauguin Cruises chairman Richard Bailey. Art history professor and Paul Gauguin expert Caroline Boyle-Turner will lecture on both sailings.


For rates or more information on Paul Gauguin Cruises, please contact a Travel Professional, call 800-848-6172, or visit www.pgcruises.com.


About Paul Gauguin Cruises
Owned by Pacific Beachcomber S.C., French Polynesia’s leading luxury hotel and cruise operator, Paul Gauguin Cruises operates the 5+-star cruise ship, the 332-guest m/s Paul Gauguin, providing a deluxe cruise experience tailored to the unparalleled wonders of Tahiti, French Polynesia, the South Pacific, and Southeast Asia. It is one of the top exclusive charter and incentive group venues in the industry and has completed more than 570 South Pacific cruises, serving more than 176,250 guests, including more than 15,000 honeymooners, since its inaugural sail in 1998. The Gauguin’s accolades include recognition as “Top Small-Ship Cruise Line for Families” in Travel + Leisure’s 2013 “World’s Best Awards” and one of the “Top 20 Small Cruise Ships” in 2013 for the 15th year in a row by readers of Conde Nast Traveler.


In December 2012, the m/v Tere Moana began sailing under the Paul Gauguin Cruises banner after completing a multifaceted renovation and offers voyages in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe.  At 330 feet long and 46 feet wide, The Moana has a draft of 11.5 feet, and accommodates 90 guests with a staff of 60.


Media Contact:
Vanessa Bloy
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Director of Public Relations
(425) 440-6255
vbloy@pgcruises.com


*Free hotel overnight offer available only while space lasts. New bookings only. Cruise prices shown do not include port, security, and handling fees of $225 per person. Economy class airfare from Los Angeles included in cruise fare. One-night pre- or post-cruise hotel offer applies to Air/Sea packages only, is capacity controlled, and can be withdrawn at any time. Hotel offer does not include meals other than those indicated, international, and domestic airfares, and items of a personal nature, such as alcoholic beverages, telephone calls, and laundry, etc. Hotel rating is based on www.hotelandtravelindex.com classifications. Offer expires December 31, 2013.



SOURCE Paul Gauguin Cruises


RELATED LINKS
http://www.pgcruises.com/



Paul Gauguin Cruises Offers Free Hotel Overnight In Exotic Singapore On 2014 ...

Paul Gauguin Cruises Offers Free Hotel Overnight In Exotic Singapore On 2014 ...





BELLEVUE, Wash., Oct. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Paul Gauguin Cruises (www.pgcruises.com), operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin, and the 90-guest m/v Tere Moana, offers a free hotel overnight at the Shangri-La Hotel Singapore for guests who book one of The Gauguin’s 2014 14-night Australia Southeast Asia voyages by December 31, 2013.


Set amid lush tropical gardens, the Deluxe Shangri-La Hotel is located in the heart of Singapore offering luxurious amenities, as well as easy access to the city’s world-class shopping, restaurants, and attractions. Overnight accommodations in a Tower Room, breakfast, transfers, and a guided city tour highlighting the Raffles Hotel, Little India, Arab Street, Merlion Park and Marina Bay, and Chinatown, are included with the free hotel overnight offer.


On the Australia Southeast Asia voyages, The Gauguin sails between Cairns, Australia, and Singapore visiting less-traveled tropical ports of Australia such as Thursday Island, once a World War II military outpost, and Darwin, with its lively yet laidback ambiance.  Indonesian ports include Komodo Island, home of the Komodo dragon; beautiful Bali, a coveted destination for generations; and Semarang, with its fascinating history and gateway to the temples of Borobudur. In addition to the free hotel overnight offer, guests save 50% off standard all-inclusive cruise fares and enjoy included airfare from Los Angeles. Cruise fares for the June 25, 2014, sailing start from $7,395 per person and cruise fares for the August 4, 2014, sailing start from $7,095 per person.  


On both voyages, a variety of special guests will lecture, perform, or provide demonstrations. Parisian celebrity chef Jean-Pierre Vigato, champion freediver Herbert Nitsch, and extreme artist Jean Francois Detaille will be aboard the June 25, 2014, voyage.  Joining the August 4, 2014, voyage are Nobel Peace Prize winner John E. Hay, islands expert Helen Henry, and Paul Gauguin Cruises chairman Richard Bailey. Art history professor and Paul Gauguin expert Caroline Boyle-Turner will lecture on both sailings.


For rates or more information on Paul Gauguin Cruises, please contact a Travel Professional, call 800-848-6172, or visit www.pgcruises.com.


About Paul Gauguin Cruises
Owned by Pacific Beachcomber S.C., French Polynesia’s leading luxury hotel and cruise operator, Paul Gauguin Cruises operates the 5+-star cruise ship, the 332-guest m/s Paul Gauguin, providing a deluxe cruise experience tailored to the unparalleled wonders of Tahiti, French Polynesia, the South Pacific, and Southeast Asia. It is one of the top exclusive charter and incentive group venues in the industry and has completed more than 570 South Pacific cruises, serving more than 176,250 guests, including more than 15,000 honeymooners, since its inaugural sail in 1998. The Gauguin’s accolades include recognition as “Top Small-Ship Cruise Line for Families” in Travel + Leisure’s 2013 “World’s Best Awards” and one of the “Top 20 Small Cruise Ships” in 2013 for the 15th year in a row by readers of Conde Nast Traveler.


In December 2012, the m/v Tere Moana began sailing under the Paul Gauguin Cruises banner after completing a multifaceted renovation and offers voyages in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe.  At 330 feet long and 46 feet wide, The Moana has a draft of 11.5 feet, and accommodates 90 guests with a staff of 60.


Media Contact:
Vanessa Bloy
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Director of Public Relations
(425) 440-6255
vbloy@pgcruises.com


*Free hotel overnight offer available only while space lasts. New bookings only. Cruise prices shown do not include port, security, and handling fees of $225 per person. Economy class airfare from Los Angeles included in cruise fare. One-night pre- or post-cruise hotel offer applies to Air/Sea packages only, is capacity controlled, and can be withdrawn at any time. Hotel offer does not include meals other than those indicated, international, and domestic airfares, and items of a personal nature, such as alcoholic beverages, telephone calls, and laundry, etc. Hotel rating is based on www.hotelandtravelindex.com classifications. Offer expires December 31, 2013.



SOURCE Paul Gauguin Cruises


RELATED LINKS
http://www.pgcruises.com/



Paul Gauguin Cruises Offers Free Hotel Overnight In Exotic Singapore On 2014 ...

World"s largest diamond necklace on sale in Singapore for $55 million


For someone with $55 million to spare on an egg-sized diamond, the world’s most expensive necklace is on sale this month at a jewelery show in Singapore, reflecting Asia’s growing appetite for precious gems and expensive baubles.



Known as L’Incomparable, the necklace created by luxury jeweler Mouawad features a yellow, internally flawless diamond of more than 407 carats suspended from a rose gold setting that is studded with 90 white diamonds weighing nearly 230 carats.



“Serious interest” has been expressed by a couple of potential buyers from Asia, said Jean Nasr, managing director of Mouawad in Singapore, declining to identify their nationalities.



“People who will get something like this are looking at it from a different perspective because this is definitely an investment piece,” he told Reuters.


7d7fb 523501075 Aug tourist arrivals rise 4.7%

ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images


The necklace’s 637-carat centerpiece stone is world’s largest internally flawless diamond.


RELATED: SEE IT: PINK DIAMOND LIKELY TO FETCH MORE THAN $60 MILLION AT GENEVA AUCTION



The necklace, whose centrepiece diamond was found by chance in a pile of mining rubble by a young girl in the Democratic Republic of Congo about 30 years ago, will be the flashiest item on offer at the Singapore JewelFest on October 11-20.



But there will be plenty of other glitz from American, European and Asian designers worth another $200 million or so.



Singapore, a tiny Southeast Asian nation with the world’s highest concentration of millionaires, has positioned itself as a destination for the ultra-rich with a busy wealth management industry, luxury properties, top hotels, gourmet restaurants, high-end boutiques and two casinos.


7d7fb singapore jewels Aug tourist arrivals rise 4.7%

TIM WIMBORNE/REUTERS


The stunning necklace, which is on sale at a jewelry show in Singapore, reflects Asia’s growing appetite for precious gems and expensive baubles.



While the city-state boasts a very low crime rate, security will be extremely tight with so much jewelery on display at a pavilion outside an upscale mall.


RELATED: 118-CARAT DIAMOND HEADS TO SOTHEBY AUCTION



It seems unlikely there would be a robbery in Singapore like the daylight heist of about $136 million worth of jewelery on show at a hotel in the French Riviera resort of Cannes in July.



But Filippo Melchionni, in charge of guarding L’Incomparable and the rest of the jewellery on show, is taking no chances.


fe010 singapore jewels Aug tourist arrivals rise 4.7%

TIM WIMBORNE/REUTERS


Managing Director of Mouawad Boutique, Jean Nasr, holds the 637-carat necklace at a media event in Singapore.



Security includes armed guards, plainclothes supervisors, cameras, motion detectors and bullet-proof display cases but the most critical time is when the pieces are shown to customers.



“This is the moment that the stones are under risk because they can be passed hand-by-hand, they can be exchanged,” said Melchionni, chief operating officer for Asia-Pacific at the Ferrari Group, an Italian logistics company for luxury goods.


RELATED: VALUE IN FRENCH JEWEL HEIST SOARS



“Every night it is going back to our vault. We have an armored truck to move the stones.”


fe010 523501072 Aug tourist arrivals rise 4.7%

ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images


Jessica Nasr, a staff member of Dubai-based jewellery firm Mouawad, holds the 637-carat “L’incomparable” necklace.



L’Incomparable, completed in 2012 and certified as the priciest necklace in existence by Guinness World Records earlier this year, is an extravagant novelty.



But Asia, especially China, has become an important and resilient growth area for sellers of pricey jewellery, cars, boats, wine, artwork and other lavish items.



Australian miner Rio Tinto Ltd, which showed off its finest coloured diamonds in Hong Kong last month, believes the United States will remain its key market for diamonds but sees China growing fast.



Demand for diamonds in China, now the world’s second-largest market after the United States, helped boost global sales at Tiffany Co in the latest quarter, leading the U.S. jeweller to raise its annual profit forecast.



The show in Singapore, now in its 11th year, expects some Chinese buyers but many locals and visitors from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Russia will also be there, said Kean Ng, chairman of the Singapore JewelFest.



“You have the high-end customers but of course you have the browsers coming in and they usually end up buying something that’s within their budget,” he said.



World"s largest diamond necklace on sale in Singapore for $55 million

Paul Gauguin Cruises Offers Free Hotel Overnight In Exotic Singapore On 2014 ...





BELLEVUE, Wash., Oct. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Paul Gauguin Cruises (www.pgcruises.com), operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin, and the 90-guest m/v Tere Moana, offers a free hotel overnight at the Shangri-La Hotel Singapore for guests who book one of The Gauguin’s 2014 14-night Australia Southeast Asia voyages by December 31, 2013.


Set amid lush tropical gardens, the Deluxe Shangri-La Hotel is located in the heart of Singapore offering luxurious amenities, as well as easy access to the city’s world-class shopping, restaurants, and attractions. Overnight accommodations in a Tower Room, breakfast, transfers, and a guided city tour highlighting the Raffles Hotel, Little India, Arab Street, Merlion Park and Marina Bay, and Chinatown, are included with the free hotel overnight offer.


On the Australia Southeast Asia voyages, The Gauguin sails between Cairns, Australia, and Singapore visiting less-traveled tropical ports of Australia such as Thursday Island, once a World War II military outpost, and Darwin, with its lively yet laidback ambiance.  Indonesian ports include Komodo Island, home of the Komodo dragon; beautiful Bali, a coveted destination for generations; and Semarang, with its fascinating history and gateway to the temples of Borobudur. In addition to the free hotel overnight offer, guests save 50% off standard all-inclusive cruise fares and enjoy included airfare from Los Angeles. Cruise fares for the June 25, 2014, sailing start from $7,395 per person and cruise fares for the August 4, 2014, sailing start from $7,095 per person.  


On both voyages, a variety of special guests will lecture, perform, or provide demonstrations. Parisian celebrity chef Jean-Pierre Vigato, champion freediver Herbert Nitsch, and extreme artist Jean Francois Detaille will be aboard the June 25, 2014, voyage.  Joining the August 4, 2014, voyage are Nobel Peace Prize winner John E. Hay, islands expert Helen Henry, and Paul Gauguin Cruises chairman Richard Bailey. Art history professor and Paul Gauguin expert Caroline Boyle-Turner will lecture on both sailings.


For rates or more information on Paul Gauguin Cruises, please contact a Travel Professional, call 800-848-6172, or visit www.pgcruises.com.


About Paul Gauguin Cruises
Owned by Pacific Beachcomber S.C., French Polynesia’s leading luxury hotel and cruise operator, Paul Gauguin Cruises operates the 5+-star cruise ship, the 332-guest m/s Paul Gauguin, providing a deluxe cruise experience tailored to the unparalleled wonders of Tahiti, French Polynesia, the South Pacific, and Southeast Asia. It is one of the top exclusive charter and incentive group venues in the industry and has completed more than 570 South Pacific cruises, serving more than 176,250 guests, including more than 15,000 honeymooners, since its inaugural sail in 1998. The Gauguin’s accolades include recognition as “Top Small-Ship Cruise Line for Families” in Travel + Leisure’s 2013 “World’s Best Awards” and one of the “Top 20 Small Cruise Ships” in 2013 for the 15th year in a row by readers of Conde Nast Traveler.


In December 2012, the m/v Tere Moana began sailing under the Paul Gauguin Cruises banner after completing a multifaceted renovation and offers voyages in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe.  At 330 feet long and 46 feet wide, The Moana has a draft of 11.5 feet, and accommodates 90 guests with a staff of 60.


Media Contact:
Vanessa Bloy
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Director of Public Relations
(425) 440-6255
vbloy@pgcruises.com


*Free hotel overnight offer available only while space lasts. New bookings only. Cruise prices shown do not include port, security, and handling fees of $225 per person. Economy class airfare from Los Angeles included in cruise fare. One-night pre- or post-cruise hotel offer applies to Air/Sea packages only, is capacity controlled, and can be withdrawn at any time. Hotel offer does not include meals other than those indicated, international, and domestic airfares, and items of a personal nature, such as alcoholic beverages, telephone calls, and laundry, etc. Hotel rating is based on www.hotelandtravelindex.com classifications. Offer expires December 31, 2013.



SOURCE Paul Gauguin Cruises


RELATED LINKS
http://www.pgcruises.com/



Paul Gauguin Cruises Offers Free Hotel Overnight In Exotic Singapore On 2014 ...

Malaysian billionaire Quek Leng Chan launches Clermont hotels

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Malaysian billionaire Quek Leng Chan launches Clermont hotels

Malaysian billionaire Quek Leng Chan launches Clermont hotels

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Malaysian billionaire Quek Leng Chan launches Clermont hotels

Singapore"s Biopolis: A Success Story


Singapore, Oct 17, 2013 (ACN Newswire via COMTEX) –

Singapore’s Biopolis celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Within a decade, Biopolis has established a reputation as a world-class biomedical research hub and put Singapore on the scientific world map. The Biomedical Sciences (BMS) industry has also generated economic wealth for Singapore, created jobs and improved human health and the quality of life.


Opened in 2003, Biopolis anchors the development of the entire chain of BMS activities – from research and development (RD) to manufacturing and healthcare. Biopolis also plays a pivotal role in bringing together major research institutes to create a centre of excellence in BMS and serves as a focal point to attract and groom top scientific talent to do world-class research in Singapore.


Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR and Co-Chair, Biomedical Sciences Executive Committee (BMS EXCO) said, “Biopolis was conceived as part of a bold vision to establish the BMS as a key pillar of Singapore’s economy. That vision has become a reality. Today, Biopolis is a thriving eco-system of public research institutions and corporate labs and a vibrant community of local and international biomedical scientists carrying out world-class RD.”


While Biopolis initially focused on supporting the pharmaceuticals and biologics industry, it is now diversifying to leverage new areas which are fast-growing in the Asia Pacific such as medical technology (MedTech), personal care, and food and nutrition. Many of its research programmes are also well integrated with the clinical and academic research communities, a good example of which would be stratified medicine. To this end, A*STAR has launched strategic research thrusts to address these areas. (See Annex A for information on strategic research thrusts).


Singapore has come a long way in its BMS journey over the last decade, making important economic, scientific and healthcare contributions to the country, even as the base of basic, translational and clinical research capabilities was being built.


The BMS industry has rapidly grown to become the fourth pillar of the economy. Since 2000, BMS manufacturing output has increased by nearly five-fold from $6 billion in 2000 to $29.4 billion in 2012. Employment in the BMS manufacturing industry grew 2.5 times, from 6,000 to 15,700 in the same period. In 2012, the Value-Add (VA) of the BMS industry rose to $15.3 billion, contributing 25.5% of total manufacturing VA. BMS is now the largest VA contributor to the manufacturing sector in Singapore.


Biomedical research in Singapore has contributed greatly to improving the world’s understanding of cancer, eye diseases, neuroscience, metabolic diseases and infectious diseases, amongst others. Significant breakthroughs made over the years include the SARS detection kit co-developed by A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and Roche Diagnostics which was used at the Singapore General Hospital. A*STAR’s Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) worked with Genelabs Diagnostics to develop two antibody-based tests to diagnose SARS from just a drop of serum, plasma or blood. Singapore scientists at A*STAR’s Bioinformatics Institute also worked with international counterparts and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to develop the FluSurver as part of the worldwide surveillance network, to help clinician scientists and researchers rapidly screen patient-specific influenza genome sequences for mutations. Recently, a team of scientists from A*STAR’s Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC) collaborated with Switzerland’s Cytos Biotechnology to develop a vaccine for the H1N1 flu virus and it has already entered into Phase I clinical trial. Singapore has received significant recognition for scientific excellence. For instance, according to the Nature Asia-Pacific Publishing Index 2012[1], Singapore retained its 5th place ranking across Asia Pacific and continues to be the most productive of the top five countries in terms of papers per 1,000 researchers.


In addition to providing solutions to pressing healthcare issues, research at Biopolis has helped to grow the biologics, pharmaceutical, healthcare and medical technology industries in Singapore.


For companies seeking to improve RD productivity and develop innovative pharmbio and medical solutions for Asia, Singapore presents opportunities to tap into the multi-disciplinary capabilities offered by an integrated research network in basic and translational research. Almost 40 corporate research labs are situated in Biopolis and more are expected. Leading biopharmaceutical companies are co-located with A*STAR research institutes at the Biopolis, and engage in regular public-private partnerships. Chugai, one of Japan’s leading biopharmaceutical companies, opened the Chugai Pharmabody Research (CPR) in Biopolis with an investment of $200 million over five years. PG, a household name in home and personal care, invested $250 million to build a mega innovation centre in Biopolis – the second of only two such centres in Asia. PG has also signed a 3-year collaboration agreement to work with research institutes across A*STAR.


One of Singapore’s key success factors in creating an innovation economy is its talent strategy. To support BMS RD activities, the Biopolis fosters the exchange of ideas and close collaborations both among and beyond the research community located there. This BMS research community, made up of both the public and private sectors, has grown by two and a half times in the last 10 years from 2,150 in 2002 to over 5,400 in 2011, including some hundred clinician scientists among them. Almost half of them are located at the Biopolis constituting a rich mix of local and international scientists from both the public and private sectors. Besides eminent scientists, what is heartening and important for the future of the BMS effort in Singapore is the pipeline of many young Singaporean scientists nurtured through the A*STAR scholarships who are already beginning to make their own mark.


Said Ms Thien Kwee Eng, Assistant Managing Director, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), “Biopolis is a well-known icon amongst the global scientific community. It represents the rich source of scientific talent and knowledge that Singapore offers. Today, Biopolis hosts more than 40 private companies, including some of the best-in-class research collaborations with companies such as Merck, Novartis and PG. We are confident the Biopolis community will continue to conduct world-class research to help improve patients’ lives, and achieve quality economic growth with good jobs for Singaporeans.”


Biopolis is located in one-north, a leading hotspot for research, innovation and test-bedding master-planned by JTC. The one-north development also comprises research facilities and business park space in Fusionopolis and Mediapolis, educational institutes in Nepal Hill, residences in Wessex and recreational amenities in Rochester Park, creating a vibrant work-live-play-learn environment. This conducive environment provides fertile ground for collaboration within and across key growth sectors, including BMS, infocomm technology, media, physical sciences and engineering industries.


From the initial seven buildings under Phase 1, Biopolis is now into Phase 5 with 13 buildings and over 3.5 million square feet of space. The Biopolis 10th anniversary also ties in with the completion of Phases 4 and 5. The physical infrastructure at Biopolis has allowed the research companies to enjoy the synergy of the co-location of public and private research institutes with various on-going collaborations across different fields of biomedical research. The buildings under Phase 1 are connected seamlessly via sky bridges and underground linkages, creating closely-weaved spaces to encourage interaction. An epicentre at the heart of Biopolis provides an area where the research community can gather, complete with a plethora of dining options and amenities.


“As the master-planner of Biopolis, JTC has achieved its objective of developing Biopolis into a thriving BMS cluster – bringing together the full spectrum of biomedical activities in a conducive environment. More importantly, we have carefully shaped the environment and space for the community, in order to inject vibrancy and promote interactions. These spaces not only bring life to the development but also allow the community to shape Biopolis and call it their own. Moving forward, we will continue to focus on building the Biopolis’ community, one with collective ownership of the place they call home,” said Mr Png Cheong Boon, CEO, JTC Corporation.


“Singapore remains committed to investing in biomedical research and sustaining knowledge creation. Our RD landscape has evolved over the last 10 years. Increasingly, our research institutions are teaming up with universities and hospitals to establish strong public research capabilities. Private companies and foreign institutions have become critical partners in our eco-system. Biopolis is a catalyst of our BMS initiative and will continue to play an important role in biomedical sciences in Singapore,” said A*STAR Chairman, Mr Lim Chuan Poh.


Please see the full press release, with Annexes, at http://bit.ly/GQRRIG


[1] The Nature Publishing Index (NPI) ranks countries and institutions according to the number of primary research articles they publish in Nature and its family of Nature-branded sister journals


About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)


The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is the lead agency for fostering world-class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based and innovation-driven Singapore. A*STAR oversees 14 biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering research institutes, and six consortia centres, located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis as well as their immediate vicinity. A*STAR supports Singapore’s key economic clusters by providing intellectual, human and industrial capital to its partners in industry. It also supports extramural research in the universities, and with other local and international partners. For more information about A*STAR, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg


About the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB)


The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) is the lead government agency for planning and executing strategies to enhance Singapore’s position as a global business centre. EDB dreams, designs and delivers solutions that create value for investors and companies in Singapore. Our mission is to create for Singapore, sustainable economic growth with vibrant business and good job opportunities. EDB’s “Host to Home” strategy articulates how we are positioning Singapore for the future. It is about extending Singapore’s value proposition to businesses not just to help them improve their bottom line, but also to help them grow their top line through establishing and deepening strategic activities in Singapore to drive their business, innovation and talent objectives in Asia and globally. For more information on EDB, please visit www.sedb.com


About JTC Corporation (JTC)


JTC Corporation (JTC) is Singapore’s leading industrial infrastructure specialist spearheading the planning, promotion and development of a dynamic industrial landscape. JTC has played a key role in the growth of the Singapore’s economy by pioneering cutting-edge industrial real estate solutions. Some of its landmark projects include CleanTech Park, a chemicals hub on Jurong Island, Jurong Rock Caverns, Seletar Aerospace Park, and Tukang Innovation Park. In JTC’s portfolio are other key projects including wafer fabrication parks, business parks, Biopolis and Fusionopolis at one-north, biomedical parks as well as logistics hubs for various industries. These industrial and business parks are now home to renowned global companies and promising local enterprises. As Singapore transforms itself for the future, JTC, as the industrial infrastructure innovator, will partner with its customers to understand their evolving needs and develop appropriate ‘future-ready’ infrastructure solutions. JTC will continue to break new ground and expand its innovation capacity to offer infrastructure facilities of a calibre that sets the city state apart as an investment location. For more information on JTC and its products and services, please visit www.jtc.gov.sg


Contact:



Singapore"s Biopolis: A Success Story

World"s largest diamond necklace on sale in Singapore for $55 million


For someone with $55 million to spare on an egg-sized diamond, the world’s most expensive necklace is on sale this month at a jewelery show in Singapore, reflecting Asia’s growing appetite for precious gems and expensive baubles.



Known as L’Incomparable, the necklace created by luxury jeweler Mouawad features a yellow, internally flawless diamond of more than 407 carats suspended from a rose gold setting that is studded with 90 white diamonds weighing nearly 230 carats.



“Serious interest” has been expressed by a couple of potential buyers from Asia, said Jean Nasr, managing director of Mouawad in Singapore, declining to identify their nationalities.



“People who will get something like this are looking at it from a different perspective because this is definitely an investment piece,” he told Reuters.


f38d5 523501075 Now Available: Travel and Tourism in Singapore to 2017

ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images


The necklace’s 637-carat centerpiece stone is world’s largest internally flawless diamond.


RELATED: SEE IT: PINK DIAMOND LIKELY TO FETCH MORE THAN $60 MILLION AT GENEVA AUCTION



The necklace, whose centrepiece diamond was found by chance in a pile of mining rubble by a young girl in the Democratic Republic of Congo about 30 years ago, will be the flashiest item on offer at the Singapore JewelFest on October 11-20.



But there will be plenty of other glitz from American, European and Asian designers worth another $200 million or so.



Singapore, a tiny Southeast Asian nation with the world’s highest concentration of millionaires, has positioned itself as a destination for the ultra-rich with a busy wealth management industry, luxury properties, top hotels, gourmet restaurants, high-end boutiques and two casinos.


f38d5 singapore jewels Now Available: Travel and Tourism in Singapore to 2017

TIM WIMBORNE/REUTERS


The stunning necklace, which is on sale at a jewelry show in Singapore, reflects Asia’s growing appetite for precious gems and expensive baubles.



While the city-state boasts a very low crime rate, security will be extremely tight with so much jewelery on display at a pavilion outside an upscale mall.


RELATED: 118-CARAT DIAMOND HEADS TO SOTHEBY AUCTION



It seems unlikely there would be a robbery in Singapore like the daylight heist of about $136 million worth of jewelery on show at a hotel in the French Riviera resort of Cannes in July.



But Filippo Melchionni, in charge of guarding L’Incomparable and the rest of the jewellery on show, is taking no chances.


f38d5 singapore jewels Now Available: Travel and Tourism in Singapore to 2017

TIM WIMBORNE/REUTERS


Managing Director of Mouawad Boutique, Jean Nasr, holds the 637-carat necklace at a media event in Singapore.



Security includes armed guards, plainclothes supervisors, cameras, motion detectors and bullet-proof display cases but the most critical time is when the pieces are shown to customers.



“This is the moment that the stones are under risk because they can be passed hand-by-hand, they can be exchanged,” said Melchionni, chief operating officer for Asia-Pacific at the Ferrari Group, an Italian logistics company for luxury goods.


RELATED: VALUE IN FRENCH JEWEL HEIST SOARS



“Every night it is going back to our vault. We have an armored truck to move the stones.”


f38d5 523501072 Now Available: Travel and Tourism in Singapore to 2017

ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images


Jessica Nasr, a staff member of Dubai-based jewellery firm Mouawad, holds the 637-carat “L’incomparable” necklace.



L’Incomparable, completed in 2012 and certified as the priciest necklace in existence by Guinness World Records earlier this year, is an extravagant novelty.



But Asia, especially China, has become an important and resilient growth area for sellers of pricey jewellery, cars, boats, wine, artwork and other lavish items.



Australian miner Rio Tinto Ltd, which showed off its finest coloured diamonds in Hong Kong last month, believes the United States will remain its key market for diamonds but sees China growing fast.



Demand for diamonds in China, now the world’s second-largest market after the United States, helped boost global sales at Tiffany Co in the latest quarter, leading the U.S. jeweller to raise its annual profit forecast.



The show in Singapore, now in its 11th year, expects some Chinese buyers but many locals and visitors from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Russia will also be there, said Kean Ng, chairman of the Singapore JewelFest.



“You have the high-end customers but of course you have the browsers coming in and they usually end up buying something that’s within their budget,” he said.



World"s largest diamond necklace on sale in Singapore for $55 million

Singapore"s Biopolis: A Success Story


Singapore, Oct 17, 2013 (ACN Newswire via COMTEX) –

Singapore’s Biopolis celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Within a decade, Biopolis has established a reputation as a world-class biomedical research hub and put Singapore on the scientific world map. The Biomedical Sciences (BMS) industry has also generated economic wealth for Singapore, created jobs and improved human health and the quality of life.


Opened in 2003, Biopolis anchors the development of the entire chain of BMS activities – from research and development (RD) to manufacturing and healthcare. Biopolis also plays a pivotal role in bringing together major research institutes to create a centre of excellence in BMS and serves as a focal point to attract and groom top scientific talent to do world-class research in Singapore.


Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR and Co-Chair, Biomedical Sciences Executive Committee (BMS EXCO) said, “Biopolis was conceived as part of a bold vision to establish the BMS as a key pillar of Singapore’s economy. That vision has become a reality. Today, Biopolis is a thriving eco-system of public research institutions and corporate labs and a vibrant community of local and international biomedical scientists carrying out world-class RD.”


While Biopolis initially focused on supporting the pharmaceuticals and biologics industry, it is now diversifying to leverage new areas which are fast-growing in the Asia Pacific such as medical technology (MedTech), personal care, and food and nutrition. Many of its research programmes are also well integrated with the clinical and academic research communities, a good example of which would be stratified medicine. To this end, A*STAR has launched strategic research thrusts to address these areas. (See Annex A for information on strategic research thrusts).


Singapore has come a long way in its BMS journey over the last decade, making important economic, scientific and healthcare contributions to the country, even as the base of basic, translational and clinical research capabilities was being built.


The BMS industry has rapidly grown to become the fourth pillar of the economy. Since 2000, BMS manufacturing output has increased by nearly five-fold from $6 billion in 2000 to $29.4 billion in 2012. Employment in the BMS manufacturing industry grew 2.5 times, from 6,000 to 15,700 in the same period. In 2012, the Value-Add (VA) of the BMS industry rose to $15.3 billion, contributing 25.5% of total manufacturing VA. BMS is now the largest VA contributor to the manufacturing sector in Singapore.


Biomedical research in Singapore has contributed greatly to improving the world’s understanding of cancer, eye diseases, neuroscience, metabolic diseases and infectious diseases, amongst others. Significant breakthroughs made over the years include the SARS detection kit co-developed by A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and Roche Diagnostics which was used at the Singapore General Hospital. A*STAR’s Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) worked with Genelabs Diagnostics to develop two antibody-based tests to diagnose SARS from just a drop of serum, plasma or blood. Singapore scientists at A*STAR’s Bioinformatics Institute also worked with international counterparts and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to develop the FluSurver as part of the worldwide surveillance network, to help clinician scientists and researchers rapidly screen patient-specific influenza genome sequences for mutations. Recently, a team of scientists from A*STAR’s Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC) collaborated with Switzerland’s Cytos Biotechnology to develop a vaccine for the H1N1 flu virus and it has already entered into Phase I clinical trial. Singapore has received significant recognition for scientific excellence. For instance, according to the Nature Asia-Pacific Publishing Index 2012[1], Singapore retained its 5th place ranking across Asia Pacific and continues to be the most productive of the top five countries in terms of papers per 1,000 researchers.


In addition to providing solutions to pressing healthcare issues, research at Biopolis has helped to grow the biologics, pharmaceutical, healthcare and medical technology industries in Singapore.


For companies seeking to improve RD productivity and develop innovative pharmbio and medical solutions for Asia, Singapore presents opportunities to tap into the multi-disciplinary capabilities offered by an integrated research network in basic and translational research. Almost 40 corporate research labs are situated in Biopolis and more are expected. Leading biopharmaceutical companies are co-located with A*STAR research institutes at the Biopolis, and engage in regular public-private partnerships. Chugai, one of Japan’s leading biopharmaceutical companies, opened the Chugai Pharmabody Research (CPR) in Biopolis with an investment of $200 million over five years. PG, a household name in home and personal care, invested $250 million to build a mega innovation centre in Biopolis – the second of only two such centres in Asia. PG has also signed a 3-year collaboration agreement to work with research institutes across A*STAR.


One of Singapore’s key success factors in creating an innovation economy is its talent strategy. To support BMS RD activities, the Biopolis fosters the exchange of ideas and close collaborations both among and beyond the research community located there. This BMS research community, made up of both the public and private sectors, has grown by two and a half times in the last 10 years from 2,150 in 2002 to over 5,400 in 2011, including some hundred clinician scientists among them. Almost half of them are located at the Biopolis constituting a rich mix of local and international scientists from both the public and private sectors. Besides eminent scientists, what is heartening and important for the future of the BMS effort in Singapore is the pipeline of many young Singaporean scientists nurtured through the A*STAR scholarships who are already beginning to make their own mark.


Said Ms Thien Kwee Eng, Assistant Managing Director, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), “Biopolis is a well-known icon amongst the global scientific community. It represents the rich source of scientific talent and knowledge that Singapore offers. Today, Biopolis hosts more than 40 private companies, including some of the best-in-class research collaborations with companies such as Merck, Novartis and PG. We are confident the Biopolis community will continue to conduct world-class research to help improve patients’ lives, and achieve quality economic growth with good jobs for Singaporeans.”


Biopolis is located in one-north, a leading hotspot for research, innovation and test-bedding master-planned by JTC. The one-north development also comprises research facilities and business park space in Fusionopolis and Mediapolis, educational institutes in Nepal Hill, residences in Wessex and recreational amenities in Rochester Park, creating a vibrant work-live-play-learn environment. This conducive environment provides fertile ground for collaboration within and across key growth sectors, including BMS, infocomm technology, media, physical sciences and engineering industries.


From the initial seven buildings under Phase 1, Biopolis is now into Phase 5 with 13 buildings and over 3.5 million square feet of space. The Biopolis 10th anniversary also ties in with the completion of Phases 4 and 5. The physical infrastructure at Biopolis has allowed the research companies to enjoy the synergy of the co-location of public and private research institutes with various on-going collaborations across different fields of biomedical research. The buildings under Phase 1 are connected seamlessly via sky bridges and underground linkages, creating closely-weaved spaces to encourage interaction. An epicentre at the heart of Biopolis provides an area where the research community can gather, complete with a plethora of dining options and amenities.


“As the master-planner of Biopolis, JTC has achieved its objective of developing Biopolis into a thriving BMS cluster – bringing together the full spectrum of biomedical activities in a conducive environment. More importantly, we have carefully shaped the environment and space for the community, in order to inject vibrancy and promote interactions. These spaces not only bring life to the development but also allow the community to shape Biopolis and call it their own. Moving forward, we will continue to focus on building the Biopolis’ community, one with collective ownership of the place they call home,” said Mr Png Cheong Boon, CEO, JTC Corporation.


“Singapore remains committed to investing in biomedical research and sustaining knowledge creation. Our RD landscape has evolved over the last 10 years. Increasingly, our research institutions are teaming up with universities and hospitals to establish strong public research capabilities. Private companies and foreign institutions have become critical partners in our eco-system. Biopolis is a catalyst of our BMS initiative and will continue to play an important role in biomedical sciences in Singapore,” said A*STAR Chairman, Mr Lim Chuan Poh.


Please see the full press release, with Annexes, at http://bit.ly/GQRRIG


[1] The Nature Publishing Index (NPI) ranks countries and institutions according to the number of primary research articles they publish in Nature and its family of Nature-branded sister journals


About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)


The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is the lead agency for fostering world-class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based and innovation-driven Singapore. A*STAR oversees 14 biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering research institutes, and six consortia centres, located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis as well as their immediate vicinity. A*STAR supports Singapore’s key economic clusters by providing intellectual, human and industrial capital to its partners in industry. It also supports extramural research in the universities, and with other local and international partners. For more information about A*STAR, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg


About the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB)


The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) is the lead government agency for planning and executing strategies to enhance Singapore’s position as a global business centre. EDB dreams, designs and delivers solutions that create value for investors and companies in Singapore. Our mission is to create for Singapore, sustainable economic growth with vibrant business and good job opportunities. EDB’s “Host to Home” strategy articulates how we are positioning Singapore for the future. It is about extending Singapore’s value proposition to businesses not just to help them improve their bottom line, but also to help them grow their top line through establishing and deepening strategic activities in Singapore to drive their business, innovation and talent objectives in Asia and globally. For more information on EDB, please visit www.sedb.com


About JTC Corporation (JTC)


JTC Corporation (JTC) is Singapore’s leading industrial infrastructure specialist spearheading the planning, promotion and development of a dynamic industrial landscape. JTC has played a key role in the growth of the Singapore’s economy by pioneering cutting-edge industrial real estate solutions. Some of its landmark projects include CleanTech Park, a chemicals hub on Jurong Island, Jurong Rock Caverns, Seletar Aerospace Park, and Tukang Innovation Park. In JTC’s portfolio are other key projects including wafer fabrication parks, business parks, Biopolis and Fusionopolis at one-north, biomedical parks as well as logistics hubs for various industries. These industrial and business parks are now home to renowned global companies and promising local enterprises. As Singapore transforms itself for the future, JTC, as the industrial infrastructure innovator, will partner with its customers to understand their evolving needs and develop appropriate ‘future-ready’ infrastructure solutions. JTC will continue to break new ground and expand its innovation capacity to offer infrastructure facilities of a calibre that sets the city state apart as an investment location. For more information on JTC and its products and services, please visit www.jtc.gov.sg


Contact:



Singapore"s Biopolis: A Success Story

Singapore"s Biopolis: A Success Story


Singapore, Oct 17, 2013 (ACN Newswire via COMTEX) –

Singapore’s Biopolis celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Within a decade, Biopolis has established a reputation as a world-class biomedical research hub and put Singapore on the scientific world map. The Biomedical Sciences (BMS) industry has also generated economic wealth for Singapore, created jobs and improved human health and the quality of life.


Opened in 2003, Biopolis anchors the development of the entire chain of BMS activities – from research and development (RD) to manufacturing and healthcare. Biopolis also plays a pivotal role in bringing together major research institutes to create a centre of excellence in BMS and serves as a focal point to attract and groom top scientific talent to do world-class research in Singapore.


Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR and Co-Chair, Biomedical Sciences Executive Committee (BMS EXCO) said, “Biopolis was conceived as part of a bold vision to establish the BMS as a key pillar of Singapore’s economy. That vision has become a reality. Today, Biopolis is a thriving eco-system of public research institutions and corporate labs and a vibrant community of local and international biomedical scientists carrying out world-class RD.”


While Biopolis initially focused on supporting the pharmaceuticals and biologics industry, it is now diversifying to leverage new areas which are fast-growing in the Asia Pacific such as medical technology (MedTech), personal care, and food and nutrition. Many of its research programmes are also well integrated with the clinical and academic research communities, a good example of which would be stratified medicine. To this end, A*STAR has launched strategic research thrusts to address these areas. (See Annex A for information on strategic research thrusts).


Singapore has come a long way in its BMS journey over the last decade, making important economic, scientific and healthcare contributions to the country, even as the base of basic, translational and clinical research capabilities was being built.


The BMS industry has rapidly grown to become the fourth pillar of the economy. Since 2000, BMS manufacturing output has increased by nearly five-fold from $6 billion in 2000 to $29.4 billion in 2012. Employment in the BMS manufacturing industry grew 2.5 times, from 6,000 to 15,700 in the same period. In 2012, the Value-Add (VA) of the BMS industry rose to $15.3 billion, contributing 25.5% of total manufacturing VA. BMS is now the largest VA contributor to the manufacturing sector in Singapore.


Biomedical research in Singapore has contributed greatly to improving the world’s understanding of cancer, eye diseases, neuroscience, metabolic diseases and infectious diseases, amongst others. Significant breakthroughs made over the years include the SARS detection kit co-developed by A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and Roche Diagnostics which was used at the Singapore General Hospital. A*STAR’s Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) worked with Genelabs Diagnostics to develop two antibody-based tests to diagnose SARS from just a drop of serum, plasma or blood. Singapore scientists at A*STAR’s Bioinformatics Institute also worked with international counterparts and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to develop the FluSurver as part of the worldwide surveillance network, to help clinician scientists and researchers rapidly screen patient-specific influenza genome sequences for mutations. Recently, a team of scientists from A*STAR’s Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC) collaborated with Switzerland’s Cytos Biotechnology to develop a vaccine for the H1N1 flu virus and it has already entered into Phase I clinical trial. Singapore has received significant recognition for scientific excellence. For instance, according to the Nature Asia-Pacific Publishing Index 2012[1], Singapore retained its 5th place ranking across Asia Pacific and continues to be the most productive of the top five countries in terms of papers per 1,000 researchers.


In addition to providing solutions to pressing healthcare issues, research at Biopolis has helped to grow the biologics, pharmaceutical, healthcare and medical technology industries in Singapore.


For companies seeking to improve RD productivity and develop innovative pharmbio and medical solutions for Asia, Singapore presents opportunities to tap into the multi-disciplinary capabilities offered by an integrated research network in basic and translational research. Almost 40 corporate research labs are situated in Biopolis and more are expected. Leading biopharmaceutical companies are co-located with A*STAR research institutes at the Biopolis, and engage in regular public-private partnerships. Chugai, one of Japan’s leading biopharmaceutical companies, opened the Chugai Pharmabody Research (CPR) in Biopolis with an investment of $200 million over five years. PG, a household name in home and personal care, invested $250 million to build a mega innovation centre in Biopolis – the second of only two such centres in Asia. PG has also signed a 3-year collaboration agreement to work with research institutes across A*STAR.


One of Singapore’s key success factors in creating an innovation economy is its talent strategy. To support BMS RD activities, the Biopolis fosters the exchange of ideas and close collaborations both among and beyond the research community located there. This BMS research community, made up of both the public and private sectors, has grown by two and a half times in the last 10 years from 2,150 in 2002 to over 5,400 in 2011, including some hundred clinician scientists among them. Almost half of them are located at the Biopolis constituting a rich mix of local and international scientists from both the public and private sectors. Besides eminent scientists, what is heartening and important for the future of the BMS effort in Singapore is the pipeline of many young Singaporean scientists nurtured through the A*STAR scholarships who are already beginning to make their own mark.


Said Ms Thien Kwee Eng, Assistant Managing Director, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), “Biopolis is a well-known icon amongst the global scientific community. It represents the rich source of scientific talent and knowledge that Singapore offers. Today, Biopolis hosts more than 40 private companies, including some of the best-in-class research collaborations with companies such as Merck, Novartis and PG. We are confident the Biopolis community will continue to conduct world-class research to help improve patients’ lives, and achieve quality economic growth with good jobs for Singaporeans.”


Biopolis is located in one-north, a leading hotspot for research, innovation and test-bedding master-planned by JTC. The one-north development also comprises research facilities and business park space in Fusionopolis and Mediapolis, educational institutes in Nepal Hill, residences in Wessex and recreational amenities in Rochester Park, creating a vibrant work-live-play-learn environment. This conducive environment provides fertile ground for collaboration within and across key growth sectors, including BMS, infocomm technology, media, physical sciences and engineering industries.


From the initial seven buildings under Phase 1, Biopolis is now into Phase 5 with 13 buildings and over 3.5 million square feet of space. The Biopolis 10th anniversary also ties in with the completion of Phases 4 and 5. The physical infrastructure at Biopolis has allowed the research companies to enjoy the synergy of the co-location of public and private research institutes with various on-going collaborations across different fields of biomedical research. The buildings under Phase 1 are connected seamlessly via sky bridges and underground linkages, creating closely-weaved spaces to encourage interaction. An epicentre at the heart of Biopolis provides an area where the research community can gather, complete with a plethora of dining options and amenities.


“As the master-planner of Biopolis, JTC has achieved its objective of developing Biopolis into a thriving BMS cluster – bringing together the full spectrum of biomedical activities in a conducive environment. More importantly, we have carefully shaped the environment and space for the community, in order to inject vibrancy and promote interactions. These spaces not only bring life to the development but also allow the community to shape Biopolis and call it their own. Moving forward, we will continue to focus on building the Biopolis’ community, one with collective ownership of the place they call home,” said Mr Png Cheong Boon, CEO, JTC Corporation.


“Singapore remains committed to investing in biomedical research and sustaining knowledge creation. Our RD landscape has evolved over the last 10 years. Increasingly, our research institutions are teaming up with universities and hospitals to establish strong public research capabilities. Private companies and foreign institutions have become critical partners in our eco-system. Biopolis is a catalyst of our BMS initiative and will continue to play an important role in biomedical sciences in Singapore,” said A*STAR Chairman, Mr Lim Chuan Poh.


Please see the full press release, with Annexes, at http://bit.ly/GQRRIG


[1] The Nature Publishing Index (NPI) ranks countries and institutions according to the number of primary research articles they publish in Nature and its family of Nature-branded sister journals


About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)


The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is the lead agency for fostering world-class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based and innovation-driven Singapore. A*STAR oversees 14 biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering research institutes, and six consortia centres, located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis as well as their immediate vicinity. A*STAR supports Singapore’s key economic clusters by providing intellectual, human and industrial capital to its partners in industry. It also supports extramural research in the universities, and with other local and international partners. For more information about A*STAR, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg


About the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB)


The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) is the lead government agency for planning and executing strategies to enhance Singapore’s position as a global business centre. EDB dreams, designs and delivers solutions that create value for investors and companies in Singapore. Our mission is to create for Singapore, sustainable economic growth with vibrant business and good job opportunities. EDB’s “Host to Home” strategy articulates how we are positioning Singapore for the future. It is about extending Singapore’s value proposition to businesses not just to help them improve their bottom line, but also to help them grow their top line through establishing and deepening strategic activities in Singapore to drive their business, innovation and talent objectives in Asia and globally. For more information on EDB, please visit www.sedb.com


About JTC Corporation (JTC)


JTC Corporation (JTC) is Singapore’s leading industrial infrastructure specialist spearheading the planning, promotion and development of a dynamic industrial landscape. JTC has played a key role in the growth of the Singapore’s economy by pioneering cutting-edge industrial real estate solutions. Some of its landmark projects include CleanTech Park, a chemicals hub on Jurong Island, Jurong Rock Caverns, Seletar Aerospace Park, and Tukang Innovation Park. In JTC’s portfolio are other key projects including wafer fabrication parks, business parks, Biopolis and Fusionopolis at one-north, biomedical parks as well as logistics hubs for various industries. These industrial and business parks are now home to renowned global companies and promising local enterprises. As Singapore transforms itself for the future, JTC, as the industrial infrastructure innovator, will partner with its customers to understand their evolving needs and develop appropriate ‘future-ready’ infrastructure solutions. JTC will continue to break new ground and expand its innovation capacity to offer infrastructure facilities of a calibre that sets the city state apart as an investment location. For more information on JTC and its products and services, please visit www.jtc.gov.sg


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Singapore"s Biopolis: A Success Story