Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

In the latest "World Robotics" report it has been revealed that the use of new industrial robots is at an all-time high. Digital transformation in forms such as this looks to help the manufacturing industry be more sustainable and efficient and implementing this technology will be crucial for the future growth of businesses in this sector. We speak to Marcelo Tarkieltaub, Southeast Asia’s Regional Director, Rockwell Automation more about this.

What is the first thing you would do once you get to the airport?  Well, if you’re like me, you might make a beeline to some of the fast food outlets or traditional kopi kiosks to grab a quick bite or your daily dose of caffeine.  On that note, did you know that the franchise branded stores for Subway and Killiney across all four airport terminals in Singapore, as well as at The Jewel are all managed under one company?  With a heritage dating back to 1986 with the opening of the first terminals at the Changi Airport, Palms Food International is one of the earliest established airport F&B operators in Singapore.  But why is the company focused solely on the airport? And how has that changed since Palms Food International was acquired by RMA Group in 2012? On Under the Radar, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian spoke with Avon Lau, General Manager, PALMS Food International for more.

Singapore shares started trading in positive territory today This contrasts with global markets, which closed lower amid uncertainty about ongoing events in Russia. The Straits Times Index (STI) was up by 0.3 per cent at 3,199.63 points in early trade as 82.7 million securities changed hands in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch for today, we have  Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, after it said yesterday that it obtained a contract from Maersk to build six methanol dual-fuel container ships for delivery between 2026 and 2027.  The shipbuilder also said in a separate bourse filing that the new orders to date are worth around US$5.6 billion, exceeding its US$3 billion target for 2023.  Meanwhile, from Indian billionaire Gautam Adani’s confidence in his conglomerate’s governance and disclosure standards to Baidu claiming its Ernie Bot now beats ChatGPT on key measures, corporate headlines continue to be in focus. On Market View, the Drive Time team unpacked these developments with Oriano Lizza, Sales Trader, CMC Markets.

The transfer madness is in full swing with the likes of Harry Kane, Mason Mount & Declan Rice dominating the headlines for eye-catching prices. What determines the value of these players, and how has inflation 'messed with the market'? James Walton, Sports Business Leader for Deloitte Singapore and Southeast Asia joins us to make sense of the numbers, or at least try to! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

ChopValue is the world’s first circular economy franchise, designing and manufacturing products using an innovative, high-performance material engineered entirely from recycled chopsticks. They make these strides in sustainability while collaborating with many other businesses to push their products into the general public. We speak to Justin Lee, General Manager, ChopValue Singapore more about this.

From US President Joe Biden calling Chinese President Xi Jinping a dictator at a fundraising event in California to South Korean airlines temporarily suspending some flights to China.  Dr. Oh Ei Sun, Senior Fellow, Singapore Institute of International Affairs gives us an analysis of those headlines and more. 

The APAC region is a frontrunner when it comes to implementing technology in the construction sector. AI's role in scheduling of projects and budget management is only going to become more significant in the future. To keep up with high demand, technology can help mitigate issues around a shortage of skilled labour in the industry. Moreover, using AI, the ability to monitor the progress of project planning allows the supply chain to be closely monitored. This helps businesses ensure the use of sustainable materials for their construction projects. We speak to Rob Bryant, Executive Vice President, Asia-Pacific, InEight more about this.

Studying the microorganisms in our gut and developing solutions to address health issues and developing probiotics supplements – that is what we’re going to talk about today.  Our guest for today is AMILI. The company says it is Southeast Asia’s first and only precision gut microbiome company and houses the region’s first and only gut microbiome transplant bank.  It is also in the process of building the world’s largest multi-ethnic Asia gut microbiome database. The data is used for research and for developing products and services that improve people’s gut health. This is apparently a lucrative market. According to Market.us, the global digestive health market is estimated to be valued at US$104.4 billion by 2032, growing by a compound annual growth rate of 8.2% during the forecast period of 2023 to 2032.  But how big is the market in Southeast Asia and how does AMILI intend to position itself to maximise growth and profits? Had a fruitful chat with Dr Jeremy Lim, CEO and Co-founder, AMILI  for more. 

Singapore shares started the week higher today, in contrast with global markets, which closed lower amid concerns that interest rate hikes will continue. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) was up 0.2 per cent at 3,197.54 points as 42.6 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch for today, we have Cordlife Group. Shares were up over 19% earlier in the day after the company said it was aware of a possible transaction for an offer for its shares. Meanwhile, from developments in Russia to S&P Global cutting China’s 2023 growth forecast from 5.5% to 5.2%, international developments continue to make the headlines today. And not forgetting more comments from Elon Musk about that cage fight with Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg. On Market View, the Drive Time team unpacked these developments with David Kuo, Co-founder, The Smart Investor.

Ever wanted ringside seats to the hottest sporting tickets in town? Well one man who always has a seat close to the action is Shawnrick Hu, a sports announcer who recently became the Singapore's first Sports Presentation Announcer for the Olympics at the inaugural Olympics E-Sports Week. What made him pursue this, and what does it take to be a hype man extraordinaire? Tune in to find out! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg