Sinalunya featured in some Catalan media

Links:

• http://www.acn.cat/acn/704605/Noticia/text/Noticia.html


• http://www.vilaweb.cat/noticia/4090748/20130303/sinalunya-projecte-multidisciplinari-potenciar-relacions-xina-taiwan-singapur-catalunya.html


• http://www.lavanguardia.com/encatala/20130303/54367958384/sinalunya-un-projecte-multidisciplinari-per-potenciar-les-relacions-entre-xina-taiwan-singapur-i.html

Recently our project has been featured in some Catalan media, thanks to the journalist of the Catalan News Agency, Nerea Guisasola, who interviewed us a couple of weeks ago. The news has written text and a picture, but also a piece of audio was featured on the radio. We would like to thank her for helping us to spread the word of what we would like to do and also for writing about our project in such an enthusiastic way.

[caption id="attachment_2034" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Sinalunya team: Chia-Chi Liao and Lluís Sala[/caption]

 

Singapore entrepreneurs travel to Catalonia to learn from its gastronomy

From http://www.expansion.com/2011/07/21/catalunya/1311275284.html (in Spanish)

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="432" caption="Restaurant Can Jubany (image from Restaurant Can Jubany website)"][/caption]

A group of 20 entrepreneurs and directives from Singaporean companies have traveled to Catalonia in order to learn about its food industry and its gastronomy. This visit has been arranged by the government of Singapore, that helps companies to learn from innovation done by other countries, and Catalonia has been the chosen one in the food sector. The Singaporean delegation has visited companies such Europastry, Gallina Blanca and Damm, and they have been surprised by the high level of robotization in the production process of the latter.  They have also visited the baker and chocolate expert Enric Rovira, as well as restaurants Via Veneto, Can Jubany, and the new foundation created by El Bulli owner Ferran Adrià, Fundació Alícia, a research centre focusing on technological innovation in kitchen science and the dissemination of agronourishment and gastronomic heritage.

ACC1Ó promotes Green Building mission in Singapore

From http://agenda.acc10.cat/agenda/default.php?id=6416 (in Catalan)

ACC1Ó-Competitiveness for Catalonia is organizing a Green Building mission in Singapore for Catalan companies due next September. Singapore is currently promoting architecture, design and construction of buildings which are energetically efficient, the so called Green Buildings. The goal of the government is that by 2030 at least 80% of the buildings in Singapore, both new and existing, could be certified as Green Building, a strategy that is aimed at leading this activity in the Asia-Pacific area. The specific goals of the mission are: i) to do networking with potential local partners in order to know the reality and the opportunities of the local market; ii) to hold meetings with relevant institutions, such as the Building & Construction Authority, the Singapore Green Building Council, the Singapore Institute of Architects and the Urban Redevelopment Authority, among others; and iii) to attend the BEX Asia trade fair (14-16 September 2011).

ICEX promotes 14 Spanish companies in Singapore's BroadcastAsia

From http://www.icex.es/icex/cda/controller/pageICEX/0,6558,5518394_5519005_6366453_4496959,00.html (in Spanish)

From June 21st to 24th, 2011, Singapore will simultaneously host BroadcastAsia and CommunicAsia, two of the world leading trade fairs devoted to the broadcasting and communication sectors. The Multisectoral Association of Companies of Electronics and Information and Communication Technologies (AMETIC) , together with the Spanish Institute of Foreign Trade (ICEX) are jointly promoting a 200 m2 pavillion for the 14 Spanish companies attending the event. BroadcastAsia will showcase a wide variety of broadcasting products, including satellite and cable, as well as high definition and multimedia products, whereas CommunicAsia, will offer a global platform for the display of the latest digital technology related to telecommunications and information technologies. A summary of these events, including contact information, can be downloaded at a specific ICEX page.

Singapore Airlines refuses to become a Spanair stockholder

From http://www.expansion.com/2011/05/04/catalunya/1304492852.html (in Spanish)

Swee Wah Mak, Executive Vice President of Commercial at Singapore Airlines Ltd., has denied that rumours that were indicating that Singapore Arlines might become a stockholder of the Star Alliance member, Spanair. Singapore Arlines will remain as a commercial partner of Spanair and values the opportunity that Barcelona airport of El Prat offers as an alternative hub to the Madrid Barajas airport for flights to South America. Sales of Singapore Arlines in 2010 totalled 7.2 billion euros and the net profit reached 122 million euros.

Top Catalan chef Santi Santamaria dies in Singapore

From http://www.catalannewsagency.com/news/life-style/catalan-chef-santi-santamaria-7-michelin-stars-dies-53 (in English)

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="440"] Santi Santamaría (Image from Adostiempos - Boletín de Cultura Gastronómica)[/caption]

7-Michelin star Catalan chef Santi Santamaria died suddenly at 53 in his restuarant in Singapore, possibly by a heart attack. A passionate supporter of traditional catalan cuisine, he started his way to stardom in 1981 when he transformed his family restaurant in Sant Celoni into the today 3-Michelin star El Racó de Can Fabes. He also got 2 stars for his restaurant Santceloni (Madrid), 1 for Tierra (Toledo) and 1 for Evo (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat). He also recently opened a restaurant in Dubai called Ossiano, and the one in Singapore, Santi, where he found his death. In the recent years he had a bitter controversy with another stellar Catalan chef, Ferran Adrià, with whom he clashed because of their opposite cooking approach. All the well-known Catalan chefs, Adrià included, have mourned his untimely death. Adrià has also scheduled a tribute to Santamaria on February 21, 2010, in the Girona's Fòrum Gastronòmic.

Aigua del Montseny enters asian markets

From http://www.expansion.com/2011/01/24/catalunya/1295871196.html (in Spanish)

After starting its distribution in other european countries such as Germany, France, Italy and Andorra, mineral water brand Aigua del Montseny will now enter the asian markets. Its distributor in Spain, Chocolat Factory, will also be responsible for the introduction of this brand in Singapore.

Comparing Spain with East Asian countries

The website www.ifitweremyhome.com allows interesting comparisons between all the countries in the world. Here there are the links of the comparison of Spain with several east asian countries:

• China: http://www.ifitweremyhome.com/compare/CN/ES


• Taiwan: http://www.ifitweremyhome.com/compare/TW/ES


• Hong-Kong: http://www.ifitweremyhome.com/compare/HK/ES


• Singapore: http://www.ifitweremyhome.com/compare/SG/ES


• Malaysia: http://www.ifitweremyhome.com/compare/MY/ES


• Japan: http://www.ifitweremyhome.com/compare/JP/ES

E-commerce Catalan company Trilogi sets office in Beijing

From http://www.expansion.com/2011/01/11/catalunya/1294782696.html (in Spanish)

E-commerce Catalan company Trilogi has decided to open an office in Beijing during 2011, as a first step towards establishing itself in the Chinese market. Trilogi already has an office in Hong Kong and from both the company is aiming at Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia markets on the mid-term. The prospects for chinese e-commerce are extremely favourable, since there are estimations that say that by 2015 it will already be the main sales channel in China.

Catalonia, strategic destination for Hong Kong and Singapore companies

From http://www.acc10.cat/ACC1O/cat/empresa-ACC1O/premsa/noticies-notes-premsa/101201x.jsp (in Catalan)

Some 40 local companies have recently attended the conference "Barcelona-Catalonia, Gateway to Europe", which was organized in Hong Kong and was aimed at promoting Catalonia as a strategic area for company investments. Another conference, "Barcelona-Catalonia, the Logistics Hub in Europe", was organized in Singapore the following day and was aimed at highlighting Catalonia as a main logistic center in southern Europe. The Catalan delegation included top staff from Invest in Catalonia and the municipality of Barcelona.  The conference in Singapore was organized in collaboration with Singapore Logistics Association and Singapore Airlines Cargo, who explained the reasons of their investments in Catalonia, and had the participation of representatives of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, currently the most important logistic center in the world.

Official data on Singapore economy in 2010

From http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/360335,economy-grows-147-cent.html (in English)

Former estimations have been confirmed and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that Singapore economy grew by a record 14.7% in 2010. He also highlighted the measures undertaken to support the low- and medium-income population through public assistance schemes and lower tax rates. Estimations for growth in 2011 range between 4 and 6%.

40% increase in Singapore's manufacturing production

From http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/359620,singapores-manufacturing-output-jumps-40-per-cent.html (in English)

Pharmaceutical sector was the main responsable for the overall 39.8% increase year-on-year in November 2010 of the manufacuting output in Singapore, 10% more than the previous month. November's growth of output in the pharmaceutical sector accounted for a spectacular 189% year-on-year. Government's estimations about the growth of Singapore's overall economy in 2010 are at 15%.

Forecast for Singapore economy

From http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/353724,exports-surge-35-october.html and http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/354061,economic-growth-slow-year.html (in English)

Despite the huge increase in exports (35%) in October 2010, mainly to European Union countries and to United States, Singapore economy is expected to slow down next year. Estimations of the evolution of GDP in 2011 show a growth of 4-6%, which represents 1/3 of the growth rate of GDP expected for 2010, estimated at 15%.

Air China and Thai Airways soon to land at Barcelona airport

From http://www.expansion.com/2010/11/07/empresas/1289126461.html (in Spanish)

President of Star Alliance Jaan Albrecht has declared that the negotiations to have Air China and Thai Airways landing on Barcelona's El Prat airport are advancing at a fast pace. The alliance is willing to expand flying connections from Barcelona, led by its member Spanair, and convert this airport on an international hub. Barcelona airport has also an strategic interest for the connection between Latin America and East Asia and, starting on March 2011, Singapore Airlines will fly from Singapore to Sao Paulo with a stop in Barcelona. Spain is the third largest market for Star Alliance in Europe, right after Germany and United Kingdom.

Singapore, best country for business

From http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/351950,list-places-do-business.html (in English)

According to a press release from the World Bank, Singapore has been chosen as the best country for business for fifth consecutive year. Singapore is followed by Hong Kong and New Zealand, which speaks about the outstanding performance of East Asian and Pacific economies. Great Britain and United States of America complete the five top positions. According to the Doing Busines report for 2011, Kazakhstan was the country that improved business regulation the most in the past year.