[Event] CE Hot Sectors for 2012

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What to do when your Singapore Passport is GONE? A China View

What it feels like to lose your Passport +Visa:

HELPLESS because of the visa, (be prepared to go around) BUT PROUD TO BE SINGAPOREAN because of the passport. (Singapore embassy and ICA will do their utmost best to help their citizens abroad, though sometimes the local staff might not be so friendly). I am truly thankful that I am situated in the Capital City of China, Beijing, where Singapore put our embassy at.

When you lose your passport, Firstly you have to go to a dozens of 派出所 police stations because no one really wants to open a case for you. FYI, the place you DISCOVERED that you lost your passport is the branch you need to go to, not the place you actually lost it. Get the police officers to call the branches that they redirect you to and tell their colleagues what you need instead of doing it yourself or going straight there only to find out that you need to go back again. If you intend to stay in a hotel, most of them will require you to show the lost report. This report can only be obtained for the Main Branch Police Station of your district, and the police report you had previously will not suffice. Hotels will also not even let you talk to the ONLY visa officer in charge of hotels and hostels, meaning there is no such thing as exceptions and case-by-case. What’s new, I should have realised it already. It is really rare in China.

My colleagues in China says that if they lose their 户口 here, it will take months before it can be replaced.

The whole of China knows that it is very troublesome when a foreigner loses their passport in China, what more a foreigner with a visa to stay in China, what they call 居留许可。

For example, I called up six times to ask the Visa office staff what is required for my application. They said that a 照会, official letter from the embassy will mean that I can skip the second step of filing a lost report at the Haidian Police Main Branch.

Letter from the Embassy

I went there anyway just in case; It was highly guarded but the people were smoking inside the station and no one really knew what I needed nor cared till I burst out crying, they were even asking why I need the form if my super efficient Singapore ICA and embassy has already issued me my new passport within 7days. I feel that the police officer should have never raised his voice at me.

Report Loss Form from Police HQ at Ulu Bagou.

I eventually found out that the Visa office will reject my application if I did not have this lost form. I also had to pay 210yuan to put my name and visa number up in a newspaper in order for the office to process my order. The space allocated is smaller than the top edge of an iPhone4. This money spent is on top of 400yuan charged for the replacement of your visa.

Visa Application Form

Lastly, If you’re a student, you cannot just apply straight at the office. Your application has to be first approved by an officer at the visa office, then printed out by the school, stamped by the foreign students teacher in charge before you can proceed to the office to apply. In this aspect I really have to thank the visa affairs lady at Tsinghua, thank you for updating me on my application status ASAP and also getting the teacher to stamp the application. Thank you really (:

When you get depressed and frustrated with all the procedures and places you have to go to collect the millions of forms, tell yourself to understand that China is huge and people need jobs and they need the inefficiency to cope with the demands of their service. But seriously, sometimes there is only so much we can understand, then tell yourself that China is only making you stronger. It really does, because you will start appreciate the efficiency that you take for granted (:

When you have come through everything, have a good meal or get your friend to treat you to a good meal and pat yourself on the back, you survived yet another trial in China! Woohoo! For me, I was lucky that Vanessa, who is our NOCBJ05 Mama accompanied me through half the journey. She even treated me to Japanese Buffet and brought me to Laupatsat for Singaporean food to cheer me up :) I miss you!

I would also like to thank my awesome happy family Jason, Dennis and my Beijing friends who offered their help in someway or another, Sg embassy Mr Lee, ICA Ms Rosni, dearest boyfriend for getting up early to make payment to DHL, my boss for offering emotional consolation by relating his experiences and Maverick China for giving me time off work to attend to this matter, Tsinghua staff and nice police officers. Thank you!

{The author is currently having her visa processed by the bureau, she really hopes that everything goes well and she can really get her visa 10 working days later on 16 Jan :) }

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[Event] CE Entrepreneur 101: The Secrets of Raising Capital in 2012

China Entrepreneurs Event

 

YEAN is an official media partner of CE Entrepreneur 101: The Secrets of Raising Capital in 2012, Beijing, happening on January 12, 2012. Click to Register

Please Note: This Event Will Be Conducted in Chinese

 

In 2011, so far there have been over 800 investments made in Chinese companies from venture capital and private equity funds totaling almost $6 billion. The ability of both USD and RMB funds to invest in early and growth stage companies is changing as previously invested enterprises gain access to public markets and those funds secure exits. 2011 so far has been a difficult year for public markets- how have entrepreneurs been impacted in their ability to raise needed capital to grow and scale their businesses? Join us as we discuss how early and growth stage companies should modify their fund raising plans for 2012.
2011年至今,已有逾800项风险投资与私募基金投资于中国公司,共计近60亿美元。随着被注资公司纷纷上市,或被大型企业收购,美元基金与人民币基金亦“功成身退”, 继而转向对其他早期与成长期企业的投资。而另一方面,2011年公开市场却不尽乐观—融资,作为企业家促进企业成长、扩大公司规模的重要手段,将会受到怎样的影响?加入我们,共同交流探讨早期企业与成长期企业如何调整2012年融资计划。

 

Agenda:
日程安排:
18:00-18:30 Registration / 签到注册
18:30-19:00 Presentation: Growth in 2012
演讲 :备战2012,增加企业经营创收
19:00-20:00 Panel: Finding the Right Financing Strategy for 2012
专题:2012融资策略探讨
20:00-21:00 Networking and Refreshments
来宾交流及饮品服务

 

Confirmed Speakers:
确认演讲嘉宾:

 

- Jackie Chen
Partner of Taishan Capital
泰山投资,合伙人
- Justin Niu
Vice President of IDG Capital
IDG资本,副总裁
- Yunlong Ran / 冉云龙
Investment Director of Jiuding Capital
九鼎投资,投资总监
- Jason Liu / 刘建华
President of Morley Morgan Capital & Investment Group Ltd; Guest Professor of Tsinghua University
摩立摩根资本与投资集团,中国区总裁;清华大学做客教授
- Chris Pu
Director of Intel Capital
英特尔投资,投资总监
- William Kazer
Editor of Dow Jones Newswires

 

Event Details:
Date: January 12, 2012
Time: 18:00-21:00
Venue: Garage Cafe, Floor 2, Xin Ding Hotel, 30 meters South of Haohai Mansion, Southeast Corner of Haidian Bridge
Price: One Drink
Contact: Annie Cao, +8610-85306215/16/17-210
Email: registrations@ce-online.cn
论坛详情:
日期:2012年1月12日
时间:18:00-21:00
地点:海淀桥东南角昊海楼南30米鑫鼎宾馆2层
车库咖啡
票价:一杯茶饮或咖啡
联系方式:曹涵,+8610-85306215/16/17-210
邮箱注册:registrations@ce-online.cn

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China’s Economic Future – The Coin Toss

Arthur Kroeber, Managing Director of GK Dragonomics and Editor of the China Economic Quarterly shared, in a breakfast seminar co-organised by IsCham Beijing, the German Chamber of Commerce and the Swedish Chamber of Commerce, his opinions on where China is headed, economically in the years ahead and what the Chinese government could do to stay on its current track of rapid growth.

Kroeber strongly believes that China still possesses the potential to sustain a 7-8% average real GDP growth annually over the next decade. Coupled with Beijing’s recent introductions of various productivity-boosting policies, the Middle Kingdom looks poised to replace the US as the world’s largest economy by the year 2020.

Kroeber also mentioned that there are five common misconceptions that the public generally share about China’s economy that should be clarified.

1 – China is a huge investment bubble waiting to pop.

Kroeber stated that while it’s true that China is currently receiving massive amount of foreign investment funds, her capital stock is still relatively very low. China’s current per capita capital stock is actually at less than half of what the US was at in the beginning of the Great Depression when Wall Street crashed in October 1929 and is only about a fifth of Japan’s at the beginning of its bust in the year 1990.

Compared to the figures of many other developed countries, China is struggling in this department and in fact, requires even more investments just to keep up with these countries. He added that China’s investment efficiency is, in aggregate, well within the normal range.

2 – A housing bubble is building

Kroeber has a different view on the current housing situation in China, though he does not deny that it’s a problem, especially in the more urbanised parts of the country. Kroeber feels that there is a shortage of homes, despite what many believe as a housing bubble. Out of China’s urban population of 225 million, only about 150 million are properly housed and instead of constructing more low cost houses to address the issue, China is opting to erect more high-end accommodations in its place.

3 – China has too much debt

Kroeber feels that Beijing’s debt is still at a manageable level, even after the recent introduction of a stimulus package. Although the average local government’s debt increased significantly from 17% of GDP in 2008 to 36% in 2010, it has not produce any significant adverse effects on the economy due to the dramatic shrinking of the contingent liability from bank NPLs. In addition, unlike the US and Europe, most of the debts incurred by China are used to finance the setting up of infrastructures to further boost its economy.

4 – Consumer purchase rates are falling

Kroeber pointed out that critics have been too fixated on the fall of the private consumption portion of China’s GDP and overlooked the accelerated growth in real per capita consumption during the same period of time. China’s fall in consumption ratio is no different to that of other Asian countries after undergoing rapid industrialisation.

5 – China is at risk of falling into the middle income trap

Kroeber justified the opposite by citing examples from a few North-East Asian countries where the typical catch-up growth slows down at 55-60% of US GDP. With China only at 20% of US GDP, it will take another decade or two before its period of fast catch-up growth ceased. Plus, there are no convincing evidences to suggest that China is falling into the middle income trap.

However, Kroeber also highlighted some challenges that China might face in its pursuit of economic superiority. A rather major one would be the deteriorating size of its population. Apart from that, China can no longer just leverage on the boom of global economies like they did in the past because of the increasingly bleak world financial conditions.  Kroeber suggests that China should continue its efforts to improve productivity, and that Beijing will need to introduce policy reforms in China’s housing and financial sectors.

So, the question remains – will China live up to its expectations of being the next big thing? Or will it fizzle out in the face of competition? At this point in time, the answer could very well be determined with a simple coin toss. But one thing’s for sure, if China’s government fail to make the necessary changes, its explosive growth will slow down and ultimately come to a halt.

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A Good Morning and Beijing Shop Fronts

It was another regular workday as I scoot-ed my way to work. As I came to a stop at a junction, a perky and rousing music caught my ears. It was coming out of a shop called 北京同仁堂 (A popular Chinese medicine shop). The staff had ‘fall-in’ outside the shop. From afar, they seem to be flinging their hands and feet in an almost 3/4 hearted unison. I couldn’t help but stare and wonder in awe: just why are they doing what seemed to be morning exercise, in front of a major road junction, complete with flyover and expressway, amidst the horn orchestra of Beijing’s Traffic.

The light turned green and I humbly scoot-ed away, wondering when was the last time I exercised.

Video Link : Morning Exercise outside 北京同仁堂

Posted in Photo(s) Of The Day/Week, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Closing the Entrepreneurial Gap – See you there!

Closing the Entrepreneurial Gap Series brings you first-hand opinions from the tech industry leaders in China, on technological innovation, idea and execution. Entrepreneurs and businessmen based in Beijing will share what it takes to succeed in this land of opportunities. This event is hosted by the Young Entrepreneurs Association of the National University of Singapore.

REGISTER HERE

Big shout-out and thanks to:-

Ben and Jason from the TechNode team – http://technode.com/2011/11/14/closing-the-entrepreneurial-gap-series-i/
Kai from TechRicehttp://techrice.com/2011/11/14/event-closing-the-entrepreneurial-gap-friday-nov-18-in-beijing/
Calvin from mobiSightshttp://www.mobisights.com/2011/11/14/3062/3062

You guys are too awesome :)

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[EVENT] Closing the Entrepreneurial Gap Series

 

Closing the Entrepreneurial Gap Series brings you first-hand opinions from the tech industry leaders in China, on technological innovation, idea and execution. Entrepreneurs and businessmen based in Beijing will share what it takes to succeed in this land of opportunities.

 

Closing the Entrepreneurial Gap I

DATE: 18 November 2011

TIME: 3:30pm – 6:30pm

VENUE: Carnegie Hall, Level 3, Wenjin Hotel, South Gate of Tsinghua University

REGISTER: Admission is free, register at http://yean-gewbj.eventbrite.com/

 

Programme Outline

1530h – 1600h: Registration

1600h – 1610h: Introduction and Keynote

1610h – 1630h: Opening Speech by Prof. Wong Poh Kam, Director, NUS Entrepreneurship Centre

1630h – 1650h: Speech by Casper Johansen, Leveraging on the Available Resources in China

1650h – 1710h: Speech by Stephen Wang, Ups and Downs of Serial Entrepreneurship

1710h – 1730h: Speech by Lee Sze Chin, Start-up Scene and Gov Support/Incentives for ICT Start-ups in Singapore

1730h – 1745h: Break/Refreshments

1745h – 1815h: Panel Session

1815h – 1830h: Closing Speech

 

Profiles of Speakers

Mr. Casper Johansen – Founder, Seravia & President, Entrepreneurs’ Organisation (Beijing Chapter)

Mr. Stephen Wang – Co-Founder of Alive.cn, Co-Founder of Rotten Tomatoes & Serial Entrepreneur

Mr. Lee Sze Chin – Country Director, Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (Shanghai)

 

Closing the Entrepreneurial Gap II

DATE: 18 November 2011

TIME: 6:30pm – 8:00pm

VENUE: Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium, NUS University Town

REGISTER: Admission is free, register at http://yean-gewnus.eventbrite.com/

 

Programme Outline

1830h – 1845h: Introduction to Speakers

1845h – 1900h: Speech by James Tan, Sino-Singapore Partnership

1900h – 1915h: Speech by Cyril Ebersweiler, Start-up Ecosystem in China for Foreign Entries

1915h – 1930h: Speech by James Tong, Survival in the Chinese Tech Industry

1930h – 1950h: Speakers will be invited back on stage for Q&A Session

1950h – 2000h: Closing Speech

 

Profiles of Speakers

Mr James Tong – President, Asia at Dextryxs (Top 5 Software Outsourcing/Developer Company in China)

Mr. James Tan – Co-founder, 55tuan.com (Top 5 Group-buying site in China)

Mr. Cyril Ebersweiler – Founder, GM at Chinaccelerator (Incubator/Accelerator based in Dalian)

Don’t miss out!

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Event: Closing the Entrepreneurial Gap 2



 

 

 

 

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Photo of the Day

Tianjin Eye overlooking the Hai River

天津之眼摩天轮望着海河

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