The Breakfast Grille

EU Ambassador and Head of EU Delegation to Malaysia, HE Luc Vandebon, discusses: - Bilateral trade - details - updates - Eurozone debt crisis - impact - surplus/deficit updates; - FTA / PCA - discussions - resolution - updates;  - FTA Challenges - government procurement - auto sector - services - issues;  - Election outcome - potential for administration change - how alter EU stance - la...

Cheng & Co Chartered Accountants Managing Partner, Dr Chua Hock Hoo, discusses: - Strategy of growth via mergers and acquisition - challenges - staffing - funding; - Managing growth; - Growing and maintaining work culture - vision; - USPs -- Big 6 firms and local firms - STRATEGY; - Services - issues - full range business services – ‘Halal Consulting’ and ‘Document Ware...

Alfonso Vegara is an architect, urban planner, economist, sociologist and president of Fundación Metrópoli, which is a Spanish foundation dedicated to studying future of cities around the world, as well as working with cities on issues of innovation and competitiveness. On the Breakfast Grille, he discusses: -- why cities now the engine of the global economy -- how it is no longer co...

I&P Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB). It was formed in May 2009 after the successful mergers and rationalisation exercise between three companies -- Island & Pennisular, Pelangi & Petaling Garden. Dato' Ir. Jamaludin Osman, Group Managing Director of I&P Group, discusses: -- I&P's landbank -- New projects and rollout schedule -- Strategy an...

The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), previously known as Malaysian Industrial Development Authority, is the government's principal agency to oversee and drive foreign and domestic investment into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Datuk Noharuddin Nordin the CEO of MIDA on the Breakfast Grille, discusses: -- MIDA's role -- The difference between MIDA and InvestKL...

Schneider Electric Malaysia Country President, Peter Cave, discusses: - Global slowdown - impact on global business; - Reports - Schneider and Daimler - among industrial bellwethers to cut (previous) full-year targets due weaker demand - western Europe, China - feedback; - Despite slowdown - group results still holding up - positive returns of over 20% since 2008 -- productivity gains, cost pass-t...

Ugonna Hosten, founder of Ugo's Boutique, talks about her entrepreneurial journey from civil service to bag designer who seeks inspiration from African designs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Breakfast Grille is Cesar Harada, environmentalist and the inventor of Protei. Protei is a shape-shifting sailing robot to clean up oil spils and the ocean.  It is a ground-breaking technology as it is using wind power and a shape-shifting hull to propel itself, pulling a long scientific payload or ocean-clean-up equipment.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Breakfast Grille is Bob Pain, the Managing Director of Investors Trust Assurance, a Cayman Island-based international insurance company. He discusses ITA’s business proposition, products and services, as well as its recent move into the Malaysian market.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richard Saul Wurman tells why his www conference is better than Ted, the conferences he founded in the 80s and which he sold the rights in 2002.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Breakfast Grille, Martin Marmolejo, founder of MMA Global Investment Management, discuss his new book Globalization: Opportunities & Implications, The ABCs to a Global Social Revolution. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monin Owner and President Olivier Monin discusses: - The business of gourmet flavours;  - Third generation - grandfather founded the firm -- details; - 140 Markets around the world -- details;  - Applications - home -- restaurants - bars - coffee - issues;  - Malaysia - set up in 2009 -- growth since then;  - Location - KL - good - choice between 6 countries - TH / SG / PH / VN...

In this Dec 2012 interview, Emery Oleochemicals CEO Dr. Kongkrapan Intarajang, Ph. D, discusses: - Oleos generally;  - Benefits - located - No.2 global producer of palm oil;  - Indonesian government’s cut - export tax rates of crude and refined palm oils - competition concerns;  - Indonesia cutting the gap with Malaysia - oleochemicals production - address imbalance with Malay...

Pantech Group Holdings Bhd ED Adrian Tan discusses:  - Starting life as a pipe trader - evolved into a manufacturer - what prompted the move up the value chain;  - Decision to expand into stainless steel manufacturing - decision drivers;  - Difficulties of learning a new business -- teething pains -- progress -- DETAILS;  - Acquisition of Nautic -- developments - expansion with...

Ogilvy & Mather is one of the largest advertising networks in the world, with more than 450 offices in over 170 cities. Anand Badami, Group Managing Director of Ogilvy & Mather Malaysia, talks about the agency's approach and their recent award-winning campaigns. He also discusses issues in talent management, trends in advertising expenditure and the overall creative industry in Malaysia. S...

Taha Bouqdib, President and Co-founder of TWG TeaWithin four years, TWG Tea established 15 gourmet stores across the world, and is served in five star hotels in Singapore. Taha Bouqdib tells his strategy in establishing TWG as a fine tea brand in the minds of its customers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia Head, Hilke Jannsen, discusses:  - Mechanics of business - fundraising - costs - profit margins; - High-risk business - regulation;  - Migration from conventional lenders - proposition - USPs;  - Quoted as saying aiming for portfolio of E500m - 2017 -- and 25% penetration - Details;  - Due diligence - process; - Default / delinquency ra...

In this Dec 2012 interview, Bufori Motor Car Company Managing Director Gerry Khouri discusses: - Update to business; - Production - R&D - market demand; - Handmade - production time - challenges; - Local manufacturing - misunderstanding - knowledge deficit - issues - component procurement - customs - challenges; - Importance of passion - whether doused due to policies - govt blockages; - Auto...

Dorsett Hospitality International President and Executive Director Winnie Chiu discusses: - 3- to 4- Star Segment positioning; - ‘Chinese Wallet’ strategy - reported global slowdown; - Rooms - portfolio - inventory - revenue management; - Rates structure - comparables - price brackets; - Owners - ‘feel’ the hotel industry; - Reaching optimal market mix - strategy; - 95% of...

Moorad Choudhry, Treasurer at Corporate Banking Division at The Royal Bank of Scotland, discusses: - Lower-return regime - primary challenge facing banks right now; - Reduction in value-added proposition in certain sectors or products - withdraw - job losses; - Strategy proposition - back-to-basics mode - less focus on Return on Equity and more on genuine value-added -  e.g. risk-adjusted ROE...

Stanley Fischer, Governor of the Bank of Israel, the central bank, and former Deputy Managing Director of the IMF, discusses his growth outlook for US and the Eurozone, and developments in Israel, and thoughts on the two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

KKR & Co, one of the largest private equity firms in the world, opens an office in Singapore. Ming Lu, the head of the Southeast Asian operations, talks about the type of companies KKR would invest in, whether they would need to scale down their expectations in Malaysia, and how to convince Asian families to share ownership. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Etiqa Insurance and Takaful Bhd CEO Hans De Cuyper discusses: - Insurance industry - perceptions - Insurance Agent - motivation - remuneration - review of agents commission; - Broad industry growth: conventional vs takaful - update; - Targets: gross written premiums - AUMs - issues - details; - PRS - issues; - Investment income - low-rate environment - strategy - repercussion - pricing; - Investib...

In this 2012 interview, Glomac Bhd GMD/CEO Datuk FD Iskandar discusses: - Sentiment - said to be shifting to medium-end and into landed from high-rise - whether true; - Glomac - said to be a firm in the mid-level, positioning-wise - wisdom of strategy; - Rates - outlook - still expansionary - China booming - imported inflation in 2013; - Speculation clampdown - issues - RPGT (Budget 2013) issues -...

Dr Ami Klin, founder of Autism Science Foundation explains what causes autism and rules out that vaccination is a cause.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.