Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can look forward to upgrading their leadership and management expertise through SPRING Singapore’s new $20 million Management Development Programme (MDP). Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Minister-in-charge-of Entrepreneurship, Mr. Lee Yi Shyan launched this new back to business school initiative at the inaugural SPRING Enterprise Conference on 5 April 2007. Having identified people technology innovation and financing as the top three tools to facilitate the growth of SMEs this MDP aims to equip SME leaders- the CEOs and key managers- with appropriate knowledge and general management expertise to give them an edge in today’s globalised economy.

Welcoming this new programme Mr. Ragini Dhanvantray CEO of Rikvin Consultancy said ‘Singapore has again demonstrated its commitment to review, revise, and revitalize its policies and resources to remain the most resourceful business hub for startup companies as well as long established companies of all sizes’. He also said that Singapore policy makers have rightly identified that nurturing human resource is the key to attract new investment as well as to sustain its position as the most resourceful hub to conduct business.

Singapore government not only nurtures the local human resources, but also fosters foreign talent. The latest Personalized Employment Pass (PEP), from 1 January 2007 to help attract global talent. The PEP facilitates selected Employment Pass holders to continue working in Singapore. The PEP will be granted to suitable EP holders or foreigners who have graduated from local institutions of higher learning, and have worked in Singapore for a period of time. Unlike Employment Pass (EP) the PEP will not be tied to a specific employer.

Singapore’s dedication to develop, and retain the human resource does not stop at cultivating the local and attracting the foreign professional talent, but also welcomes foreign entrepreneurs by issuing Entrepass, a scheme launched in the year 2003. The EntrePass is the Singapore version of the Employment Pass for foreign entrepreneurs, who would like to start businesses and reside in Singapore. Designed to facilitate the entry and stay of entrepreneurs who are ready to start a new business, the EntrePass, with an initial validity period of up to two years, is issued on the viability of the Business Plan that the applicants submit. So far there are over 2000 successful Entrepass applicants who are in the process of making their fortune, with Singapore as their springboard into Asia.

Singapore is ranked 1st for the ease of doing business in Asia (World Bank report: "Doing Business 2007: How to Reform") and 1st for being the least bureaucratic place for doing business in Asia (Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, June 2006). These are remarkable testimonial to Singapore’s reputation as the ideal location for any business.

Rikvin consultancy provides highly professional company incorporation services, both in attractive standard packages as well as customized services. Online incorporation being a hallmark service, other services of Rikvin include

• Offshore Incorporation
• Singapore Immigration -EntrePass / Employment Pass
• GST Registration
• Accounting Services
• Tax Planning & Consulting
• Business Plan Drafting

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About Rikvin consultancy Pte Ltd

Rikvin consultancy started in 1995 is an incorporation specialist specializing in company incorporation, registration and administration processing for all business types and sizes in Singapore and throughout the world. Rikvin facilitates foreign entrepreneurs’ immigration into Singapore by assisting in obtaining Entrepass fro themselves and their families and employment pass for their employees. Rikvin also provides a full range of accounting services for companies who require a complete and properly constructed set of financial statements for their business purposes. For further information visit http://www.rikvin.com