tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974190801944465582024-03-06T08:16:30.154+05:00SKA Ocean's Blogging | Motivation and Self ImprovementSyed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.comBlogger1688125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-57773448945595029552022-05-23T18:31:00.002+05:002022-05-23T18:31:31.828+05:00How much was 1 USD to PKR in 1947?| 1947-2022<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfOS1mxomU65EKoE743daW2v4BD0alfUHCJFEAu9STbitA72H0fGFYy5qoSVfS_KF5XoXsEIyhjvMxYTKYOc4a_pl-M3Z4gxd64fbQ3JxrzUH_Fn8ktqLqhGortFN_fiqBV_Fq78PTBsYrTr9KetDSUsYHByaIOtax81JZ5Ol2m1GMtM6wUjYmw/s1024/usd-pkr-bank-notes-1024x576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfOS1mxomU65EKoE743daW2v4BD0alfUHCJFEAu9STbitA72H0fGFYy5qoSVfS_KF5XoXsEIyhjvMxYTKYOc4a_pl-M3Z4gxd64fbQ3JxrzUH_Fn8ktqLqhGortFN_fiqBV_Fq78PTBsYrTr9KetDSUsYHByaIOtax81JZ5Ol2m1GMtM6wUjYmw/w640-h360/usd-pkr-bank-notes-1024x576.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />After the fall of British Raj Britain, India emerged as two independent states; Pakistan as a Muslim majority state and India as a Hindu majority state. Initially, both nations used the pre-existing currency note and coins with a stamp of Pakistan’s government. Later on, the state bank of Pakistan issued new banknotes in 1948. However, the US dollar has a long history and a solid background, yet 1 USD to PKR in 1947 was never equal. Even though after partition, 1 GBP was equal to 13.33 Pakistani Rupees and at that time and 1 USD to PKR in 1947 was 3.31 Pakistani Rupees. Probably it was the cheapest exchange rate in the history of USD and PKR relations.<p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Everyone in Pakistan knows that Before our independence British rules us. So when Pakistani people got independence, Pakistani people had adopted Sterling Pound. In 1947, 1 Sterling Pound is equal to 13.13 Pakistani rupee. At that Time, 1 Sterling Pound is equal to 4.03 US Dollars. So if we convert Pakistani rupee to USD according to Sterling Pound, 1 USD to PKR in 1947 was equal to Rs 3.31. Many people says that in 1947 1 USD was equal to 1 Pakistani rupee But this is not true.</div><p style="text-align: justify;">We already told you that in 1947 Pakistani government did not adopt USD as a foreign exchange currency. So you people might think that when Pakistani Government was adopted USD (Dollar) as a foreign exchange currency. Don’t worry, we will tell you everything about USD. If you are history Curious people you might know that in early 1970, USA economy dominated the whole world. So due to the USA Economy influence, On 17th September 1971 Pakistani government adopted USD as a Foreign Exchange Currency. After that we saw some time Pakistani Rupee was strengthening and Some time saw USD Dominating Pakistani rupee. On 6 Aug 2020, We saw one USD was equal to 168.8777 PKR, Which is highest till now.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>USD to PKR Relations</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">It's a misconception that the rate of 1 USD to PKR in 1947 at the time of independence was equal. However, Pakistan rupees pegged to Britain sterling and remained stable against the US dollar. The apparent reason was a strong backing from Britain pound to PKR that kept 1 USD to PKR in 1947 below 10 PKR.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Before the Bretton wood System's termination, the government pegged PKR to USD at a fixed rate and backed by the US gold. The PKR currency holds the status to convert into gold on demand, but later it attains floating currency. The floating currency means Fiat money, and the government balances the supply and demand and convertible against the agreed currency rate. Also central bank is responsible for buying and selling currency to maintain the range.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>First Elevation USD to PKR</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Later on, when President Zia UL Haq shifted the currency to a managed float, the USD against PKR suddenly elevated to peeks. In a Managed float, no country could keep the fixed-rate regime after Breton wood System collapsed. The Ultimate solution was to stay on managed float policy, and consequently, the PKR lost the value by 38.5%, and the cost of import suddenly rose. However, Pakistan's state bank stabilized the situation and maintained the current account surplus to push up the value of Pakistani rupees against USD.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>2nd Elevation Period</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Since 1982 the rate of 1 USD to PKR keeps rising compared to 1 USD to PKR in 1947. After the nuclear test in 2002 made the country influential, but its currency vulnerable, with meager reserves and specific freezing of resident foreign currency accounts. The dual exchange rate policy helped manage the chaotic period, consisting of an official exchange rate fixed at PKR 46/USD and a floating rate defined through demand and supply of foreign exchange in the interbank market. The alliance of Dual rates in May 1999 established a market-based floating exchange rate regime.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Perhaps the currency of Pakistan jolted severely in 2008 and termed as a disaster year for PKR. In this period, the PKR lost 23% of value against USD and fall to almost 79.2 Rs per USD. The main reason was that Militancy and Afghanistan and the US war after 9/11 impacted the Pakistan economy significantly.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The uncertain political conditions and lack of security depleted the foreign investments, and foreign exchange reserves fell disastrously. The ultimate option to get back from the scenario was to borrow money on interest and regain the foreign investor’s trust. However, it reduced Pakistan's economic independence and burdened the economy with excessive loans.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>3rd Elevations Current Status</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Perhaps at the time of independence, Pakistan was not stable politically, but the economy was fresh and long-lasting than today. Therefore, the least rate of 1 USD to PKR in 1947 is evidence of Pakistan's booming economy at that time. However, currently, the overwhelming loans and interests with unstable political conditions drive the economy to depend upon IMF plans. The PKR against USD is now at the lowest in history, around 1 USD to 160 RS.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Future Predictions of Pakistan Economy</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The fantasy that a more robust domestic currency makes a country strong is hard to dismiss from everybody's mind. Certainty is just the opposite of developing nations. More vulnerable money helps a country grow sustainably by provoking economic agents to invest in trading production and depressing import growth. Already Pakistan's government approved the 22nd IMF loan to control the balance of payment deficit and restore foreign reserves.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Therefore economists predicted a promising future of Pakistan's Economy and considered Pakistan as an emerging marketplace. Economists termed it a take-off stage, and it will turn low-income countries into middle-income countries in the next five years. Indeed, the USD to PKR is also on streamline and hopefully revive the same rate of 1 USD to PKR in 1947. With increasing trade system with Super Powers and stable economic environment preserves the exchange rate and maintains the stability.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-18549478436030197212019-07-28T14:23:00.000+05:002019-07-28T14:23:14.845+05:00Overseas Pakistanis to pay tax on all their mobile phones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-faTgejw6uiXasCdKfwSEKI31Fq_izFsir7mBd1nKGHDltTxHzeuFEx-2jEecI-2DuXjhQRhgw53cmPlPeGOj9VadGCpbQMh-x2Ehkz8Yej3RJhcR67LOQdSx_zpyfYLDhgxvggO/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-faTgejw6uiXasCdKfwSEKI31Fq_izFsir7mBd1nKGHDltTxHzeuFEx-2jEecI-2DuXjhQRhgw53cmPlPeGOj9VadGCpbQMh-x2Ehkz8Yej3RJhcR67LOQdSx_zpyfYLDhgxvggO/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>The Federal Board of Revenue has made a change in the personal baggage rules and as a result of that, overseas Pakistanis will now have to pay tax on every mobile phone they bring to the country.</b></div>
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Yes, you guessed that right. This is applicable even on your first or personal mobile phone, which was supposed to be exempt from Customs duties previously. The only exception is roaming. That is you don’t have to register your phone with the PTA nor pay any duty as long as you use your international SIM card and are on roaming. However, if you put local SIM into your mobile, you will have to register within 60 days.</div>
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The new rule, which came into effect on July 1, went largely unnoticed as only a small section of the press reported this development.</div>
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This change also explains why overseas Pakistanis, who had to pay tax after registering their first and only device with the PTA, have been expressing their frustration about this on social media. This is double taxation, they say, referring to their purchases on which they already pay taxes abroad.</div>
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<b>Related: <a href="https://syedkhurramaali.blogspot.com/2019/07/customs-to-charge-people-for-carrying.html" target="_blank">Customs to charge people for carrying extra mobile phones to Pakistan</a></b></div>
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Under the previous policy, overseas Pakistanis were allowed to bring one phone to Pakistan without paying any duties under the Personal Baggage Rule, but this exemption was removed following reports of misuse of the scheme. There were reports of people stealing passengers’ data to register imported phones so they could avoid paying taxes. This was happening at a large scale and was also reported by subscribers of SAMAA Digital on its social media pages.</div>
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To stop the misuse of this scheme, the government removed the exemption, a move that didn’t go down well with the overseas Pakistanis, who criticised it. Instead of stopping data theft, the government has deprived expats of this facility, they say.</div>
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The FBR couldn’t be reached for a comment, but an official familiar with the matter told SAMAA Digital that several arrests have been made in this regard in Karachi and Lahore. Immigration, travel agents and airlines all have passengers data. Who leaks data is difficult to find, he said. What items should be allowed under this scheme is the prerogative of the government, he added.</div>
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Overseas Pakistanis can still bring five phones per the calendar year, but now they have to pay duties on each.</div>
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By changing the rule, the government has closed another door for importers and traders of smuggled phones. The import of smuggled mobiles is in hundreds of thousands, which cost the government a lot as no taxes are paid on these mobile phones. All this at a time when the government is running a massive budget deficit (more than Rs3,000 billion) because of a low tax base– smuggled goods are one of the reasons for low tax revenue.</div>
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<b>Related: <a href="https://syedkhurramaali.blogspot.com/2019/07/overseas-pakistanis-must-pay-duty-on.html" target="_blank">Overseas Pakistanis must pay duty on extra mobile phones: Fawad Chaudhry</a></b></div>
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To deal with this, the PTA and the FBR warned traders and buyers that they would block all smuggled phones that weren’t registered by January 15. The government ran an awareness campaign for months, asking consumers already in possession of such phones to register their devices before the deadline. The PTA says it didn’t block their phones nor charge any tax. However, people owning any phones that were bought or switched on after this deadline were given two months to register and pay taxes and were blocked if they failed to comply.</div>
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Mass blocking of smuggled phones by the PTA led to panic among both traders and consumers. Traders started negotiations with the FBR but could not reach any agreement. Last week, traders of mobile phones went on a shutter down strike in protest.</div>
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<b>On this issue, SAMAA Digital asked the traders to clarify some queries.</b></div>
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<b>Disputed tax rates, who to believe?</b></div>
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The FBR chairperson wants tax worth Rs20,000 to be imposed on a device, traders, however, say they should be charged no more than Rs400. Here is one possible explanation for that: the FBR system generates tax payment receipt electronically by using your device’s international mobile equipment identity (IMEI). In case of a smuggled phone, the IMEI number can be fake or modified. For example, you may have bought a Rs4,000 phone but the IMEI number it carries is of Samsung Note 7. The system will generate tax receipt based on the IMEI number and assume it is Note 9 thus you may end up paying Rs40,000 or even higher tax on your handset.</div>
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Talking about this issue, Muhammad Rizwan, who is the president of Karachi Electronics Dealers Association, the body representing mobile phone traders on the discussion forum, said the government can block such IMEIs, but they should consider devices with a genuine IMEI number because it is not necessary that it is tampered with in all smuggled devices. A genuine IMEI number can be verified on the Global System for Mobile Communications’ (GSMA) website.</div>
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You (traders) don’t seem to pay due taxes as evident from the statement of FBR chairperson. Is this true?</div>
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“This is not correct,” Rizwan said.</div>
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He explained that the traders Rs400 demand was for a device worth Rs2,000, and not for the ones that cost Rs20,000 as stated by the FBR chairperson. “We want to pay tax and come under the tax net,” he said.</div>
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<b>Why haven’t you stopped selling smuggled phones?</b></div>
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This was the job of Customs to stop smuggling. If they did it, traders would automatically shift to legal imports, he claimed.</div>
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Secondly, they have been blocking mobile devices based on the January 15 deadline, but the related SRO (government directive) was issued in May, which doesn’t make sense, Rizwan said. If they issued the directive earlier, it would’ve saved all of us from the mess we are in. About half of our shops are shut already and many people have lost their jobs.</div>
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<b>Why sell smuggled phones in the first place?</b></div>
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They are cheap and people can’t afford to pay Rs40,000 for a reliable smartphone, but they are happy to buy the second-hand (used) version of the same phone for Rs15,000, Rizwan explained. As per traders’ estimates, 80% users in the market like to buy a second-hand phone.</div>
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There are no two opinions about the unlimited benefits of smartphone technology. By taxing these devices, you make them expensive thus deprive the poor of using the latest technology. Besides, we are open to paying taxes and want to come under the tax net, he said.</div>
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<b>What to do with the blocked phones?</b></div>
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The people whose mobile phones have been blocked can get it unblocked online at PTA’s website or by visiting either PTA or FBR offices. Both these options are available for those physically present in Pakistan.</div>
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<b>What to do if you want to buy a used/smuggled phone?</b></div>
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Before making the payment, check the device’s IMEI number and send it to 8484. If its status is PTA comply, buy it. If it shows non-compliant, you have two options: don’t buy or check the amount of tax you will need to pay after purchasing it.</div>
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You can register the device at PTA’s website and the system will generate a tax slip, this will tell you how much you pay in total.</div>
Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0London, UK51.5073509 -0.1277582999999822351.1912379 -0.77320529999998222 51.8234639 0.51768870000001777tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-91443543562351541262019-07-28T14:18:00.000+05:002019-07-28T14:18:13.289+05:00Customs to charge people for carrying extra mobile phones to Pakistan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXRXMjAdMsp53JjxJYeRZDKMDlu12FTnWhAV43SMVAktJWmJSg9R-_Pctgr4ui0sQZqpqmC6v-PGI_Iby0YQm6U3WjSjQK3a2S9J0Qn41t6TZCf3Hi_6ijorI7jp-FFk1HSeDyO7M/s1600/How-to-register-mobile-in-PTA-1280x720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXRXMjAdMsp53JjxJYeRZDKMDlu12FTnWhAV43SMVAktJWmJSg9R-_Pctgr4ui0sQZqpqmC6v-PGI_Iby0YQm6U3WjSjQK3a2S9J0Qn41t6TZCf3Hi_6ijorI7jp-FFk1HSeDyO7M/s320/How-to-register-mobile-in-PTA-1280x720.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>In a move that has kept the expats as well as Pakistanis, who frequently travel abroad on their toes, the government has started charging a significantly high duty on smartphones being brought to Pakistan.</b></div>
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It is applicable to everyone from commercial importers to passengers travelling to Pakistan. All expats coming to Pakistan for New Year’s celebration or a Pakistani returning from an official trip abroad will have to pay the duty if they are carrying additional smartphones.</div>
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If you are only carrying one mobile phone, then you won’t have to pay the duty. However, if you are carrying more then you will have to pay the tax on them. You will also not be allowed to carry more than five mobile phones in a year.</div>
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Overseas Pakistanis must pay duty on extra mobile phones: Fawad Chaudhry</div>
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The duty structure is complex, but don’t worry as SAMAA Digital has done the math for you. If you are carrying an extra mobile phone worth Rs40,000, you will have to pay another Rs16,100 or 40% in different duties and taxes, which will take its overall cost to Rs56,100. The duty for every set varies depending upon its price. The following table can be helpful in finding out how much you will pay for the mobile phone:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92xIIYY8L6KZLsTwig4IzEjPIJTKUiFUcqgRiwA0o8SE7X5_KrxXyhyphenhyphen088UiWTgFZFhXT2rVznEAFn9jRYONgulzFMrJkVD5w9x42Q7YJ7jQX9k-WTtwBPBit0Sug7281JH6z7VUE/s1600/Mobile-phone-tax-614x480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="614" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92xIIYY8L6KZLsTwig4IzEjPIJTKUiFUcqgRiwA0o8SE7X5_KrxXyhyphenhyphen088UiWTgFZFhXT2rVznEAFn9jRYONgulzFMrJkVD5w9x42Q7YJ7jQX9k-WTtwBPBit0Sug7281JH6z7VUE/s320/Mobile-phone-tax-614x480.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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According to officials familiar with the matter, the duties apply to both new (packed) and used (unpacked) phones with an IMEI and SIM function. However, presently the government is facilitating used phones and only new (packed) phones – in case of a second phone – is being levied with the new Customs duty. The government has already approved duties for the used phones and the law is being made in this regard.</div>
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Critics say such high duties on imports of mobiles will hurt both the traders, as well as consumers. Higher duties will make devices more expensive and out of reach for the marginalised segment and deprive them of all the benefits the internet has to offer. It will slow down internet penetration and growth of an internet-based economy, they say.</div>
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However, the government says it has to take this step to stop the smuggling of mobile phones, which cost the exchequer millions in tax evasion.</div>
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The old tax structure is very complex and the government is working on simplifying it, a customs official said requesting anonymity. The objective is to stop smuggling first since up to 40% of our imports are smuggled products, he said. “Once, we have done away with it and simplified the tax structure, the government will certainly consider reducing taxes, especially on low-end phones.”</div>
Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0London, UK51.5073509 -0.1277582999999822351.1912379 -0.77320529999998222 51.8234639 0.51768870000001777tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-18269817604762979202019-07-28T14:14:00.000+05:002019-07-28T14:14:12.078+05:00Overseas Pakistanis must pay duty on extra mobile phones: Fawad Chaudhry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIfbcS1C2U7PE99AeEslC18b5843zMyXnq253HWMd1-6xfHxq-tr3udrQx7vI_dARCKyr70LR2ZZxBcLhVVx0KK5FZ-oV8Np3hLsDZ-kqSp9UlkI2Z6yW0DraAPUVUBG5vBMcIVMN/s1600/5bed8a6a42050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="800" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIfbcS1C2U7PE99AeEslC18b5843zMyXnq253HWMd1-6xfHxq-tr3udrQx7vI_dARCKyr70LR2ZZxBcLhVVx0KK5FZ-oV8Np3hLsDZ-kqSp9UlkI2Z6yW0DraAPUVUBG5vBMcIVMN/s320/5bed8a6a42050.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry remarked that Pakistan should start owning its tax culture. </b></div>
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He clarified that overseas Pakistanis have not been stopped from carrying cellphones to the country. They will have to pay tax if they are carrying extra mobile phones, he wrote on Twitter.</div>
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<b>Do you have a smuggled phone? It won’t work in 2019</b></div>
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“We are importing mobile phones worth $2billion. What will happen if we don’t charge tax on them?”</div>
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On November 26, Revenue State Minister Hammad Azhar remarked that people travelling to Pakistan will be allowed to bring only five cellphones per year, of which only one will be customs free.</div>
Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0London, UK51.5073509 -0.1277582999999822351.1912379 -0.77320529999998222 51.8234639 0.51768870000001777tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-62593141620604167442019-04-01T15:09:00.000+05:002019-04-01T15:09:53.990+05:00Career: 8 tips to find a job in the UAE<div class="lead " style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, sans serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">We’ve all been in a job hunt situation where nothing seems to work; try these tips</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">Writing this guide, while very useful to others, is also very personal to me. I have been right where you are and done all of the things you have – and it can be very frustrating and disappointing when you apply and register on every job site in existence (or so I think) but get no call-backs or emails.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">With 2019 upon us, it's great to go in with a well structur</span></div>
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ed plan and this plan will include all the things you have already done, but in a goal-oriented manner. These include a few hacks I tried, along with some tips from industry experts.<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">1. Get your 'branding' sorted</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, sans serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">You are a product, and a resume is your advertisement. A great resume should summaries and highlight your strengths, skills and experience in a way that grabs the attention of the recruiter. He or she spends seconds skimming through hundreds of resumes - make sure yours can stand out in a matter of seconds.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">Get a resume written by a professional agency or consultant, or take time going through various websites that give tips on getting it right. A resume is always a comprehensive summary of who you are as a candidate. Linking your professional LinkedIn account (which allows more room for details) in the resume can help the recruiter get more information if he or she requires.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">Have your resume, copies of UAE attested certificates, experience certificates and other documents sorted through and ready to send out. While it may be obvious, what I’ve seen personally, are people waiting until the last minute to go through their resumes, change or remove things, or add haphazard explanations and summaries.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">2. Registering on job sites</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">While it may seem futile - yes, I have been there - registering on job sites is a great way to get started on your job hunt. It is useful to know the requirements or vacancies that companies have and to understand if there is demand for your specific set of skills.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">Some of my recommendations in terms of response, application tracking and information would be Bayt, LinkedIn, Internsme (they have listings for full-time, part-time and contractual jobs), Gulf Salary, Monster Gulf and Naukri Gulf among others. There may be suitable listings in the classifieds section of leading newspapers such as Gulf News or online on classifieds websites such as GetThat.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">Not all listing have details such as salary and comanu names, so note those that do have these details. This will prove useful for our fifth tip.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">3. Get active on LinkedIn</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">LinkedIn is a great forum to look for positions and also to network with and follow people that are from your domain of work. However, if you aren’t active on there, you can quickly fall out of anyone’s radar.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">Use the sections on there to create a strong profile. LinkedIn ranks profiles and the best you can get is the ‘All Star’ ranking. This is when you have filled in most of the information, and also attached related media or documents. For example, you can attach your resume in the summary section which makes it easier for a head hunter on LinkedIn to directly download and see your resume in one go without having to track you down through messages.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">Use the Pulse blog forum to write about things that interest you professionally or creatively. Your photograph need not be uptight and sombre – smile a little, be approachable.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">It is also very important to always try and connect with the job poster for the jobs you have saved or applied to. At the very least, it means you have done everything you could have - this can take off the edge on waiting for that call back.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">4. Company websites</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, sans serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Large international and/or local companies including aviation firms such as Emirates and Fly Dubai or hospitality companies such as Marriot; media and advisory ones such as Reuters, or finance firms such as KPMG, Emirates NBD and PWC have a fully functional career portal within their website. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">This is much more direct than going through a third-party website such as LinkedIn. Most of these portals can take a bit of time to submit applications as you have to be quite detailed on your entries for work history or qualifications; but the best part here is that you can directly track your application.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">You can also email the HR department with the job ID to ask for updates. They usually conduct initial tests on the website itself making it easier for you to get to the next level if shortlisted.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">5. Create your contact list</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, sans serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">So you’ve seen many thousands of job posts - I have, not even kidding - and you need to do something other than apply and wait. Here’s where getting the company’s name is handy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">While you should continue to apply to those ‘Confidential Company’ job posts, create an Excel sheet for the job posts that have company names listed. In LinkedIn, all job posts come with company names, job poster details and more.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">What I did was create a database of all the companies I applied to, along with a phone number and email that I found directly from their website. I also added the date of application in a column to keep track of how long it had been since I applied.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">6. Start punching in the numbers</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, sans serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">A couple of days (ideally a week) after you apply on the job site, LinkedIn or company website, use your new phone book and make a series of cold calls to your favorites on the list. And a major thing here is – be prepared for insulting remarks and a plain old phone hang-up – phone operators, receptionists and even recruiters can be harsh. However, if you called 10, odds are that one of them would direct you to the HR team and they would note down your name.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">The logic here is, when they do come across your actual application sent via normal forums weeks ago, they might remember your name and that call. That one second is all that’s needed for them to decide to look at your CV from the hundreds that came in. And from the first point of this article, if you did it right, they know you are good for the job in six seconds. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">One call is enough to land you your dream job, so keep trying.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">7. Don’t waste your time</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, sans serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Personally, I spent more than seven months unemployed in Dubai – a highly expensive and unproductive phase of my life. Utilize that time to learn something you’ve always wanted to do, or learn things that could possibly help in your career. It really worked for me, making me able to talk intelligently about things I took an interest in. I even started a blog; so, new skills gained while also keeping me productive, or sane.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">8. Do not lose heart</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">This is by far the most important of them all. Living in the UAE without a job is very hard and getting a job is also quite hard – but that is not, in any way, a reflection of your capabilities and skills.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">In the big plan of life, there is always something good waiting around the corner. Cold call people cheerfully, if they smash the phone in your ear, think of how good it is that you aren’t working there and move on. Use your time to do things you love, for free or for less money.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;">In the big plan of life, there is always something good waiting around the corner. Sometimes taking a risk can pay off, but other times taking a step back and relaxing might be the best idea. Life is short and hard, but if you aren't happy, each day can seem harder than it actually is. Good luck!</span></div>
Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-89891063355286266292019-03-30T13:41:00.000+05:002019-03-30T13:42:11.881+05:00How to Solve a Problem: 6 Quick and Powerful Tips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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“The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. You realize that you control your own destiny.”</div>
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Albert Ellis</div>
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“Problems are to the mind what exercise is to the muscles, they toughen and make strong.”</div>
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Norman Vincent Peale</div>
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“Every problem has a gift for you in its hands.”</div>
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Richard Bach</div>
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Are you having a problem in your life right now?</div>
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If so, maybe these six quick tips can help you to solve it a little bit easier.</div>
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<b>1. First, ask yourself: is there really a problem here?</b></div>
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Often we create problems in our own heads that aren’t really out there in reality. So relax a bit. And think about if this is really a big problem.</div>
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Is it something that will matter in 5 years? Or even in 5 weeks?</div>
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Life becomes so less stressful when you stop making mountain out of molehills (or just out of thin air).</div>
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<b>2. Accept it.</b></div>
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When you accept that the problem already exists and stop resisting then you also stop putting more energy into the problem and “feeding it”.</div>
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Now it just exists (well, more or less, you might still feel a bit down about it).</div>
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You can use the energy you previously fed the problem with – the energy that probably made the problem look bigger than it was – to find creative solutions to the challenge.</div>
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<b>3. Ask for help.</b></div>
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You can ask people for advice on what to do and what they did in similar situations.</div>
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But you can also ask for more practical help. You don’t have to solve every problem on your own and sometimes it feels better to have someone by your side, even if it is just for emotional support.</div>
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If you just ask you may find that people will often be willing to help you out.</div>
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<b>4. Use 80 percent of your time to find solutions.</b></div>
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And only 20 percent to complain, worry and whine.</div>
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It might not always be easy but focusing your energy, time and thoughts in this way is much more beneficial for you and others than doing the opposite.</div>
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<b>5. Break the problem down into smaller pieces.</b></div>
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Solving a problem can sometimes seem overwhelming and impossible. To decrease anxiety and think more clearly break the problem down.</div>
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Identify the different parts it consists of. Then figure out one practical solution you can take for each of those parts. Use those solutions.</div>
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They may not solve the whole problem immediately. But those solutions can get you started and might solve a few pieces of the it.</div>
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<b>6. Find the opportunity and/or lesson within the problem.</b></div>
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I have found that there is almost always a positive side to a problem.</div>
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Perhaps it alerts us of a great way to improve our business or relationships. Or teaches us how our lives perhaps aren’t as bad as we thought.</div>
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Finding this more positive part of the problem reduces its negative emotional impact. You may even start to see the situation as a great opportunity for you.</div>
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<b>When you are faced with a problem ask yourself:</b></div>
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What is the good thing about this?</div>
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What can I learn from this?</div>
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What hidden opportunity can I find within this problem?</div>
Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-15180088517042858512019-01-29T20:09:00.000+05:002019-01-29T20:11:26.038+05:0030 Ways to Improve Your Mood When You’re Feeling Down<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HPWwPa6nX0rkPrSi-ciaWG-SxQtVTz3Tx_aVOQfZSFOpxa0I963Rxdve939M8RLWpl01AO6ceddcbAGJtX9budoUPwDW04V5utUevxLLaVxjNOhEQ2mVmgY00Yp_dyApE8eOMkwz/s1600/regret-self-pity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="443" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HPWwPa6nX0rkPrSi-ciaWG-SxQtVTz3Tx_aVOQfZSFOpxa0I963Rxdve939M8RLWpl01AO6ceddcbAGJtX9budoUPwDW04V5utUevxLLaVxjNOhEQ2mVmgY00Yp_dyApE8eOMkwz/s320/regret-self-pity.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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When I was eighteen, I got depressed and stayed depressed for a little over a year. For over a year, every single day was a battle with myself. For over a year, every single day felt heavy and pointless.</div>
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I have since made tremendous progress by becoming more self-aware, practicing self-love, and noticing the infinite blessings and possibilities in my life, but I still have days when those familiar old feelings sneak up on me.</div>
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I’m not always self-aware, I don’t always love myself, and sometimes I agonize over everything I don’t have or haven’t accomplished.</div>
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<b>I call these days “zombie days.” I’ll just completely shut down and desperately look for ways to distract myself from my feelings.</b></div>
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I suspect we all have zombie days from time to time. I think it’s important to give ourselves permission to not always be happy, but there are also simple ways to improve our mood when we’re feeling down.</div>
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Everybody is different, and everybody has different ways of dealing with pain, but if you’re looking for suggestions, you may find these helpful:</div>
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<b>1. Step back and self-reflect.</b> Whenever I start feeling depressed, I try to stop, reflect, and get to the root of my feelings. </div>
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<b>2. Reach out to someone.</b> I used to bottle up my feelings out of fear that I would be judged if I talked about them. I’ve since learned that reaching out to a loving, understanding person is one of the best things I can do. </div>
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<b>3. Listen to music.</b> Music can heal, put you in a better mood, make you feel less alone, or take you on a mental journey. </div>
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<b>4. Cuddle or play with pets.</b> I have really sweet and happy dogs that are always quick to shower me with love whenever they see me. Spending quality time with a loving pet can instantly make your heart and soul feel better. </div>
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<b>5. Go for a walk.</b> Walking always helps me clear my head and shed negative energy. It’s especially therapeutic if you choose to walk at a scenic location. </div>
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<b>6. Drink something healthy and reinvigorating.</b> For some reason, orange juice always puts me in a better mood and makes me feel revitalized and serene. There are many health and mood benefits of drinking orange juice and other fruit juices. </div>
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<b>7. Write.</b> Writing is usually the first thing I do when I’m feeling down. It always helps me get my thoughts and feelings out in front of me. </div>
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<b>8. Take a nap.</b> Sometimes we just need to recharge. I always feel better after getting some rest. </div>
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<b>9. Plan a fun activity.</b> Moping around never helps me feel any better, so it usually helps to plan something fun to do if I’m feeling up to it. It can be something as simple as creating my own vision board or something as big as planning a trip. </div>
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<b>10. Do something spontaneous.</b> Some of my favorite memories entail choices I made spontaneously. We should all learn to let go of routine every now and then and do something exciting and unplanned. </div>
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<b>11. Prioritize.</b> Sometimes I feel depressed when my priorities are out of balance. I try to make sure I’m giving a fair amount of attention to all the priorities in my life, such as work, relationships, health, and personal happiness.</div>
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<b>12. Look through old photographs or snap some new ones.</b> Sorting through old memories or capturing new ones usually puts a smile on my face. </div>
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<b>13. Hug someone.</b> I am definitely a hugger. Hugs are such an easy way to express love and care without having to say a word. </div>
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<b>14. Laugh.</b> Watch a funny movie or spend time with someone who has a good sense of humor. Laughing releases tension and has a natural ability to heal. </div>
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<b>15. Cry.</b> I don’t like crying in front of people, but whenever I have an opportunity to slink away and cry by myself, I always feel better afterwards. Crying releases pain. </div>
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<b>16. Read back over old emails or text messages, or listen to old voicemails.</b> Whenever I feel dejected or bad about myself, I like to read kind emails and comments from my blog readers or listen to cute voicemails from my grandmother. Doing so reminds me that I’m loved, thought about, and appreciated. </div>
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<b>17. Reconnect with someone.</b> Get back in touch with an old friend or a family member that you haven’t spoken to in awhile. Reconnecting with people almost always puts me in a good mood and fills my heart up with love. </div>
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<b>18. Write yourself a letter.</b> I try to separate myself from my ego and give myself a pep talk every now and then. Cicero said, “Nobody can give you wiser advice than yourself.” </div>
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<b>19. Try a deep breathing exercise.</b> There are all kinds of deep breathing exercises out there. Find one you like and do it whenever you’re feeling stressed or overly emotional. </div>
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<b>20. Cultivate gratitude.</b> Practicing genuine gratitude on a daily basis has been a major source of healing in my life. When I step back and notice everything I have to be grateful for, it makes me feel like I have everything I need and that nothing is lacking. It makes me feel whole. </div>
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<b>21. Re-watch a funny or inspiring YouTube video.</b> I recommend Webcam 101 for Seniors. That video cheers me up every time. There are so many funny and inspiring videos online. </div>
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<b>22. Bake something.</b> Baking has always been therapeutic and entertaining for me. Plus, I can eat whatever I baked and share it with others afterward. </div>
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<b>23. Get out of the house.</b> I work from home, so a large majority of my time is spent indoors, planted in front of my laptop. I have to make a point to get out every now and then, whether it’s to get some fresh air or go out to eat with a friend. </div>
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<b>24. Focus on what truly matters to you.</b> Sometimes I forget what matters to me and what isn’t that important. Some things just aren’t worth getting too upset over. </div>
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<b>25. Take a negative comment or situation and look for something positive about it.</b> If someone says something negative to me or I get stuck in an unpleasant situation, sometimes it helps to look at it from a different angle. Perspective is everything. </div>
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<b>26. Daydream. Take a mental vacation.</b> Let your mind wander for a while. </div>
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<b>27. Let some natural sunlight come in.</b> Opening all the blinds and curtains and letting natural sunlight flood your home can help elevate your mood. </div>
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<b>28. Take a mental health day.</b> Sometimes we just need to take a day to clear our heads and nurture our souls. My mental health has a history of being a bit erratic, so nurturing it is a priority in my life. </div>
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<b>29. Let go.</b> This is a very simple mantra of mine. I usually say it to myself multiple times each day, which has been very liberating and empowering. </div>
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<b>30. Read Tiny Buddha.</b> And of course, you can always read Tiny Buddha! I personally love the quotes section. There is a category for almost every universal theme or emotion.</div>
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What helps you improve your mood?</div>
Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-71595815115443158552017-08-26T05:03:00.000+05:002017-08-26T05:03:09.230+05:00Bakra Eid – The Festival of Sacrifice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6v53aMnmJwcgW0BWYOCHjJb5I9s8Xc8e6-6JdnCj-8VYonlvaGNBUOtQJCKD8ky4THock4SFx_8fOp7FpDZW3mskDtOBHqf9TXb06dRzHXwxQyJV-GlrSI92rJQPd76dfnrRer6G/s1600/02b60426c2c90c7ef6ffe756f7e3ebcd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6v53aMnmJwcgW0BWYOCHjJb5I9s8Xc8e6-6JdnCj-8VYonlvaGNBUOtQJCKD8ky4THock4SFx_8fOp7FpDZW3mskDtOBHqf9TXb06dRzHXwxQyJV-GlrSI92rJQPd76dfnrRer6G/s320/02b60426c2c90c7ef6ffe756f7e3ebcd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Bakrid is one of the most popular festivals celebrated by the Muslims all over the world where it is known as Eid-Al-Adha. It commemorates the sacrifices of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), who was ready to sacrifice his first born on God's command, and later sacrificed a sheep as per God's instructions. Animals like goat, sheep, cow or camel are sacrificed on this day. It is a day of feasting and visiting with friends and family. The festival is celebrated after the Hajj pilgrimage.</div>
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<strong>The legend of Bakra Eid</strong></div>
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The origin of the festival of Bakrid has been described in Islamic traditions. Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) was instructed by God to bring his Egyptian wife Hajar and his son Ishmael to the deserts of Saudi Arabia and to leave them there. By divine intervention, a well appeared here which helped Hajar and her son to survive. Later, Abraham returned here and preached the word of God.</div>
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In order to test him, God commanded him to sacrifice his only son Ishmael in repeated dreams. When Abraham asked Ishmael, he was ready to bow before the will of God. Satan tried to distract them, but Ishmael drove him away by throwing stones. Finally, when Abraham tried to cut his son's throat, he was spared by divine intervention and found a ram to have been sacrificed instead. To commemorate this day of sacrifice and the mercy of God, Bakrid is celebrated with sacrifice of animals.</div>
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Other names of Bakrid</div>
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The proper name for Bakrid is Id-Al-Adha. Since goats (bakri) are sacrificed during this festival, hence it is known as Bakrid. It is also called Qurbani meaning sacrifice.</div>
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When is Bakrid celebrated?</div>
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Bakrid is celebrated at the end of the month of Islamic holy pilgrimage or Hajj. It falls on the tenth of Dhul-Hugg or the last month of the lunar Islamic calendar.</div>
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<strong>The Rituals of Bakrid</strong></div>
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Bakrid is celebrated with lot of ceremony all over the country. It is especially observed in the city of Hyderabad. The rituals of the festival are as follows:</div>
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<li>The day begins with Muslims dressing up in new clothes and visiting the mosque. There, they perform dua or prayers for peace and prosperity of all.</li>
<li>Takbir is recited before and after the prayers.</li>
<li>Sacrifice is the most important aspect of Bakrid. Animals like goat, sheep, cow and camel are sacrificed. The animals must meet certain standards of perfection and the sacrifice is carried out in accordance with the religious laws.</li>
<li>Wealthy families are expected to provide one animal for sacrifice while if the family is poor, seven or seventy families can contribute to sacrifice one animal. Two thirds of the meat is distributed to the poor and one third is retained by the family for consumptions.</li>
<li>After the prayers, alms are given to the poor.</li>
<li>People visit with each other and exchange greetings of Id Mubarak. They visit houses of friends and relatives to celebrate Id.</li>
<li>Feasts are prepared throughout the day. Everybody is made a part of the festivities. Special delicacies are prepared to celebrate Bakrid. In addition, gifts are also exchanged.</li>
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<strong>Bakrid festival dates between 2017 & 2024</strong></div>
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<strong>Year Date</strong></div>
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2017 Saturday, 2nd of September </div>
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2018 Wednesday, 22nd of August </div>
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2019 Monday, 12th of August </div>
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2020 Friday, 31st of July </div>
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2021 Tuesday, 20th of July </div>
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2022 Sunday, 10th of July </div>
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2023 Thursday, 29th of June </div>
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2024 Monday, 17th of June </div>
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Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-83319732424555018522017-08-19T07:15:00.001+05:002017-08-19T07:15:13.833+05:00The Key to a Successful Muslim Business Community<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOYLjvsUa08jwXZYUDYokkcLtVEJ-3IiwkwrgZ5kK-7Y697NjDVMIgo_nTgAkDnmsmaGtUsKN89e35TYLt83dmGC6PGbL68xKMxAy1JYV50ekckorXV3m40n0lI5LArJNV7dpcrk9/s1600/AAEAAQAAAAAAAALQAAAAJDgyM2YwMWZhLWQ0NjktNDdkNy04MDlhLTEzMGM1NTYyNzZlOQ-300x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOYLjvsUa08jwXZYUDYokkcLtVEJ-3IiwkwrgZ5kK-7Y697NjDVMIgo_nTgAkDnmsmaGtUsKN89e35TYLt83dmGC6PGbL68xKMxAy1JYV50ekckorXV3m40n0lI5LArJNV7dpcrk9/s1600/AAEAAQAAAAAAAALQAAAAJDgyM2YwMWZhLWQ0NjktNDdkNy04MDlhLTEzMGM1NTYyNzZlOQ-300x200.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Historically, Muslims in Singapore are a community of traders and entrepreneurs. That was only natural as many are descendants of Indian and Arab Muslim traders who travelled to South East Asia seeking profit and business expansion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">These traders integrated easily into the local business scene, which was already thriving due to the strong business culture of the local Malays and Peranakan Muslims as well as their spirit of gotong-royong (community collaboration). This merging of communities resulted in a thriving market environment which offered employment and services to the community.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">However, it is a different story in today’s Singapore. Today’s Singapore is one of the richest countries in the world and a leader in global trade and commerce. Despite this, the Muslim community in the marketplace is underrepresented and underdeveloped.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">With the exception of ‘Muslim-based’ businesses, most Singaporeans do not opt to buy products of Muslim businesses. Worryingly, even ‘Muslim-based’ businesses are losing their dominance in their niche industries. This is happening because Muslim consumers are buying based on merit – non-Muslim businesses tend to give a better deal, in quality or price, which shows a lack of development on the side of Muslim businesses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">They are even losing competition to non-Muslim businesses in previously ‘untouchable’ sectors, such as Muslim-Wedding catering.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>The Paradox of the Muslim Consumer</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">The Muslim consumer, like any other consumer, is susceptible to falling to the prevalent, capitalist view that material possessions equal to success. The current materialist approach to life is a manifestation of this. Thus, workers become consumers that only work to spend, in order to satisfy their insatiable desire for worldly possessions. It is a vicious cycle that leaves workers unable to shape the culture and mentality of their society in a meaningful direction. This is the danger in having a Muslim community primarily made up of workers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">This is not to say that a working-class community is necessarily a bad thing. Work, when done in moderation and with gratitude, can be a form of Ibadah or worship.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">However, the current situation of Muslim consumers in most communities do not reflect that. It is not rational to acknowledge that the source of all things is Allah SWT and that our Rizq (sustenance) is entirely dependent on what He had set for us, while simultaneously subscribing to the view that Material possession somehow defines success, and even worse, define ourselves. This is the paradox of the Muslim consumer. Our fundamental beliefs conflict with this fundamentally flawed valuation of life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>A Revival is Due</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">It is apparent that the Muslim community must be brought back to its golden age of commerce and have its spirit of entrepreneurship revived. To do that, we must return to doing business in accordance with Islamic principles. The universal good inherent in Islamic business practices and Muamalat has tremendous potential in recovering this depressed economy and reducing the widespread inequality present.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>The Quran says:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>‘And Allah gives provision to whom He wills without limitations.’ Quran 2:21</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">What we understand from the above verse is that Muslims should recognise that the pleasure of The Creator is the primary objective in any transaction, and we should act accordingly. Consequently, the profit motive will be demoted to its rightful place as a secondary priority, present only to incentivize efficiency and ensure long-term sustainability.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Encouragingly, there are some signs of positive change, notably the revival of Youth Entrepreneurship. This is largely possible because of the inclusive nature of the digital age. Thanks to technology and the connectivity brought by social media many traditional barriers to entry have been removed, allowing talented entrepreneurs to achieve noteworthy success. These businesses are often able to cross over from the virtual realm to thrive as brick and mortar businesses. This is indeed an encouraging development in the world of Islamic Commerce.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">In the meantime, the entrepreneurial mind must also be developed so as to create entrepreneurs that are trained to view problems as opportunities. Fortunately, we see a wave of such youthful talent emerging, and we need to embrace them and support them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>What we need to do</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Before embarking on reform, old, regressive habits must be discarded to make way for new, constructive ones. We need to go back to the roots of true Islamic Business spirit. We must do so by first identifying the main cause of our downfall in our business performance and how it has deteriorated to such an insipid state.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Subsequently, we need to come together and unite around shared goals. By doing so, we will be able to close gaps and strengthen as a group.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>In short, we need Unity.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Unity is the key, missing ingredient that is setting us back. Likewise, in my entrepreneurial journey, I have found the common feature in various forms of success to be unity. This is true whether it is in the tightly-knit circles of Singaporean Chinese, to relationship and connections-based Indonesians, to protective family-owned Saudi Arabian businesses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">All in all, there is a need to refine our business culture by removing dangerous mindsets that discourage unity. Jealousy, greed, revenge, and distrust are crippling handicaps to the development of Muslim businesses. To remove these deep-seated problems, we must collectively acknowledge and face them. That in itself will bring about greater unity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>A United Muslim Business Community</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">A unified business community is crucial for survival in the modern, fast-paced marketplace. Consider Singapore, a global trade hub with a highly competitive market. Most businesses there face high costs and intense competition. Unless they collaborate, they will struggle to find their footing amongst the big businesses that dominate Singapore’s markets. They will need to leverage each other’s resources and competencies which will, in turn, enhance capabilities and lower costs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">One way to establish a United Muslim Business environment is through technology-enabled, joint-venture efforts of Muslim businesses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">A strong example of technology-enabled collectivism is in Crowd-funding, a concept where the community collectively invests or donates small amounts of capital to fund startups and businesses. Crowdfunding has been a tremendous success in the west and it is estimated that by 2025, global investment through crowdfunding will reach $93 billion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">The good news is that crowdfunding can be Islamic in structure and spirit. An example of how this can happen is by structuring it as a ‘Mudarabah’ (joint-venture), where the financier or the ‘rabb-ul-mal’ provides funding for the ‘mudarib’, who is the entrepreneur responsible for the full management of the business.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Some may view the idea of a United Muslim Business Community to be naïve, but I am convinced that it is, in fact, a necessary evolution that we need to embrace. The wisdom can be found in our own religious teachings spread by our prophet Muhammad SAW 1400 years ago and was practised by the Muslims of the past. It is time to come full-circle. Success is unlikely to come overnight though, as culture takes time and willingness to change.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Culture, however, is a matter of utilitarian dialectic, and the obvious benefits of being united will soon outweigh the irrationality of being divided, InshaALLAH!</span></div>
</span>Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-43205782480506869172017-08-10T07:53:00.001+05:002017-08-10T07:53:47.888+05:00Top 9 Utility Apps for Android Users<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Nowadays Android is considered as the most mature platform for the smartphones and Android devices are not bound to being communication devices. With the enormous computational power and the immense number of applications accessible for the platform, many people utilize their Android cell phones as a device for estimation, calculation and to screen a huge number of things.</div>
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That is not all; there are different applications and devices for Android, for example, an automation app or say a password manager that can make your day by day life a ton less demanding. After knowing this, if you have made you mind to make your days beneficial with your Android cell phone and you are searching for the best Android utility applications to do that, we have you saved your time.</div>
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Here we are listing the top 9 utility apps for Android users.</div>
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9. LastPass Password Manager</div>
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LastPass is a password management app that encourages you to make and recall passwords. The thought is that you can make incredibly complex passwords and afterwards LastPass will recollect them for you. Not every person is passionate about the organization being purchased out by LogMeIn.</div>
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Although, so far LastPass has stayed working quite recently like it generally has. The administration accompanies massive amounts of elements. LastPass Authenticator additionally includes another level of security for the individuals who are tired. You can enjoy the app on your Android mobiles free of cost, or you can pay $12 every year to use it on your other Android devices, including your PC. LastPass Password Manager is at number one in our list of top 10 utility apps for Android users.</div>
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8. Smart Tools</div>
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The most important application for everyday utilization is Smart Tools and it is at number two in our list of top 10 utility apps for Android users. Smart Tools application gives more than 40 DIY metering tools that can be extremely valuable, similar to a ruler, bubble level, auto speed screen, sound meter, Vibrometer, metal identifier, standardized identification/QR code scanner and that is recently the surface of it. Every one of the scales can be adjusted and it supports both metric and supreme unit formats. The application is free, yet accompanies the promotional ads. Note that a portion of the devices won’t work if your device doesn’t have supporting sensors.</div>
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7. Google Translate</div>
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The only application for all your language misfortunes. Helpful when you are travelling abroad or when you get yourself confined by the language boundary. You can interpret more than 100 languages by writing or utilize the camera to translate in a split second in 30 languages.</div>
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Disconnected languages can also be downloaded on the off chance that you anticipate going to some place where the web will be a touch of an issue. What’s more, since Google’s neural networks control it, you can expect a near human level precision. There isn’t a superior application than this in what it does. Google Translate is at number three in our list of top 10 utility apps for Android users.</div>
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6. ParcelTrack</div>
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ParcelTrack is an application that enables you to concentrate the greater part of your bundle shipments. It is at number four in our list of top 10 utility apps for Android users. You should simply include your tracking number and bearer, and the application will do the rest. This is an incredible application if you arrange a lot of things on the web. Thus, it’s additionally great if you transport a considerable measure of stuff also. You’ll additionally have a mailbox where you can send following numbers, and the application will include them naturally. You’ll get the many cool features for free with a couple of updates for premium clients. It should bolster most carriers too.</div>
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5. Any.do Calendar</div>
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Any.do is a perfect and simple to utilize cloud-based To Do List application. The application handles undertaking records, check records, timetables and note bringing with a rise to aplomb. Discourse acknowledgement enables you to stand up new passages only, a basic intuitive framework makes it simple to rearrange undertakings, time and area based updates make keeping track a snap, and errand sharing makes it reasonable for working with gatherings. Flexible and highlight pressed, while maintaining introduction perfect and simple, Any.do makes for a phenomenal expansion to your profitability tools and is at number five in our list of top 10 utility apps for Android users.</div>
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4. Mobile Hotspot Router</div>
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WiFi Hotspot router is an application that will share your mobile network via wifi it makes your phone a hotspot and you can use your mobile data on your other wifi devices like Laptop and Mobile. WiFi Tether application is also encourages you to know more about your Wi-Fi connection and also your nearby connections.</div>
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3. IP Tools: Network utilities</div>
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IP Tools: Network utilities is one of the essential apps for the IT professionals and is at number six on our list of top 10 utility apps for Android users. You can change and investigate any system you associate with. You can open your switch’s login page directly from this if you have to alter a few settings. This application takes a shot at Linux mode and can bring IP, SSID, communicate address, portal, arrange cover, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg. To check if any system is alive or not you can run traceroute and ping commands to any destination. On account of these elements, you can utilize the application to examine and improve a system quickly.</div>
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2. ViewRanger Trails & Maps</div>
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Clients doing some course hiking and boondocks investigating can look at ViewRanger, a disconnected mapping, route, and guided trail application for Android devices. The application accompanies an assortment of open source outline, with point by point topographic maps from the USGS, Acuterra and others accessible as in-application buys. ViewRanger utilizes GPS and can spare your maps for disconnected use, with an arrangement for route guides, track recording, sports figuring details and area sharing. ViewRanger Trails & Maps is at number seven in our list of top 10 utility apps for Android users.</div>
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1. 3G,4G Wifi Hotspot Router</div>
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3G,4G Wifi Hotspot Router application that helps to share your 4G mobile data with other wifi devices can use your wifi network!</div>
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This App Broadcasting wifi from mobile network – GPGS/3G/4G free</div>
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By using Wifi Hotspot Router application you can make your phone a portable wifi hotspot and now you don’t no need to spend your money on expensive routers.</div>
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These were the best and most famous top 9 utility apps for Android users. Hope so you would like these applications. You can share this with your colleagues, friends and family.. SKA!</div>
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Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-7663746369965821192017-08-06T05:46:00.001+05:002017-08-10T07:55:38.169+05:00Why Is My Boss Ignoring My Vacation Request?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u>Ne</u></b><b>w employee asks for time off well in advance, but the boss isn't happy about it..</b>.</div>
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<i>Workplace Referee is a new series designed to help employees and managers gain better insight into each other's points of view (POV). </i></div>
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<b>Employee POV:</b> I'm a new employee. I've been with the company for six months. I put in my request for vacation time with HR three months in advance, per the employee handbook instructions. I did that because I'm going to visit my family and I need to buy the plane ticket at a good price. It's been a month and my boss hasn't approved my vacation request. I asked him two weeks ago if I did everything correctly, given it was my first time submitting a vacation request. He said "yes" and that he'd get to it. But, still nothing. Why is he doing this to me?</div>
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<b>Manager POV: </b>I am annoyed by how early a new employee is asking for vacation. She hasn't even been here six months and she is putting in for vacation three months in advance. Now I have to ask all the other employees to put in their time because I need to make sure we'll have coverage over the holiday. As the new gal, I had hoped she'd recognize she's the low person in rank and realize she should be available to work over the holiday, if needed. Maybe she's not as committed to the job as I thought. If she asks about her vacation request again, I'm going to be upset.</div>
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<b>Who's at fault?</b></div>
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Like most workplace challenges, this one is the result of A) misinterpretation, and B) a lack of communication. Here are two key observations to consider:</div>
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<b>1.</b> The boss clearly has some perceptions about seniority related to vacation time during the holidays. However, it isn't a formal policy. As a result, the new employee has no idea her early request is creating frustration for the boss. Additionally, the boss clearly equates asking for vacation so early into a new job as a lack of commitment. Again, this is an informal policy in the head of the boss that the new employee knows nothing about. Thus, while the employee did everything right from a written policy standpoint, she unknowingly broke some unwritten rules in the mind of her boss.</div>
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This actually happens quite frequently. Bosses of new employees are always asking themselves, <i>"Did I make the right hire?"</i> And, "<i>Will this employee prove loyal and valuable?"</i> And, for good reason. It costs a company an average of 130-140% of a new hire's annual salary to get them up-to-speed in the first year (i.e. training, benefits, etc.). Thus, when a new employee does something that goes against what the boss views as proper commitment to the job, it creates concern in the mind of the boss that he may have made the wrong hire - even though new employees aren't mind-readers and likely don't realize their actions are giving off the wrong impression.</div>
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<b>2.</b> That being said, I do think the new employee should have gone to her boss before submitting the vacation request and explained why she was asking for the time off so soon instead of just passing it into HR. By sharing the fact that she wanted to visit family and needed to book a ticket at a low cost, she could have explained the early request. This (hopefully) would have made the boss more understanding and given him the opportunity to explain that he likes to wait until he gets all vacation requests in so he can make sure those with more seniority get their vacation time too.</div>
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<b>What can both sides learn from this?</b></div>
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<b>Employee Takeaway:</b> Before accepting a new job offer, be sure to inquire about the process for vacation time requests and how they get executed. And, if you have a pre-planned vacation within the next 18 months, let the employer know and confirm you will still be able to take it. It's also good to ask if they have a policy on how many months you need to be on the job before you can ask for a vacation request. Having this dialog with a new boss before you accept the position enables you both to better manage expectations AND lets you find out if the company's vacation policies are more strict than what you are accustomed to.</div>
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<b>Manager Takeaway:</b> When a new employee does something that makes you question her commitment, step back and ask yourself what policy is being violated. Is it a written company policy, or an unwritten one that resides in your brain? If it's the latter, then you need to have a private conversation with the employee to educate her on your mindset and what behavior you would prefer. Employees can't read your mind. It's up to you to let them know what you expect.. SKA!<br />
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Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-68621276535592670942017-01-01T20:33:00.000+05:002017-01-01T20:35:15.491+05:00Ten Tips to Communicate More Effectively with Customers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Effective customer communication is the cornerstone of any successful business. Dealer personnel who are able to consistently and effectively communicate with their customer base enjoy stronger relationships and increased sales success. However, in today’s world with the multitude of communication channels available – telephone, email, texting, instant messaging, etc. – key effective communication elements are sometimes lost. In order to maximize your ability to communicate with customers, remember these vital points.</div>
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<strong>1. </strong><strong>Listen actively.</strong> Effective communication starts with being a good listener. Focus on what the customer is saying rather than formulating your response. Use body language or small phrases, such as nodding your head or saying, “I see” to demonstrate that you are paying attention. If you are with the customer, maintain eye contact. When the customer has finished talking, repeat what you think you heard to ensure you clearly understood their message before you respond.</div>
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<strong>2. </strong><strong>Don’t interrupt.</strong> Interrupting your customers will not only upset them, but will limit your ability to communicate effectively. Allow the customer to finish his/her thought before you respond. It not only demonstrates respect, but it will also ensure you truly understand the point the customer is trying to make.</div>
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<strong>3. </strong><strong>Use easy-to-understand words, not industry terms or jargon.</strong> Using phrases such as “Turnover” or “the Desk” may seem obvious to any automotive professional, but to a customer, you may as well be speaking gibberish. In order to effectively communicate, you need to use words and phrases that the customer will easily understand. </div>
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<strong>4. </strong><strong>Use professional wording, not texting terms when communicating electronically</strong>. While you and all of your friends may easily understand acronyms like BTW (by the way) or TTYL (talk to you later), those terms may not be as obvious to a customer, thus leading to communication confusion. Using these terms can also make you seem unprofessional. As with industry terms and jargon, avoid using texting terms. Clearly write what you are trying to say.</div>
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<strong>5. </strong><strong>Demonstrate courtesy.</strong> It’s very easy to ask questions in such a way that you command a customer’s response. For example, asking “VIN?” is less courteous than “Can I have your VIN please?” Although this seems like a simple change, asking questions in a polite and professional way go a long way towards demonstrating high-quality customer service. </div>
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<strong>6. </strong><strong>Use positive, not negative statements.</strong> Customers want to hear what you can do to help them, rather than what you can’t do. The way you phrase things can directly impact their impression of you, your department and your dealership. Instead of saying, “I can’t give you your specific rate unless I run your credit,” say, “I can provide you with your specific rate if you allow me to run your credit.” By addressing your customer with positive rather than negative statements, you can greatly reduce the number of roadblocks you may encounter.</div>
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<strong>7. </strong><strong>Be aware of words or phrases that can lead to a defensive reaction.</strong> You also want to be aware of phrases that might inadvertently create a defensive or resistant reaction from your customer. For example, avoid using the word “you” to often. Instead of saying, “You have to speak louder,” say, “I’m having a hard time hearing you.” By changing the words from “you” to “I”, you help keep the customer in a positive mindset and the communication channels flowing.</div>
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<strong>8. </strong><strong>Limit background noise and distractions.</strong> Be aware of what’s going on around you when you communicate. Are there a lot of background noises or events happening nearby that might distract either you or the customer from fully focusing on the conversation? If you are in a noisy or busy area, move to a quieter location. Whether you are speaking with a customer on the phone or in person, being in a quiet location where you can focus will benefit you both.</div>
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<strong>9. </strong><strong>Don’t underestimate the value of snail-mail.</strong> In today’s technology-driven world, it’s easy to discount the value of a handwritten note. However, writing a handwritten thank-you note, mailing follow-up letter or even sending the customer a birthday card goes a long way in strengthening your communication channel with a customer, and in turn, your relationship overall.</div>
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<strong>10. </strong><strong>Ask the customer how THEY prefer to communicate.</strong> Finally and possibly, most importantly, ask the customer how they prefer to communicate. While you may prefer email, the customer might prefer text messages. Or the customer might have a limited texting plan on their phone, and actually get upset if you constantly bombard them with text messages. At the start of your relationship with each customer, take the time to ask, “What is the best way to stay in touch with you? Would you rather I call, email or text you?” This simple question can go a long way in helping you communicate more effectively with your customers.</div>
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Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-1338367204036724842016-10-07T12:58:00.000+05:002017-08-10T08:01:04.369+05:00Why Start A Business In Bahrain?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Bahrain was lucky. It was discovered and started refining oil long before most of its neighbours. Unfortunately, now, it is forecast that oil there will be the first to run dry and so efforts have been made to diversify the country's trade. Easy come, easy go.</div>
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Although Bahrain's economy stands in the shadow of its vaster neighbours, its diversity and openness continues to present a number of opportunities for starting a business or expanding a business. The Bahrainis have been systematically building up the sectors of tourism, metals, transport and finance, which, hopefully, will be able to take the economic weight once oil is no longer a viable source of income.</div>
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With highly developed transport and communications facilities, Bahrain is a fast-growing market at the heart of the Gulf. Bahrain has a stable government with progressive attitudes which has helped to mould the country into a well developed economy. There are numerous development projects underway around the country which makes the prospect of starting a business in Bahrain very appealing. Bahrain offers a variety of incentives to the prospect of starting a business and investing in Bahrain including its tax free economy and no VAT.</div>
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The Bahrain lifestyle is cosmopolitan and liberal, and there is a relaxed social environment which makes it a popular area with tourists from the region. It's an essentially Arab culture, adopting many of the traditions and cuisines from across the region, an eclectic mix of fascination and intrigue.</div>
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Bahrain has many feats to overcome in the near future, but if it the past is any kind of precedent, it will continue to thrive as impressive little economy and investor market.</div>
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Economic Overview</div>
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Bahrain has benefitted from strong economic growth in recent years and now holds a prosperous economy, albeit small. Its central location in the Middle East enables good accessibility to the world's business market.</div>
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Their trade routes to worldwide markets through fast and efficient access by air, sea and road are a big attraction for businesses. Bahrain is also seen as a gateway to the Gulf which has a market of over 100 million people.</div>
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Bahrain has the freest economy in the Middle East with a free trade agreement with the US (the US and Bahrain are close allies and Bahrain is the home to the US Navy's fifth fleet) and bilateral trade and economic agreements with 43 other countries. Trade between the UK and Bahrain has increased in recent years. Bahrain's major trading partners are Saudi Arabia, the US, the UAE, Japan, Germany, UK and France.</div>
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Bahrain has less dependence on oil than other gulf states and has turned to petroleum processing and refining, as well as transforming itself into an international banking centre. However, despite efforts to diversify, oil and gas are still important to Bahrain's economy and provide much of their exports. In fact, 60% of Bahrain's exports are oil and petroleum. The majority of food is imported with Saudi Arabia as the main trading partner.</div>
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Bahrain is home to many multinational firms and the government strongly encourages foreign investment. The emphasis on the development of infrastructure shows the commitment of the government in creating a good base for business. The islands of Bahrain are interconnected by a causeway which makes trade and business very easy and accessible. The highly developed telecommunications also account for Bahrain's success in the business and financial sector.</div>
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As a tax free economy, net income is generally more than other European countries; an incentive very appealing to many people thinking of starting a business in Bahrain.</div>
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Aluminium-smelting, banking, financial services, ship-repair industries and oil refineries have all been well established in Bahrain. Bahrain has one of the world's largest aluminium smelting plants, and its duty-free industrial areas offer opportunities for all manufacturing industries.</div>
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Due to its central location, multi-national companies such as American Express, Citicorp, Investcorp, and Gulf International Bank have all established offices in Bahrain. The real estate market in Bahrain is also becoming more established due to a strong investor demand which is helping the Kingdom's rapidly growing economy. In the Gulf region, Bahrain is regarded as one of the most developed countries in the real-estate sector.</div>
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Free Trade Zones</div>
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Bahrain Logistics Zone</div>
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What are the essentials to know?</div>
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Prohibited Activity</div>
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The following business activities are prohibited in Bahrain:</div>
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Gambling </div>
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Alcoholic drinks manufacturing </div>
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Narcotics manufacturing </div>
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Weapons manufacturing </div>
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Cigarettes manufacturing </div>
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Import of all waste and treatments </div>
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storage and dumping of radioactive materials and toxic waste </div>
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Import, manufacturing and dealing of asbestos </div>
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Import and industrial use of restricted chemicals </div>
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Import of automatic cigarette vending machines </div>
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Letter post </div>
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Pearl culture </div>
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Drilling artesian wells </div>
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Internet exchange </div>
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The following business activities are only permitted for Bahrainians: </div>
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Press, publishing and distribution </div>
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Car and motorbike rental </div>
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Fishing </div>
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Foreign manpower supply </div>
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Gas bottling and distribution </div>
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Cooker re-filling and repairing </div>
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Gas cylinder distribution</div>
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What is the business climate like in Bahrain?</div>
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Bahrain has a well-trained workforce and English is the business language.</div>
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When doing business with Arabs, there is a lot of hard and expert bargaining involved therefore you will need to be very confident about your agreements and contracts. If there are gaps or flaws in your business propositions, Arabs will find them and exploit them. Arabs never offer a direct 'no' to a proposition, if the response is 'leave it with me' or 'I'll think about it', there is a good chance that the proposition will go nowhere. However, you can be assured that Arabs will meet their business obligations fully and the foundations of doing business with them are built on trusting relationships that will continue.</div>
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Labour and workforce</div>
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The Labour Law stipulates that every employer is required to offer priority of employment to the citizens of Bahrain and then to Arabs next.</div>
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It should be noted that employers are not permitted to hire migrant workers or expatriates without valid permits.</div>
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Useful Contacts for Setting up a Business in Bahrain</div>
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A crucial place to obtain any information regarding setting up business and moving to Bahrain is the Bahrain embassy in the UK:</div>
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Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain</div>
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30 Belgrave Square London SW1X 8QB</div>
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Tel: 020 7201 9170 Fax: 020 7201 9183</div>
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E-mail: information@bahrainembassy.org.uk</div>
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Other places that will provide helpful information are:</div>
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The Economic Development Board</div>
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PO Box 1129 </div>
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MANAM</div>
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Tel: 973 53388 Fax: 973 531117 </div>
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Bahrain British Business Forum</div>
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PO Box 10051</div>
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Manama Bahrain</div>
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Tel: 973 229889 Fax: 973 224385 </div>
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British Embassy Manama, main contact</div>
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British Embassy 21 Government Avenue P O Box 114 Manama 306 Bahrain </div>
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Telephone + 973 17574100 </div>
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Fax (Programme / Political Affairs) +973 17574161 </div>
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Fax (UK Trade and Investment) +973 17574101 </div>
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Fax (Consular/Corporate Services) +973 17574101 </div>
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Fax (Press and Public Affairs) +973 17574101 </div>
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Fax (Visa Application Centre) +973 17215639</div>
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Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-4937629416818804902016-09-13T16:37:00.000+05:002016-09-13T16:37:37.131+05:0012 Tips for Doing Business in the Middle East<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Global economic uncertainty is causing some businesses to put the brakes on their overseas expansion plans. But it is precisely this hesitance, combined with the unique business climate of the GCC, which makes now an ideal time to establish your presence in the Gulf region. (Editor's note: the article below was written in 2010.)</span></i></div>
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The revelation by Dubai World in November last year that it may have to default on some $60 billion worth of loans sent shockwaves through the business world. Dubai, considered a cosmopolitan symbol of new Arab ambition and wealth, was transformed overnight into a castle made of sand in the eyes of the public. Some executives, wary of the possible knock-on effects of a real-estate crunch, shelved plans to expand into a region that is still, in the twenty-first century, something of a mystery to the western business mind.</div>
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Rightly so, no one can be totally effusive about the situation in the Gulf, given the publicity around the problems in Dubai. However, it is important to understand that Dubai is one of seven emirates that comprise the United Arab Emirates. The real powerhouse of the UAE is Abu Dhabi - the more conservative, wealthier elder brother to the more adventurous and gregarious younger sibling -Dubai. Following Dubai's financial problems, it was Abu Dhabi that came to Dubai's rescue. Dubai captured the heart and imagination of investors during the glory days of 2002-2007. Although Dubai's economy was built on the back of the oil industry revenues from oil and natural gas account for less than 6% of the emirate's revenues. The emirate's share in UAE's gas revenues is about 2%. Dubai's oil reserves have diminished significantly and are expected to be exhausted in 20 years. When you compare this to Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s large hydrocarbon wealth gives it one of the highest GDP per capita in the world and Abu Dhabi owns the majority of these resources – 95% of the oil and 92% of gas. Abu Dhabi thus holds 9% of the world’s proven oil reserves and almost 5% of the world’s natural gas. Several businesses that established themselves in Dubai over the last decade have now relocated to Abu Dhabi to take advantage of a more secure, yet still dynamic and attractive business climate. Where you choose to start your business operations in the Gulf region depends on what you sell and who you target customers are.</div>
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When assessing whether or not to 'go for it' in terms of doing business in the Gulf region, another important indicator to consider and in fact a question many investors and business people ask is, "how easy is it to do business in the Gulf?" The vast majority of expatriate business professionals in the Gulf will recommend investing time and effort to understand the social and business culture across the Gulf. Each of the six GCC countries is unique in their own way, despite several commonalities. Simply transplanting western business practices (however successful you may have found them to be) in the Gulf will not yield dividends. Religion plays such a big role in all aspects of life across the Gulf region and wider Middle East, so spend some time to learn about Islam. Spend some time with Gulf Arabs, pick their brains, exchange ideas and get to feel the pulse of the business and social environment first hand. This will certainly make doing business in the Gulf less challenging. The World Bank also ranks the GCC economies on the ease of doing business by taking a close look at the regulatory reforms that have taken place in the country that make it more business friendly:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; max-width: 100%;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="219"><strong>Economy</strong></td><td align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="219"><strong>World Rank</strong></td><td align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="219"><strong>GCC Rank</strong></td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="219">Saudi Arabia</td><td align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="219">13</td><td align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="219">1</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="219">Bahrain</td><td align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="219">20</td><td align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="219">2</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="219">United Arab Emirates</td><td align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="219">33</td><td align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="219">3</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="219">Qatar</td><td align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="219">39</td><td align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="219">4</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="219">Kuwait</td><td align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="219">61</td><td align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="219">5</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="219">Oman</td><td align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="219">65</td><td align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="219">6</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">It is quite surprising for those of us who have first-hand experience of doing business in Saudi Arabia to see it perched at the top of the GCC list in the ‘ease of doing business’ stakes. While government reforms have substantially reduced bureaucratic red tape in recent years, doing business in Saudi perhaps more than any of the other GCC countries is about planning, influential connections and above all, patiently working the deal. The real challenge newcomers to the Saudi market face is actually closing deals. The typical sales cycle in Saudi Arabia compared is protracted in comparison to the rest of the GCC and one must be patient. Newcomers to the region can protect their interests in the context of an unfamiliar business environment by a) becoming as familiar as they can with Gulf business culture and ethics; b) acquiring a basic understanding about Islam; c) thoroughly researching the companies they do business with in the Gulf (in particular, the company's track record in dealing with foreign companies); d) securing a reliable local partner or intermediary to guide you early on; d) seeking appropriate legal advice when working on your first few deals.</span></div>
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A cursory examination of the playing field reveals a promising picture of the GCC’s financial climate in 2010 and beyond. Predicted growth of 5.2% by the IMF is well above that of most western countries still recovering from the global financial crisis. Oil prices, the foundation of the Gulf economy, are expected to remain above $75 a barrel throughout the year compared to $30-40 in early 2009, and new initiatives such as the Bahrain Chamber of Dispute Resolution are typical of a region keen to bolster investor confidence and encourage innovation across all sectors. A prime example of this ambition is the opening in January this year of the Samsung Medical Center in Dubai, a state of the art facility that adds health tourism to the great and growing list of sectors in which the GCC now competes at the highest level.</div>
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There are two main factors that make the GCC an attractive market for expansion in 2010. The first is that in a time when most banks are still throttling lending, the liquidity provided by rising oil prices gives companies operating in the Gulf more freedom to maneuver. The second factor is decreased competition from cautious competitors in superficially uncertain economic times. Every business leader worth their salt knows that the best time to be bold and invest is when your competitors are hesitating, allowing you to grab a larger slice of the market.</div>
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This is surely the view of South Africa’s popular ‘Spur’ chain of steakhouses, currently stealing a march on their competition in a crowded field of franchises by launching their first GCC restaurant this month in partnership with local experts AMA General Trading. No less than four new malls are set to open in Abu Dhabi this year, catering to a growing tourism industry and rising numbers of ex-pats settling in the region, and those folks will need somewhere to eat. They will also be safer than ever thanks to the Abu Dhabi Police Department’s recent deal with Canadian security tech firm EmerGeo to supply emergency and crisis management software. EmerGeo are one of many hi-tech companies enjoying fruitful relationships with local GCC partners, in this case Atlas Telecom. Atlas also works with EADS, Ultra Electronics, Marais Group and Harris in bringing international expertise to GCC markets.</div>
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High-tech, logistics and professional services in particular are all booming markets in the GCC, where the rapid expansion of businesses in so many diverse sectors is creating a need for much more developed infrastructure, support services and supply chains. As much as $150 billion has already been committed to infrastructure development in the GCC, which will in turn propel substantial growth in logistics, legal, accounting and other supporting fields of expertise.</div>
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For those considering filling that need this year, and indeed anyone contemplating expanding their business into this flourishing market, the most important thing to remember is that in the GCC, <em>it’s not what you know that is important so much as who you know</em>. Connections make or break deals in this part of the world much more than any other. If you have good friends working with you in the region, you can find that the normal rules of business are bent or broken to accommodate you. If, on the other hand, you approach the GCC markets from a strictly formal business perspective, you may find that doors which should logically be open are well and truly locked.</div>
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I remember one of my first business experiences in the region, when I worked solidly for months putting a deal together only to have it snatched away at the last moment and handed on a plate to the cousin of the General Manager of my prospective client organization. I had done all the hard graft and developed the entire blue-print of the solution my client was looking for. Little did I know that was just lining someone else’s pockets. Naïve, inexperienced Western business professionals can easily fall into this trap. In the Arab World, all business is personal. Once you have stepped onto the playing field in full awareness of this truth, you can actually use it to great advantage.</div>
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With this in mind then, I offer you my twelve top tips for doing business in the GCC:</div>
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<strong>1. Be careful when selecting and managing local partners.</strong> Gulf Arabs are charming to the core. The idea of signing a strategic partnership or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which is a regional favourite, with a foreign company is very appealing, and thus several less reputable Gulf-based companies will readily agree to become your local partner without necessarily thinking about your expectations of them and the drive to help and support you sell your products and services. Whilst there are several benefits to working with local partners and it is in fact compulsory in many places, do not rely on being flooded with leads and new orders. Local partners can be difficult to manage and generally high maintenance. The best way to approach a partnership is to look for commercial synergy between the two organizations and intellectual synergy between the people from both parties. How does your business compliment the local partner company and what difference will it make to the local partner to be aligned with your firm? What are the incentives for the local partner to help and support you and are these incentives considered a big deal? Can your would-be local partner really open doors for your and do they have the resources and intent to flex their political muscle (if any), or leverage their contacts and market position to help secure new business for you? Have you clearly defined the roles and responsibilities of both partners and is there a clear buy-in from the senior most management tier in the local partner company? Be sure that the people you will be working from your partner company are like-minded individuals with a clear understanding of their operational roles and responsibilities. Always maintain regular contact with the senior most management team in the local partner company. Keep them up-to-date with progress and inform them of good news as well as bad. If you confronted with bottle-necks, give them an opportunity to remove them. The likelihood is that the news they are getting from the inside is that all is hunky-dory. You must ensure you secure and maintain mindshare with the management at all times. You do not want to be working with middle-managers and other staff who you are finding difficulties in working with. It is in your interest to spend some time establishing a rapport with key contacts and stakeholders both personally and professionally, so that you’re confident the partner is someone you can definitely work with before you sign anything. If a Gulf-based organization comes recommended by a foreign company, lawyer or law firm or somebody you know professionally and trust, that’s a good base to work from.</div>
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<strong>2. Business and personal friendships are one and the same, and Arabs generally prefer to do business with people they know and like.</strong> Small talk is more than just a courtesy; it is a way of finding out whether you would be a suitable business partner. Engage in conversation freely and enthusiastically, and have a few stories in your back pocket to break the ice.</div>
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<strong>3. Gulf Arabs are exceptionally proud of their language, which is a strong, uniting bond right across the Arab world. </strong>Learning at least a few words of Arabic is an easy way to demonstrate that a relationship is personally important to you rather than just another business deal. Your effort will be greatly appreciated.</div>
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<strong>4. Gulf-based organizations can be many-tiered and difficult to penetrate.</strong> If you don’t have a business associate or influential friend who can help you find a way into a prospective customer, consider hiring a professional intermediary with clout to save you time, money and frustration in identifying and reaching the real decision makers you want to target. If you can contact one of your prospect’s existing suppliers/vendors or an individual they have done business with in the past, form a ‘sales taskforce’ in order to clinch a deal and avoid bottlenecks, so much the better. Teaming up with experienced, local business people and firms to close a big deal makes a lot of sense.</div>
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<strong>5. Decisions can take a long time, probably longer than you’re used to.</strong> Don’t be impatient, as this will reflect poorly on your character. Be flexible and prepared to accommodate shifting schedules. In fact, patience is the most valuable virtue you can demonstrate throughout your business and social life living and working in the Gulf. You can learn to demonstrate this most precious quality in the most frustrating of business situations, you will surely reap the rewards.</div>
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<strong>6. Body language is just as important as the spoken word.</strong> Your opposite number may be telling you with a raised eyebrow, reclined posture or tone of voice that it’s time to change tack. Your instinct will usually be enough to guide you provided you’re on the lookout for non-verbal signals.</div>
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<strong>7. Arabs will often speak in vague terms, generalities, stories and metaphors during negotiations. </strong>This is not a calculated effort to irritate you, but rather a method of dialogue that allows for communicating ideas without causing anyone else around the table to lose face. Insulting potential business partners through blunt demands or rejections can be fatal to a deal. Be subtle and always promise to consider requests. Likewise, you’ll need to make double-sure everyone in the room understands exactly what is on the table. Arabs may not ask for clarification for fear of losing face, so it’s up to you to make sure every angle is covered. Nobody will sign a deal they don’t fully understand. I recall a key business presentation I delivered many, many years ago in Saudi Arabia. I came out feeling on top of the world hoping to get a Purchase Order the close of the quarter. This was sometime in February. To my dismay, I discovered that my counterparts were expecting to get back to me by the <em>last</em> quarter! The moral of the story is don’t be fooled by several faces seemingly nodding in agreement with you. Avoid overloading senior Gulf Arabs with information. Keep it short and simple, delivered in bit sized pieces. Take extra care and time to ensure you have been understood.</div>
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<strong>8. The best way to communicate is always face to face. </strong>If this isn’t possible, make a phone call. The written word is considered less personal and less important, and you could find your letters and e-mails go unanswered for some time if you don’t at least follow up by phone. This is certainly the case with email. Some countries, like Saudi Arabia, don’t really do serious business by phone with Westerners, so a personal visit is your only option.</div>
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<strong>9. Know your host. </strong>The GCC countries share a common history and culture, yet there are also many differences in terms of their social outlook and approach to business. Treating all Arabs alike smacks of arrogance, and coming across as arrogant is just about the worst thing a western business person can do in this part of the world. If in doubt, err to the cautious and take your cues from the locals. It is always worthwhile hiring an intermediary to help guide you. Local chambers of commerce in the country you are in or a reputable local law firm can always help you out. The trade office of your homeland embassy will also be a smart port of call.</div>
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<strong>10. If you’re just starting out in the Gulf region, it’s a good idea to put together a few small, quick deals to see which companies are serious about doing business with you. </strong>If you want to do business with a particular company and see immense potential for significant business, just hang on before you go and pitch for a mega project. Aim for the low-hanging fruit first. Suggest pilot projects or try and close smaller deals. Once you have established a true meaningful relationship with the client, and have got them to part with<em>some </em>money, you can be more comfortable in spending your time and resources on the more strategic, high-value deals. Remember the story I told above about negotiating a time-consuming deal, only to have it snatched away at the last moment due to favoritism? Working with local partners to grab some ‘low-hanging fruit’ is a great way to get an accurate view of the landscape and enable you to better target your energies in pursuing bigger prizes.</div>
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<strong>11. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security by warm hospitality and civilized negotiations.</strong> Arabs can drive as hard a bargain as anyone else, so you should be prepared to be tough, yet respectful. A senior dealmaker will often demand concessions from you in order to demonstrate his authority, so be prepared for plenty of give and take even at a late stage in negotiations.</div>
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<strong>12. Saudi Arabia is the Golden Goose, but Saudi is a challenging place to sell your wares and deal making in general. </strong>Business visas can be difficult to obtain, issued at the discretion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Saudi Arabia and also local Embassies and Consulates. You may think you have all the paper work in place for a 6-month multiple-entry business visa and end up with a 30 or 60 day visas stamped when you open up your passport! Letters of Invitation now come through electronically via the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs web site. Invitations must originate from reputable companies in Saudi Arabia. Officially backed companies tend to face fewer problems getting people into the Kingdom. Once you can get into the Saudi market, the wealth of opportunity is well worth all the jumping through hoops.</div>
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If your business plan is solid, you’ve done your homework and you’re prepared to embrace a unique social and business culture, 2010 is shaping up to be a great year to take the plunge in the ambitious, rapidly-expanding economic zone that is the GCC.</div>
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Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-56323754387492229802016-09-13T16:31:00.000+05:002016-09-13T16:32:36.467+05:0020 Best Small Business ideas & Opportunities in Dubai UAE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjei0vr4pDFW5m2G7PCac1CaFLxAhyphenhyphen7RqnRtBEl4yPkEAQDTyFwclJIu7yX0eJty_Uon6I2r8g64uH2C-b_IaWNppuxT29ETfWHs_wNcv4v4hW-fqdrKHkXaeWa5n_m4TlSlIxRShRU/s1600/List-of-Top-Business-Opportunities-in-Dubai-UAE-620x330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjei0vr4pDFW5m2G7PCac1CaFLxAhyphenhyphen7RqnRtBEl4yPkEAQDTyFwclJIu7yX0eJty_Uon6I2r8g64uH2C-b_IaWNppuxT29ETfWHs_wNcv4v4hW-fqdrKHkXaeWa5n_m4TlSlIxRShRU/s320/List-of-Top-Business-Opportunities-in-Dubai-UAE-620x330.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: "arimo" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.008px; line-height: 24.0128px;">What are the best small </span>business opportunities in Dubai<span style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: "arimo" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.008px; line-height: 24.0128px;">? Are you interested in</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: "arimo" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.008px; line-height: 24.0128px;"> </span>starting a business in Dubai<span style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: "arimo" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.008px; line-height: 24.0128px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: "arimo" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.008px; line-height: 24.0128px;">but you don’t know the best business to start? Do you want to know what it takes to do business in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)? Then read on.</span></div>
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The United Arab Emirates is a business hub. Its commercial capital, Dubai, offers easy access to the 1.5 billion consumer markets situated in <i style="box-sizing: inherit;">Africa, West Asia, CIS countries, Eastern Europe</i>, as well as the neighboring Middle East countries.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 15.008px; line-height: 24.0128px;">Dubai and Qatar are some of the Arab countries people are trooping to now because of the favorable economy and job opportunities there. However, this article is not about finding a job in Dubai; it is about starting a business and creating jobs in Dubai. Now who should start a business in Dubai and why should people be encouraged to start a business in Dubai?</span></div>
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Well, running a business is definitely not for everyone; whether you are setting up in Dubai, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, etc. if you lack the guts, initiative and passion to run a business, you will never succeed regardless of where you find yourself.</div>
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Why You Should Start a Business in Dubai</h5>
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<li style="border: none; box-sizing: inherit; list-style: disc outside; margin: 4px 0px 4px 15px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Dubai is one of the topmost destinations for business people and investors in the whole of the Middle East. The government policy and the state of the art infrastructures support the growth of small businesses, as well as large corporations. Business opportunities in Dubai are not just open to the citizens of United Arab Emirates, but also to foreign investors as well. As a matter of fact, the foreign investors are wooed into Dubai because the presence of foreign business is a major boost to the economy of Dubai.</li>
<li style="border: none; box-sizing: inherit; list-style: disc outside; margin: 4px 0px 4px 15px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">There are many free trade zones in Dubai and that is why commerce and trade is at its peak in Dubai. People come from far and wide to shop in Dubai simply because they tend to get cheaper goods there.</li>
<li style="border: none; box-sizing: inherit; list-style: disc outside; margin: 4px 0px 4px 15px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Setting up a business in the UAE is very easy and straightforward. With progressive, forward-thinking policies by the government, the UAE encourages foreign investors to invest in the oil-rich country. In the UAE, investors are granted incentives and the procedures for setting up new businesses have been simplified by the government.</li>
<li style="border: none; box-sizing: inherit; list-style: disc outside; margin: 4px 0px 4px 15px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Another reason why UAE – Dubai, in particular is a fertile ground for businesses is that taxation is minimal and mostly non-existent. Only three sectors are significantly assessed in taxation – oil, banking, and tobacco processing.</li>
<li style="border: none; box-sizing: inherit; list-style: disc outside; margin: 4px 0px 4px 15px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">The government of Dubai has a long-term plan that focus heavily on growing new businesses. In this way, their economy will be supported for years. They have business laws that are really favorable. The tax-free environment is ideal for new and emerging businesses.</li>
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So if you are looking to invest in the UAE, then you will have no problems in terms of setting up your business. But there’s a need to know the best markets to invest in. without wasting time, below are the top 20 business opportunities in the UAE that will guarantee investors quick returns and long-term profit:</div>
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<span style="font-family: "roboto condensed" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.375rem; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5;">20 Best Small Business ideas & Opportunities in Dubai UAE</span></div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;">1. Construction</b></div>
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New buildings and structures are being erected in the UAE with each passing day. This opens a huge door of opportunities for engineers and other professionals in the building and construction sector. Similarly, investors can set up businesses that manufacture or sell raw materials used in building and construction.</div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.008px; line-height: 24.0128px;">2. Oil and gas</b></div>
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This has been the mainstay of the country’s economy for several years. And much of the riches presently enjoyed by the UAE can be attributed to the country’s oil sector. Despite being exploited for years, the oil sector still has enough room to accommodate new investors. Interested entrepreneurs can start their own businesses from scratch or partner with existing businesses.</div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;">3. Financial services</b></div>
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Because there are many large-scale businesses in the UAE, there is a proportionately huge demand for professionals that offer financial services – such as accountants, bookkeepers, and auditors. If you have a solid background in any of these financial specialties, you will make lots of profit by starting a business that offers financial services to businesses in the UAE.</div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;">4. Foods and snacks</b></div>
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Food businesses thrive everywhere and at all times. And the UAE isn’t an exception to this fact. There’s always a high demand for foods and snacks. So, you can make lots of cash in the UAE by starting a business that sells fast foods and snacks.</div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;">5. Healthcare</b></div>
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Like in other developed countries, the people of UAE are health conscious, and they show great concern for their health. This trend has led to an increase in the demand for professional healthcare service providers and facilities. If you are a healthcare professional looking to start a private business, the UAE is a very good place to establish it in.</div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;">6. Security</b></div>
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Even though there are less security concerns in the UAE than we have in most other developed countries, individuals and businesses aren’t taking chances with their assets. This has led to a rise in demand for security guards as well as security devices.</div>
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If you don’t have what it takes to set up a business that renders private security services, you can still make money in the security sector by selling security devices such as alarm systems and surveillance cameras.</div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;">7. Transport</b></div>
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There are huge opportunities in the transport sector because of the ever-high demand for transport services. Investors have the option to start a local taxi service or a trans-city transport services company.</div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;">8. Environment</b></div>
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Due to the rapid growth palpable in the UAE, various activities such as construction and industrialization are causing huge damage to the environment. And the people are becoming more aware of the benefits of protecting their environment. So, there are huge opportunities in the UAE for green living advocates as well as businesses that offer various environmental protection services such as waste recycling.</div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;">9. Tourism</b></div>
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Dubai is one of the world’s most preferred vacation destinations. And this explains why there are many five-star hotels in the city. UAE hosts several thousands of visitors every year, and this opens huge opportunities for businesses that cater to tourists in one way or another.</div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;">10. Energy</b></div>
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While there are enough players in the UAE’s energy sector, there are opportunities for businesses that help to maintain the various energy generation facilities available in the country. So, if you are looking to invest in the UAE, energy facility maintenance is one option you should consider if you have the required expertise and capital</div>
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Best Small Business Opportunities in Dubai</h4>
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11. <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Trading</strong></div>
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Traders from around the globe usually meet in Dubai to exchange goods and services. The phrase “<i style="box-sizing: inherit;">exports and imports</i>” is very common since the people’s major source of income is from trading. You can actually export or import any marketable products such as dried fruits, textiles, fashion materials and accessories, plastic goods, and vehicles.</div>
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12. <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Business Franchises</strong></div>
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Business franchising is a new concept in Dubai. Due to a huge expat population as well as mixed preferences of the people living here, this concept is working really well for some years now. You can get a business franchise in the fast food industry as this is one of the fastest growing industries in Dubai.</div>
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13. <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Travel Agency</strong></div>
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Since Dubai is one of the major tourist destinations in the world, a travel agency is a good business to start. Millions of tourists will be going to and from Dubai annually. The total population of the place is also heavily packed with expats from various countries.</div>
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14. <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Jewelry Making and Retailing</strong></div>
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Dubai is known throughout the world as the “<i style="box-sizing: inherit;">Mecca of Gold</i>” and the so-called “<i style="box-sizing: inherit;">Dubai Diamonds</i>” are always sought for. You can setup shop as either as a jewelry maker, bead maker or jewelry merchant.</div>
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15. <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Specialty Schools</strong> – Since Dubai is full of expats of various nationalities, specialty schools are needed. You can think of any kind of granular specialty school and make some money out of it. This is a business opportunity that you can consider now.</div>
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16. <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Childcare Facilities</strong></div>
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Majority of the population in Dubai are working class professionals. Now when both husband and wife are working professionals, they usually turn to a childcare facility to care for their youngsters. You may contemplate on this one, too.</div>
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17. <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Real Estate</strong></div>
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Dubai was once a desert but not anymore. Believe it or not, real estate is one of the biggest industries in the country. Construction firms often race for projects in various segments including housing, industrial, and logistics among other construction project categories.</div>
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18. <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Bars, Entertainment houses and Night Clubs</strong></div>
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Dubai is a country is full of busy people and what do they do when the afternoon bell rings to signal the end of the working day? They spend some time together to have a drink or two to get rid of the stress from the daily grind. You can setup a night life entertainment scene especially for expatriates.</div>
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19. <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Job Agencies</strong></div>
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Another hot business opportunity in Dubai are job agencies specifically for skilled laborers. With a fast growing economy, a lot of skilled employees are needed to keep industries in various sectors going. The country is in terrible need of accountants, IT experts, nurses, engineers, and construction personnel among many others.</div>
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20. <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Multi-Level Marketing</strong> – There are tough laws against pyramid schemes in Dubai. But once you acquire the government approval on your business, the opportunity is unlimited.</div>
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Starting a Business in Dubai UAE – Important Facts You Must Know</h3>
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In as much as starting a business in Dubai is considered to be very lucrative and rewarding, it is also a risky venture especially if you are a foreign investor. Being a foreign investor means that you would need a citizen to partner with in Dubai before you can be allowed to float a company and the citizen (partner) will own the lion share of the business.</div>
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If you intend starting your business in Dubai, then you must ensure that you play by the books or else you will lose your investment. There is little or no room for shady business to survive in Dubai. Over and above, you stand the chance of making huge returns on your investment in Dubai if you follow the right channel before establishing your business. <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Here are some steps you need to follow if you want to start your business in Dubai;</em></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">a. Conduct Your Feasibility Studies</strong></div>
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No doubt Dubai business environment is open to people of all races and culture, but nevertheless, it is important to follow due process before setting up any business. One of the most important steps that you need take is to conduct your own feasibility studies; you must have a good knowledge of Dubai if you intend maximizing profits. Just ensure that you conduct your market survey, study your competitors and design strategies that will help you survive as an investor in Dubai.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">b. Write Your Business Plan</strong></div>
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Investing in a foreign country is serious business; hence you would need a viable business plan. As a matter of fact, your business plan will not just survive the purpose of providing guide for you, but also it will help you attract foreign partners. You would also be required to submit your business intention to the regional governing body in Dubai for approval before you can be granted business license to operate.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">c. Seek for Local Business Partners (Citizen of UAE)</strong></div>
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Before establishing in a business in Dubai as a foreign investor, you are required by the law to have a local business partner; a citizen of UAE or a local company in Dubai. Besides having a local partner, the law also ensures that the local business partner owns majority of the share.</div>
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So, ensure that you scrutinize various local partners before making your choice. Local partners can end your business anytime they so desire especially if they are greedy and selfish. The rule of thumb when sourcing for local business partner is to go through the local chambers of commerce (Dubai Chambers of Commerce and Industry). This is one of the laws that are under serious review because it is not encouraging to foreign investors.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">d. Raise the Required Startup Capital (Financial Commitment)</strong></div>
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Before you can be allowed to invest in Dubai, you will be required to show the government of the region that you have the minimum amount required in your account. The required amount ranges between $10,000 and $50,000 and this is subject the review by the different fee zones in Dubai.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">e. Leverage Free Zones</strong></div>
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There are various free trade zones in Dubai and these areas are favorable to foreign investors. If you setup your business in a fee trade zone in Dubai, you will be granted exemptions from import and export duties, commercial taxes, land tax, building and property license fee and restrictions on the transfer of capital invested in the free trade zone.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">f. Register Your Business</strong></div>
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You are expected to have fulfilled certain requirements before approaching the ministry of commerce in Dubai to register your business. If you are not clear about what to do, you can consult an attorney who is specialized in helping foreign investors register businesses in Dubai. There are loads of them there and their fee is moderate compare to what is obtainable in New York, Milan, Tokyo and London, et al.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">g. Promote Your Business</strong></div>
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If you are able to successfully start a business in Dubai, then you would have to promote your business via all the available platforms. For example if you own a hotel in Dubai, then you should take advantage of tourist magazines and relevant online medium to advertise your hotel.</div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;"></b></div>
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Doing business in Dubai would be one of the greatest achievements you may have attained when you follow through on these tips. Be sure to stay current by always researching ways to horn your business skills for the better.</div>
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Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-73059902458565080292016-09-13T16:25:00.000+05:002016-09-13T16:25:04.521+05:00Starting a Business All you need to know to start a business in Dubai<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There are three major considerations to be made by those thinking of starting a business in Dubai. However, keep in mind that Dubai welcomes foreign investment greatly, so their restrictions are amongst the most liberal around the world.</div>
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The Dubai government offers different types of business models to be chosen from by foreign investors, such as direct sale, commercial agency arrangements, branch or representative office, limited liability company and special free zone investment.</div>
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Here are the three things you must know before starting a business in Dubai:</div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: initial; text-align: justify;">You must have a good knowledge of the region. Be prepared to undertake extensive research into the business sector you aim to operate within. You must have a viable business plan, which includes a study of the market conditions, the competition and your forecast results. You must be prepared to find the necessary investment from your own resources or through your bank and preferably by other means than applying locally, particularly if you’re new to the region and without a track record. A credible plan might attract local support, possibly government support.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: initial; text-align: justify;">The law requires that you have a local partner who holds the majority interest and can therefore control the business, which includes closing it if necessary. The partner will own 51% of the company, therefore being able to call all the shots regarding it. Be it a company or an individual, the local partner doesn’t need to contribute to the start-up investment or participate financially at all. As with self-employment, there are various ways that a partner can be remunerated. The local partner requirement is currently under review in some states, however, in order to encourage foreign investment.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: initial; text-align: justify;">When the business is registered, you must show the Ministry of Commerce that you have a substantial sum of money to invest. The required sum varies between the states (it’s between $10,000/£6,500 and $50,000/£33,500 in most cases) and is regarded as a guarantee against liabilities, although you may withdraw the money shortly afterwards!</li>
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Take into account that if you want to own 100% of your company and do not want to have a local partner, the only possibility is to start a business in the Free Zone. However, if your business requires to be near the city, it will probably go bankrupt quickly in the Free Zone as it is a far away place. Additionally, rental costs in the Free Zone are most likely to be higher than regular rental prices within the city.</div>
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In order to start you business, you must be aware that the process is complex and financially risky, meaning that local knowledge is crucial. You must also consult a good lawyer from the outset. An experienced lawyer will guide you through the registration complexities and his help will be vital in protecting your interests. This applies whether you’re opening a modest shop or a major enterprise. As is the case all over the world, there are unofficial businesses operating in the region, but if anything goes wrong or you’re ripped off, you have no legal recourse whatsoever.</div>
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Don’t let these warnings put you off. All isn’t doom and gloom, and many people have developed successful, highly profitable businesses in Dubai. New operations are encouraged by the authorities and your local partner might be enthusiastically supportive (or he might be a severe liability, so make sure you do your research and choose wisely). Export and manufacturing industries are especially strongly supported by government, particularly as regards the acquisition of land on which to construct a factory. If you set up such a business in a free trade zone, of which there are several in the region, it’s granted exemptions from import and export duties, commercial taxes, building and property licence fees, land tax and restrictions on the transfer of capital invested in the zone.</div>
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An alternative to starting a new business is to buy a going concern, which is a more straightforward process, as it doesn’t involve lodging capital, obtaining sponsorship or registration; all you have to do is agree a price and transfer the ownership of the business.</div>
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Local Chambers of Commerce can advise about start-ups and are adept at cherry-picking potentially profitable newcomers to the region. Winning the confidence and support of a Chamber of Commerce will help your cause. Contact details are as follows:</div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: initial; text-align: justify;">Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, PO Box 1457, UAE</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: initial; text-align: justify;">(Tel. 971-4-221 181)</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: initial; text-align: justify;">Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry, PO Box 8886, Dubai, UAE (Tel. 971-4-212 977)</li>
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When doing business with Arabs, you will probably meet with hard but polite bargaining and find them expert at it. You need to be completely confident about the contents of your contractual agreement. If there are gaps, Arabs are brilliant at finding and exploiting them. Nevertheless, in the vast majority of cases, Arab businessmen meet their obligations fully. The experience of doing business with them is likely to be pleasant and friendly, and the trust built up on both sides will be long-lasting.</div>
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Incidentally, Arabs rarely say a direct ‘no’ to a proposition, so you must listen and observe carefully. Look out for signs that tell you that someone is accepting without really wanting to do much, as there’s a good chance that the project will go nowhere.</div>
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Before starting your business and looking into everything, make sure you meet your visa eligibility and requirements. You will need a visa that allows you to live and work in Dubai. If you plan on bringing on more foreigners onto the project, you need to work closely with your local partner in order for them to sponsor your employment visas.</div>
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The potential gains of starting and running your own business are great, but it isn’t for the faint-hearted. You need to remember that you aren’t a citizen of the country and when the time comes to leave and sell your interests, your partner has time on his side, while you might not.</div>
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Company Registration & Legal Obligations</h3>
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Corporate law in Dubai is similar to that in western countries, in that businesses can be run as limited liability operations, private companies or other types of concern. As discussed, setting up a business or buying a going concern can be complex and you must obtain local legal advice and guidance about registration formalities. As a foreigner, you’re likely to use a western/Arab joint venture law firm. When choosing, seek the advice of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, the DTI, Middle East Association and your Embassy’s commercial sections.</div>
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Western expatriates are generally well qualified – they don’t find work if they aren’t – and these qualifications are carefully checked with the issuing bodies, irrespective of where they were obtained. Western expatriates therefore tend to occupy senior positions, with commensurate salaries and perks. Workers from south-east Asia and the Indian sub-continent (who are sometimes – politically incorrectly – referred to as ‘Third Country Nationals’ or ‘TCNs’) usually occupy menial, unskilled or semi-skilled jobs and are paid accordingly.</div>
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Even those with professional qualifications and experience as good as those of a westerner are unlikely to enjoy similar benefits, as the remuneration of foreign workers is related to what they would expect to earn in their home countries, which is invariably higher for westerners. However, this situation is beginning to change, especially in the field of technology.</div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" id="eztoc982902_0_2" name="eztoc982902_0_2" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01a2c4; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; line-height: 24px;"></a></div>
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A powerful sponsor or employer is a great weapon with officialdom, and observing his skilful negotiating can be an enlightening experience. The authorities, however, are usually helpful and don’t tend to be difficult unless they have good reason. You will find your working life in the region easier if you’re polite and patient. Smile and seek ‘advice’: requesting advice confers respect on the person asked and you will generally find that Arabs are friendly and helpful. Note that the recruitment of foreign staff is an expensive exercise for employers, including recruitment consultant fees, legal expenses and travel costs. As a result, few employers put their investment at risk by treating employees badly, and the great majority of expatriates prosper in Dubai for many years. For specific marketing tips and strategies for your busines (particularly for getting a handle on the expat market) visit <a href="https://expatmarketing.com/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #01a2c4; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">ExpatMarketing.com</a>.</div>
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Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-80437532508054337122016-09-13T16:22:00.001+05:002016-09-13T16:22:35.711+05:0011 steps to starting a business in UAE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1LYoxJo-jpcMQkfMnzf42xEeTas8b3vr2EUJQmHdi9ywjBa13MGW7dV3QM4KakP4le_W9gpaCbqgAWWndpWReVNIHYROG7RkSM3fklXSy3j4ZfYW4HXLc9yk6eJRHK5xo9aPKgbB/s1600/Start-Your-Business-Dubai-UAE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1LYoxJo-jpcMQkfMnzf42xEeTas8b3vr2EUJQmHdi9ywjBa13MGW7dV3QM4KakP4le_W9gpaCbqgAWWndpWReVNIHYROG7RkSM3fklXSy3j4ZfYW4HXLc9yk6eJRHK5xo9aPKgbB/s320/Start-Your-Business-Dubai-UAE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Dubai: It takes 11 procedures to start a business, 21 procedures to deal with a trade licence spanning 62 days in the UAE, according to the latest World Bank report on business benchmarking.</div>
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In comparison, it requires just two procedures and two days to start a business in Australia – the best in the world, said Doing Business 2008, being released today by the World Bank – an advance copy of which was obtained by Gulf News.</div>
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However, issuance of a trade licence in itself does not take more than 10 to 15 days, investment advisors say.</div>
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"Generally, it takes 9-11 steps and about 15 days to start a company in the UAE. If you take the labour permission and recruitment, then you can add 20 more days, that's all. It may not take 62 days," Raju Menon, managing partner of Morison Menon, investment advisors.</div>
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Traders have to process eight documents in 13 days to import goods and nine sets of documents in 13 days to export goods in and out of the UAE.</div>
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Singapore has the fastest turnaround period of just three days to handle a container of import shipment – from clearing the paperwork, clear the container from the port to transfer to company warehouse and unpacking. The same is done in 20 days in Saudi Arabia, 38 days in Lebanon and 101 days in Iraq – the report says.</div>
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Traders shell out $462 to clear a container for either importing or exporting goods through the UAE ports while the same costs $367 in Singapore, $758 in Saudi Arabia, $935 in Kuwait, $1,900 in Syria and $3,400 in Iraq.</div>
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It takes on an average of only 12 hours to pay taxes or fees in the UAE – the least time in the world – compared to 62 hours in Oman, 79 hours in Saudi Arabia, 180 hours in Lebanon and 711 hours in Egypt.</div>
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“While the business environment is improving worldwide, entrepreneurs in the Middle East still face major challenges,'' Simeon Djankov, lead author of the report, said in a statement.</div>
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These are in such areas as minority shareholder protections, court efficiency, and insolvency procedures and laws.''</div>
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For example, on one measure of investor protections, the ease of shareholder suits, Iran scores zero out of 10, while Morocco scores 1 and the UAE 2.</div>
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In Lebanon, resolving a commercial dispute in the courts take 721 days on average, and in the UAE the process involves 50 procedures from the moment the plaintiff files a lawsuit in court until the moment of payment.</div>
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However, there are certain positive indicators that would make the government regulators happy.</div>
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The report says land registry in the UAE comes with one of the lowest number of procedures.</div>
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It takes only three procedures and just six days to register a plot of land in the UAE compared to 14 procedures in Algeria and 193 days in Egypt to register a property.</div>
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Property registry costs 28.1 per cent of the property value in Syria, 10 per cent in Jordan, 3 per cent in Oman, 2 per cent in the UAE and is nearly free in Saudi Arabia, according to the report.</div>
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The UAE has one of the lowest recovery rates in bankruptcy, at 10.1 per cent compared to 33.6 per cent in Kuwait, 30.8 per cent in Syria, 51.5 per cent in Tunisia and 92.6 per cent in Japan – the best recovery rate in the world.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: 700;">Top reformer</span></div>
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Egypt is the top reformer in the world for 2006/07, finds Doing Business 2008—the fifth in an annual series issued by the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).</div>
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Egypt outpaced other reformers worldwide and in the Middle East and North Africa in making it easier to do business, with improvements in five of the 10 areas studied by the report, it said.</div>
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Egypt cut the minimum capital required to start a business, from 50,000 Egyptian pounds to just 1,000 and halved the time and cost of start-up. It reduced fees for registering property from 3 percent of the property value to a low, fixed amount. It eased the bureaucracy that builders face in getting construction permits.</div>
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Saudi Arabia — the seventh-fastest reformer globally and second-fastest in the region — joined the ranks of the top 25 countries worldwide on the ease of doing business. It had reforms in three of the 10 areas studied.</div>
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The country has made starting a business more accessible by eliminating what had been, in U.S. dollar terms, the highest minimum capital requirement in the world.</div>
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Saudi Arabia, the runner-up reformer in the region, eliminated the minimum capital requirement of 1,057 per cent of income per capita and reduced the days needed for company start-up from 39 to 15. It launched a commercial credit bureau whose reports include the credit exposure of companies.</div>
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The Middle East and North Africa saw 22 reforms in all—and three negative changes—in 11 of its economies. The region ranks fourth in the world—behind Eastern Europe and Central Asia, South Asia, and the OECD high-income countries—on the pace of reform.</div>
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“The report finds that equity returns are highest in countries that are reforming the most,'' said Michael Klein, World Bank/IFC Vice President for Financial and Private Sector Development.</div>
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“Investors are looking for upside potential, and they find it in economies that are reforming — regardless of their starting point,'' he added.</div>
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Large emerging markets are reforming fast: Egypt, China, India, Vietnam, and Turkey all improved in the ease of doing business. The report also finds that as more countries simplify regulation to make it easier to do business, more entrepreneurs are going into business.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: 700;">Doing Business in the UAE</span></div>
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1. 11 procedures to start a business</div>
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2. 62 days to start a business</div>
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3. Eight procedures needed for importing goods</div>
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4. 13 days needed to clear a container from port and unpack goods</div>
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5. Nine procedures and 13 days needed to pack and ship a container</div>
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6. $462 needed to ship a container</div>
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7. It takes only three procedures and just six days to register a plot of land in the UAE</div>
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8. Property registry costs 2 per cent of the property value in the UAE.</div>
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9. 10.1 per cent recovery rate in case of bankruptcy - one of the lowest</div>
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10. It takes on an average of only 12 hours to pay taxes or fees in the UAE</div>
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Source: Doing Business 2008 report, World Bank and IFC</div>
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<span style="font-weight: 700;">Doing Business Report</span></div>
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1. Doing Business 2008 is the fifth in a series of annual reports investigating the regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. </div>
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2. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across the economies.</div>
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3. Regulations affecting 10 stages of a business's life are measured such as: starting a business, dealing with licenses, employing workers, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and closing a business.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: 700;">Doing Business 2008 findings</span></div>
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1. Egypt Is World's Top Reformer of Regulation</div>
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2. Saudi Arabia Joins Top 25 on Ease of Doing Business</div>
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3. Data in Doing Business 2008 are current as of June 1, 2007.</div>
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4. Doing Business 2008 ranks 178 economies on the ease of doing business, including 46 in Sub-Saharan Africa, 31 in Latin America and the Caribbean, 28 in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, 24 in East Asia and Pacific, 17 in the Middle East and North Africa and 8 in South Asia—as well as 24 OECD high-income economies as benchmarks. </div>
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5. Singapore tops the rankings for the second year running. </div>
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6. The others in the top 25 are, in order, New Zealand, USA, Hong Kong (China), Denmark, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, Iceland, Norway, Japan, Finland, Sweden, Thailand, Switzerland, Estonia, Georgia, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Latvia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Austria. </div>
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7. The ranking countries in the Middle East and North Africa are Saudi Arabia (23), Israel (29), Kuwait (40), and Oman (49), the UAE (68).</div>
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Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-37914393561732286162016-09-06T17:37:00.000+05:002016-09-06T17:37:04.550+05:004 Useful Tips To Obtain Dubai Visa at Low Price<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgh_BhykPnB2Y6I4D2pUokVQrvwNGNzVi2yOyPJmtxmu8eCuou34wf5nE3F4xf0kfO_u9clTdtyueS91PPa39nPPvRU-6B-TQTSFa3lZqxRqsIOp2p3I7G5-YXFCOwEZY0qXy9Kk7m/s1600/traveldocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgh_BhykPnB2Y6I4D2pUokVQrvwNGNzVi2yOyPJmtxmu8eCuou34wf5nE3F4xf0kfO_u9clTdtyueS91PPa39nPPvRU-6B-TQTSFa3lZqxRqsIOp2p3I7G5-YXFCOwEZY0qXy9Kk7m/s320/traveldocs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">If you are thinking about to travel to Dubai, then first important thing you need is your visa to Dubai. There are different types of </span></span><b style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.dubaivisa.ng/dubai-visa-supplier" style="color: #b4661c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Dubai Visas</a></b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> are available for </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">travelers</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> who wish to visit Dubai, only </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">traveler</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> need to choose convenient visa for their visit depending upon travel plan and budget. If you are applying for first time then it may be difficult for some </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">travelers</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> to decide for which visa they should apply and how they will get it at low price.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">So, here we have given few useful tips to obtain Dubai Visa at low price.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">1. Choose Best Dubai Visa Supplier:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The complete Dubai visa application method is done as per the visitor’s nationality. Visa seeker can apply for Dubai Visa either visiting the embassy or applying online with visa suppler. It is your responsibility to search your suitable visa supplier which gives you best visa services. By doing little research you will find a so many visa suppliers who provides Dubai Visa Suppliers across the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Here we would like to suggest you one of the best Dubai visa supplier <b><a href="http://dubaivisa.ng/" style="color: #b4661c; text-decoration: none;">DubaiVisa.ng</a>. </b>They really deliver you affordable and hassle free visa service.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">2. Apply For Appropriate Dubai Visa:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">While applying for Dubai Visa you may found different types of Dubai visa for you. While applying With DubaiVisa.ng I found following different visa options including single entry visas and Multiple Entry visas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Single Entry</span></u></b><u><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">:</span></u><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> The visitors can call for single entry visas if they want to visit Dubai for a single time only.</span></div>
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<li style="border: none; line-height: 22.275px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -0.25in;">14 Days</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -0.25in;">30 Days</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -0.25in;">90 Days</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span><b style="line-height: 22.275px;"><u><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Multiple Entry</span></u></b><u style="line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">:</span></u><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> The visitors can call for multiple entry visas if they want to visit Dubai for several times.</span></div>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -0.25in;">30 Days Multiple Entry</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -0.25in;">90 Days Multiple Entry</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">So while applying for visa you need to choose best suitable visa for your Dubai trip depending upon your budget and travel plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">3. Apply for Visa as soon as possible:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The Dubai visa fees are different for each category of visa. It also differs, if you want your visa within a short period of time. The <b>DubaiVisa.ng</b> offers 3 types of visa processing mode.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Normal Visa:</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Visitors who have an adequate time to get their visa can apply for Normal visa<b>.</b>Normal Visa process takes 3 to 4 working days to complete visa process, but visa processing charges are very less.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Express Visa:</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Visitors who wants their visa within short period of time then they can choose <b><a href="http://www.dubaivisa.ng/dubai-visa-supplier" style="color: #b4661c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Express visa service</a>. </b>Express visa takes<b> </b>1 to 2 working days for Visa processing but visa processing charges are little higher than normal visa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="line-height: 22.275px;"><u><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Urgent Visa:</span></u></b><b style="line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Visitors who need a very urgent visit to Dubai can apply for </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Urgent Dubai visa</span><b style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">.</b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Urgent Visa takes only 24 hours to process visa but </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">traveler</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> need to pay additional processing fees.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">4. Apply For Dubai Visa Online<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Choosing online visa application mode saves time, effort and money also. With <b>DubaiVisa.ng</b>, you can apply for Dubai Visa online without any hassle and by spending less visa processing charges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -0.25in;">Submit an online visa application form</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -0.25in;">Upload required documents.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -0.25in;">Pay visa processing fees.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -0.25in;">Receive your visa via email.</span></li>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Final Words:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">If you are really looking for Dubai Visa and want it affordable price and without any hassle, then the above given tips are very useful for you. These tips help you in which type of Dubai visa is suitable for you, how to spend less for your visa and steps to apply for Dubai Visa online. DubaiVisa.ng is also available on play store so, download <b><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.technoheaven.dubaivisa" style="color: #b4661c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Dubai Visa</a></b> app now to apply for Dubai visa at anytime, anywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">For more information please visit us on: <b><a href="http://dubaivisa.ng/" style="color: #b4661c; text-decoration: none;">dubaivisa.ng</a></b> or drop a mail us on <b><a href="mailto:info@dubaivisa.ng" style="color: #b4661c; text-decoration: none;">info@dubaivisa.ng</a>.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-48892802152308328092016-08-10T11:23:00.001+05:002016-08-10T11:23:50.781+05:00Starting an Online Business in Singapore Part 1: Introduction<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This article is part 1 of GuideMeSingapore’s five-part guide on starting an online business in Singapore and outlines a step-by-step process that can help you start a new online business. A disclaimer: please note that this is neither a comprehensive compilation of all relevant information on this topic nor professional advice; it is merely a high-level overview of the steps involved in launching a new E-commerce focused business venture in Singapore.</div>
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E-commerce is one of the fastest growing segments in most global markets. While starting an online venture can potentially be a rewarding business option, it involves more than just setting up a website and getting started on sales. Starting an e-commerce business requires proper planning, a significant investment of time, creativity and of course certain amount of initial capital.</div>
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Step 1: Research, analyze and plan</h2>
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The first step towards setting up an online business is to think of a viable business idea that caters to a market need. Your potential audience can be broad or niche but there must be a specific need that your business should target to fulfill. However, somewhere between an idea in your head and actually starting an online business, there needs to be intense brainstorming and planning which will ultimately determine your success or failure in the business. Proper market research, analysis, and planning can prove invaluable in determining your idea’s potential. It is important to assess the viability of your idea before you dive into incorporating your business and start spending your hard-earned money on the venture. Your research and planning should give you the information you need to either go ahead with your idea, fine-tune it, take it back to the drawing board or discard it.</div>
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Once you have done your research and analysis, you should come up with a realistic working plan of action for your online e-commerce business. Such a plan should address the following questions:</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #303030; font-family: daxpro-regular, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.96px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 22.032px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: url("images/sprite.png") -945px -1387px no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 7px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Decide what you’re selling. Outline the key features and benefits of your online products or services.</li>
<li style="background: url("images/sprite.png") -945px -1387px no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 7px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Identify who your potential customers are and how you will reach out to them. In other words, chalk out the sales and marketing strategy.</li>
<li style="background: url("images/sprite.png") -945px -1387px no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 7px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Work out what product or service features have the best value proposition that you can deliver initially with your limited resources. Try to identify the minimal set of features or capabilities that will allow you to get your first customers. Make those features or capabilities your first product or service. You can always add more once the revenue stream has started; remember “perfect can be the enemy of good”.</li>
<li style="background: url("images/sprite.png") -945px -1387px no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 7px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Conduct a cash-flow analysis and identify your start-up costs, operating costs, revenues, and profits. Stay conservative and do not be overly optimistic about your business prospects. Make sure you are able to identify and cope with your worst case scenario. In particular, plan your cash flows such that you can weather through your worst case scenario for a set period of time.</li>
<li style="background: url("images/sprite.png") -945px -1387px no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 7px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Figure out how your product or service might fare against existing offerings. Analyze your competition and get a sense of how to price your product or service, how to target the right customers and how to make your company stand out, particularly in a crowded marketplace.</li>
<li style="background: url("images/sprite.png") -945px -1387px no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 7px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">As you assemble your business plan and answer the above questions, you will see opportunities to fine-tune your concept, avoid problems that could become disasters and ultimately increase your odds of success.</li>
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Step 2: Educate yourself on starting an online business in Singapore</h2>
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Get an understanding of the regulatory landscape for your idea, you may have to comply with laws that may increase your costs, alternatively you may be able to obtain tax benefits or grants that can help your funding situation. The more informed you are, the better you can plan ahead, minimize business risks and improve your chances of success. We suggest that you start with reading the following four articles in our five-part series of starting an online business in Singapore:</div>
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<li style="background: url("images/sprite.png") -945px -1387px no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 7px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Starting an Online Business in Singapore – Industry Overview</li>
<li style="background: url("images/sprite.png") -945px -1387px no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 7px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Starting an Online Business in Singapore – Regulatory Regime</li>
<li style="background: url("images/sprite.png") -945px -1387px no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 7px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Starting an Online Business in Singapore – Taxation</li>
<li style="background: url("images/sprite.png") -945px -1387px no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 7px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Starting an Online Business in Singapore – Funding and Financial Assistance</li>
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Step 3: Incorporate your business</h2>
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Before you can execute your plan and begin operations, you must incorporate your business. Remember that your choice of business structure will determine your exposure to liability, your taxes, and your ability to raise capital and run the business.</div>
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Most entrepreneurs prefer to incorporate a private limited company in Singapore due to its numerous advantages; these include legal entity status, limited liability, credible image, perpetual succession, and tax incentives. Furthermore, registering a private limited company in Singapore is quick and easy involving just two procedures that can be completed within 24 hours in most cases.</div>
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Step 4: Establish necessary infrastructure</h2>
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Depending on the product or service you plan to sell, you may need a supporting infrastructure. Infrastructure includes anything you need to make the sale and delivery of your products/services to your online customers. This can include facilities, staff, IT systems and business processes to support the functional areas of your business. Choosing the correct infrastructure that matches your business strategy enables your operations to run efficiently. The list below is not comprehensive but it is a good starting point for you to start thinking about the various elements of your infrastructure:</div>
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<strong style="background-color: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Website Design and Development</strong></div>
<ul style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 10px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: url("images/sprite.png") -941px -1033px no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 10px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Register a domain name. To put it simply, your domain name equates to your identity in the online world. It gives your website its own unique web address. Naturally, it should be a name that can be recalled easily and one that is easy to spell and pronounce. The name should help consumers associate your company with its products or services.</li>
<li style="background: url("images/sprite.png") -941px -1033px no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 10px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Find a hosting service provide for your website. Choose a hosting provider that provides prompt and quality customer support, uptime guarantee, generous disk space and bandwidth, high level of internet security, multiple platform support, and reasonable hosting fees. Amazon Web Services is a very good option in this regard.</li>
<li style="background: url("images/sprite.png") -941px -1033px no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 10px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Design and develop your website. E-commerce sites, like any site, need to build traffic and turn visitors into customers. However, ecommerce sites also need to address other important issues such as product catalog, shopping cart, checkout process, payment processing, security, etc. Choosing the right ecommerce platform is one of the most important decisions you will make in your business. There are many cost-effective solutions that are available in this regard.</li>
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<li style="background: url("images/sprite.png") -945px -1387px no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 7px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong style="background-color: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Website Marketing & Advertising</strong></div>
<ul style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 10px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: url("images/sprite.png") -941px -1033px no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 10px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Website marketing is the process by which you bring visitors to your site. Often business owners tend to opt for online advertising in order to quickly draw in potential customers. However, the problem with advertising based marketing alone is that ads have no long term benefits. A more permanent marketing approach is to create valuable content related to your product/service that your target customers want. By offering great content you earn the trust of the visitor, you build up a network of followers who help to spread your content and brand awareness. This in turn adds to your online visibility and reputation. The content you create is permanent. Over time, search engines such as Google will send more traffic to the content you publish to your site.</li>
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<strong style="background-color: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">IT Infrastructure for Operations & Customer Support</strong></div>
<ul style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 10px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: url("images/sprite.png") -941px -1033px no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 10px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">It is important to have a great website that is highly ranked in Google and allows your customer to easily place orders. In addition, you also need to have a very efficient IT systems for order processing and customer support. The level of sophistication of such a system will depend on your anticipated needs. Invest in a system that allows you to start small with minimum investment but can scale easily as your business grows. You have many options in this regard: you can (a) build and host your own system, (b) outsource the development and then manage the system going forward, or (c) use a hosted, software-as-a-service platform that is turnkey and externally managed. You should also explore investing in a robust customer relationship management and email management solution.</li>
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<li style="background: url("images/sprite.png") -945px -1387px no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 7px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong style="background-color: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Product/Service Fulfillment</strong></div>
<ul style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 10px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: url("images/sprite.png") -941px -1033px no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 10px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Once the customer has placed an order, you need to deliver the product/service to your customer as advertised. For this you need staff, space and potentially inventory stock. Make sure you are ready to deliver the products/services that you are advertising on your site – nothing kills a business faster than an inability to deliver what has been sold.</li>
<li style="background: url("images/sprite.png") -941px -1033px no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 10px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">If your online business is at a very small scale, you can explore the possibility of having a home office. Singapore’s Home Office Scheme is of particular significance in this regard. Under the Home Office Scheme, owners, tenants, or persons authorized to live in private or HDB (Housing Development Board) property are allowed to conduct small-scale businesses within their homes, as long as their business activities do not fall under the scheme’s negative list. Note that the premises must be used primarily for residential purposes with only part of it being used as an office. In order to set up your home office in Singapore, you need to register with the Housing & Development Board (for HDB premises) or Urban Redevelopment Authority (for private premises) and comply with the terms and conditions of the scheme. Note that in order to qualify for the Home Office Scheme, your business must be registered with the Singapore Company Registrar, ACRA beforehand.</li>
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<li style="background: url("images/sprite.png") -945px -1387px no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 7px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong style="background-color: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bookkeeping and Finance</strong></div>
<ul style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 10px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: url("images/sprite.png") -941px -1033px no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 10px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Plan and manage your business finances carefully. Launching an e-commerce business will likely require an investment of several thousand dollars. Starting an online business is not just about setting up a website but rather involves investing in startup costs, marketing, advertising, technology, inventory, staffing, office rental, etc. There will be ongoing operational costs and your ability to plan and manage the cash flow will be very crucial to the success of your business.</li>
<li style="background: url("images/sprite.png") -941px -1033px no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 10px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">You can manage your bookkeeping and finance administration activities (a) in-house, (b) through an outsourcing partner , or (c) through a hybrid of the two. If your ecommerce platform is tightly integrated to your accounting system, your bookkeeping functions may be greatly simplified. If you use separate systems for your website, order management and accounting, you may need more help for data entry to ensure that the information is properly entered and managed in all systems.</li>
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On a Final Note</h2>
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Electronic commerce presents a tremendous business opportunity; however, starting an online business and making it successful requires time, energy, skills, money, and following the legal framework. To run a successful online business, you must be willing and able to wear many hats. This is not a small undertaking so you need to plan and prepare in order to be successful.</div>
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Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-50207391598988088852016-08-10T11:20:00.001+05:002016-08-10T11:20:56.303+05:00Starting a Business<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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So you’re returning to Singapore and are thinking of starting your own business.</div>
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Or perhaps your spouse is. For yourself, you’ll first need to check with your employer whether you’re allowed to run your own business while employed full-time. Different companies have different policies on this matter.</div>
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Registering a Business</h2>
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Businesses are easily registered online at <a href="https://www.psi.gov.sg/NASApp/tmf/TMFServlet?app=RCB-BIZFILE-LOGIN-1B" style="background: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(0, 84, 166); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0054a6; outline: none !important; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Bizfile</a> by the Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority (<a href="http://www.acra.gov.sg/" style="background: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(0, 84, 166); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0054a6; outline: none !important; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">ACRA</a>). You may register a sole proprietorship, a partnership or a company. The cost of registering a business is as low as SGD 65 and approval is usually given within a day, if there are no contentions regarding the name of the business.</div>
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You can find a very comprehensive guide at <a href="http://www.business.gov.sg/EN/StartingUp/" style="background: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(0, 84, 166); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0054a6; outline: none !important; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">EnterpriseOne</a>.</div>
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Finding Premises</h2>
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Businesses have lots of choices when it comes to premises. From a simple home office to a flatted factory, a vast array of locales is available with accompanying facilities and services.</div>
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The Economic Development Board (EDB) maintains a <a href="http://www.edb.gov.sg/content/edb/en/why-singapore/ready-to-invest/setting-up/business-location.html" style="background: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(0, 84, 166); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0054a6; outline: none !important; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">list</a> of business parks and specialised industrial parks.</div>
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Agencies</h2>
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<a href="http://www.spring.gov.sg/" style="background: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(0, 84, 166); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0054a6; outline: none !important; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">SPRING Singapore</a> is the enterprise development agency for growing innovative companies and fostering a competitive SME sector. It aids enterprises in financing, capabilities and management development, technology and innovation, and access to markets. It is also the national standards and accreditation body.</div>
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International Enterprise <a href="http://www.iesingapore.gov.sg/wps/portal" style="background: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(0, 84, 166); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0054a6; outline: none !important; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">(IE) Singapore</a> under the Ministry of Trade and Industry helps to “promote the overseas growth of Singapore-based enterprises”.</div>
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The Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority (<a href="http://www.acra.gov.sg/" style="background: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(0, 84, 166); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0054a6; outline: none !important; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">ACRA</a>) oversees the registration and regulation of business entities and public accountants, and also provides information on new business structures, compliance requirements, and corporate governance practices.</div>
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The <a href="http://www.business.gov.sg/" style="background: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(0, 84, 166); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0054a6; outline: none !important; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">EnterpriseOne</a> (One Network for Enterprises) portal is a one-stop site for enterprises looking to start, sustain and grow their businesses. Its extensive features link to government information and services and include industry guides and how-to guides.</div>
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Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-41997382301028001722016-08-10T11:17:00.000+05:002016-08-10T11:17:48.403+05:00Starting a Business in Singapore<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Securing a visa and registering your business are just two of the many things you have to deal with when starting a Business in Singapore. Despite all the red tape, many expats in Singapore dream of being their own boss. We show you how to make it happen and where to start!</div>
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Although expats often dream that they could, in fact, be their own boss, starting a business in Singapore can be a nerve-wracking endeavor. Still, following your dream and dealing with the extra workload is often worth it. This guide will give you some pointers of how to begin when starting your business in Singapore.</div>
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EntrePass</h2>
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Before starting a business in Singapore, you need to secure the right type of visa, an EntrePass. To be eligible to receive an EntrePass, you need to fulfill certain requirements.</div>
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<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Your business structure of choice must be a Private Limited Company and registered as thus.</li>
<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">You cannot own more than 30% of the shares.</li>
<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Your company should at least have SGD50,000 paid-up-capital.</li>
<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">The company cannot have been registered for more than six months at the time of application.</li>
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An EntrePass is particularly important if you plan on being actively involved in managing your company’s operations. For more information on the EntrePass, have a look at our article on <a href="https://www.internations.org/guide/singapore/16088-visa-administration/work-permit-for-singapore-16097" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; color: #2469a0; text-decoration: none;">work permits</a> or simply contact the <a data-uri="rpl" href="http://www.mom.gov.sg/Pages/default.aspx" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; color: #2469a0; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Ministry of Manpower</a>.</div>
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Registering your Business</h2>
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There are a variety of business structures in Singapore which we briefly want to list below:</div>
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<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Sole Proprietorship</li>
<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Partnership</li>
<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)</li>
<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Limited Partnership (LP)</li>
<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Company</li>
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In order to register your company in Singapore, you need to turn to the <a data-uri="rpl" href="http://www.acra.gov.sg/" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; color: #2469a0; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA).</a> Two local agents who are legal residents of Singapore can act on your behalf when starting a business in Singapore. The registration process is rather uncomplicated and should not take too long, as long as you take care of the following points beforehand:</div>
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<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Make sure you adhere to the eligibility requirements.</li>
<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Find out if the name of your company is still available. The Singapore Network Information Center (SGNIC) can help you with that.</li>
<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Find out the SSIC (Singapore Standard Industry Classification) code of your company.</li>
<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Find a suitable business location.</li>
<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Get all the necessary licenses and permits for your business.</li>
<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">If you are unsure about the details of the registration process, hire a professional to help you with starting a business in Singapore.</li>
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The registration fee will amount to approximately SGD300 – SGD1,200, plus SGD15 for the approval of your business name. Once all this has been taken care of you can register your business online with ACRA.</div>
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Taxation</h2>
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Any type of income you receive is subject to <a href="https://www.internations.org/guide/singapore/16064-social-security-taxation/income-tax-in-singapore-16054" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; color: #2469a0; text-decoration: none;">income tax in Singapore</a>. This is also the case when you are starting a business in Singapore. However, there are other taxes business owners have to pay as well, such as Goods and Services Tax (GST), which is levied on the import of goods. The tax rates are as follows:</div>
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<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Income Tax: depending on the type of business</li>
<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Goods and Services Tax (GST): 7%</li>
<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Withholding Tax: 10-20% (depending on the purpose)</li>
<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Property Tax: 10%</li>
<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Stamp Duty: depends on the value of your transaction</li>
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When starting a business in Singapore, it makes sense to get in touch with an accounting firm to help you with taxation and other financial details. That way, you will make sure to do everything right without losing your mind over it. Refer to our guide on Finance and Taxation for more information.</div>
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Further Resources</h2>
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<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><a data-uri="rpl" href="http://www.enterpriseone.gov.sg/" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; color: #2469a0; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">EnterpriseOne</a> has detailed information on different business structures, taxation and starting a business in Singapore.</li>
<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><a data-uri="rpl" href="http://www.sgnic.sg/" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; color: #2469a0; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Singapore Network Information Centre (SGNIC)</a> provides you with an online registry and information services.</li>
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The <a data-uri="rpl" href="https://www.singpass.gov.sg/sppubsvc/" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; color: #2469a0; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">SingPass</a>, a common password which you can use for different official online services, is essential when starting a business in Singapore.</div>
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Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-53651331644088088692016-08-10T11:15:00.000+05:002016-08-10T11:15:08.737+05:007 Steps To Starting Your Business In Singapore <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If you are reading this article, you are: a) an entrepreneur who values simplicity and innovative approach to business; b) you have gone through the whole Internet looking for the ideal conditions for your startup, and you already know that Singapore, which offers unparalleled boosts, is a bargain alternative to the expensive Silicon Valley (or at least Hong Kong). Now that you are in the very beginning of your startup venture, and you need some milestones that would guide you in a correct direction.</div>
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Each of one of the following steps, from materializing of your idea on the paper to the registration and plunging into work, is an essential milestone which you should carefully consider.</div>
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1. Doing the Groundwork (Mentally and on Paper).</h4>
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Before getting down to the nitty-gritty, an entrepreneur must make a cup of coffee, sit down and turn over the idea in his mind. Then try to materialize your ideas into the business plan, at least an approximate one. But you must ensure your idea is capable to generate more dollars than it is going to spend.</div>
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Then make an internet research or talk to the people from the niche to find out the situation on the market you are going to poke your head in. Is your product or service really needed over there? Probably you will need to make changes to your business plan. Calculate the overheads and try to cut them off as much as possible.</div>
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Build up your team. Find loyal people (staff and investors) who share your ideas and who would support you on the way to success.</div>
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2. Determining the Business Structure.</h4>
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Singapore offers a bunch of legal entity forms available for registration: sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited Liability Company, a subsidiary, a branch office, a representative office, and so on. However, you shouldn’t choose at random because the form of business formation will actually impact a lot of aspects of your business: your personal liability and credibility in customers’ eyes, abilities in borrowing money and expanding the company, attitude of banks and creditors – just to name a few.</div>
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For example, Sole Proprietorship should work for you if your small business is out of risks and you aren’t likely to be at law with anybody. If you are going to share your business with a partner, you should better consider registering a partnership firm. These two entities are winning from the tax point of view (your activity is subject only to personal taxes), so you save a lot by avoiding corporate taxes. The Sole Proprietorship is a great choice for self-employed individuals or freelance activity. But the main drawback of both forms of Proprietorship is that your liability (as an owner) isn’t limited to your company’s assets, and when any legal claims rise, you risk losing your own assets. If everything goes great, you win, but if you face problems, you may lose everything you have. So you aren’t protected.</div>
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The best option for a new company in Singapore would be a <a href="http://www.one-visa.com/services/corporate-services/singapore-company-incorporation/singapore-private-limited" style="color: #096380; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">private limited company</a> that limits owner’s liability to the company’s assets. Pte. Ltd. is considered to be the perfect and the safest form of legal entity in Singapore; plus it gives the company better credibility when dealing with investors, customers, and banks if you would need a loan. It is more flexible and sustainable due to the wider options of ownership transferring and growth. Another important benefit concerns taxes. The Singaporean government pampers new private limited companies by giving them incentives and tax discounts. It frees new Pte. Ltd. companies from paying the corporate tax for the first 100,000 SGD of their profit, and halves the tax (from 17% to 8.5%) for the next 300,000 SGD. What is over this income is taxed at 17% rate.</div>
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Please take into account that for registering a private limited company, one shareholder and one director are needed (although they can be the same person). One director must be a Singaporean or a Singaporean permanent resident. If you are a foreigner with no right to stay in Singapore, you may be puzzled by the last requirement: how are you going to look for the Singaporean director for your company? But it is actually not an issue at all if you involve an <a href="http://www.one-visa.com/" style="color: #096380; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">agency</a> that provides incorporation services. Their incorporation package includes appointing a nominee director and even secretary services. Leveraging the expertise of incorporation teams is a good choice also because they could advise on the most winning business entity for your startup, help you to calculate all prospective expenses and tweak your business plan.</div>
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3. Choosing a Business Name.</h4>
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Selecting an appropriate and unique name for your future company is a necessary part of registration. The government demands that the name would represent the philosophy of your business and not sound similar to the names of other existing companies or obscene. It is better to make a name check before the registration to avoid possible issues and delays. Today, it would be wise to match the selected name with the available domain names for it if the website is crucial for your business. If you involve an <a href="http://www.one-visa.com/" style="color: #096380; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">incorporation service company</a>, they would do a diligent name check for you to help you save time and achieve better representation of your business.</div>
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4. Getting the Right Address.</h4>
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To have your business registered, you must provide the real local Singaporean address where you are going to rent premises. This address is crucial as all official documentation will be sent to this address only. Then you must agree these premises with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and get an approval to use them in a commercial way.</div>
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If your small future firm is going to employ only a couple of people and renting an office belongs to overheads you try to shrink, you probably think how to use your rented flat’ or house’s address for the registration. It is possible. If you are renting an HDB flat, you must seek for approval of the Housing Development Board. If you are going to work from a rented house, you must look for permission for such activity via Home Office Scheme (HOS). Please take into account that after registering your office in the private house under HOS, you won’t be allowed to employ more than 2 foreign workers and reveal the presence of your firm by using signs (boards etc.). If you are not sure which way to choose, you should consult an <a href="http://www.one-visa.com/" style="color: #096380; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">incorporation service provider</a>. Most of them offer free consultations (assessments) so even if you don’t <a href="http://www.one-visa.com/services/corporate-services/singapore-company-incorporation/singapore-private-limited" style="color: #096380; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">book a full incorporation support</a>, you can get a complex assessment and a piece of valuable advice absolutely for free.</div>
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5. Inquiring about Business Licenses.</h4>
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Running some businesses requires mandatory licensing in Singapore. And although you will be allowed to get the necessary license only after your company is incorporated (registered by ACRA), it is wise to study the legal field in advance to avoid any problems with law in the future. You may refer to <a href="https://licences.business.gov.sg/" style="color: #096380; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">OBLS</a> for specific licenses required for your niche. Probably you will need several licenses from different authorities if your future firm is going to operate in the sectors of entertainment, finance, education or producing beer, cigarettes, and other controlled stuff.</div>
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6. Probing the Visa Situation.</h4>
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Think about getting a visa for every member of your team you want to take along to the country. Professionals, managers and executives (directors) can arrive in Singapore for work under <a href="http://www.one-visa.com/services/singapore-visa/employment-pass-singapore" style="color: #096380; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Employment Pass</a> which is issued for 1-2 years and then can be renewed multiple times until needed provided that the workers still meets the requirements. Directors must take into account that they can use Employment Pass only if the business registration process is completed. If the entrepreneur needs to arrive in Singapore before starting the incorporation, than <a href="http://www.one-visa.com/services/singapore-visa/entrepreneur-pass-singapore-entrepass" style="color: #096380; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">EntrePass</a> is the only option.</div>
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The advantage of involving <a href="http://www.one-visa.com/" style="color: #096380; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">one-stop incorporation and migration companies</a> is that an entrepreneur doesn’t have to suffer from a headache trying to cope with both incorporation paperwork and visa issues at once. One visa agency leads your future company from a business idea to registration and to the relocation of your staff. You just bring your situation to them and they develop a strategy for both company incorporation and employee relocating in accordance with the latest trends of the ACRA and the Ministry of manpower.</div>
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7. The Registration Itself.</h4>
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When everything is ready, you can boldly register your business using <a href="https://www.psi.gov.sg/NASApp/tmf/TMFServlet?app=RCB-BIZFILE-LOGIN-1B" style="color: #096380; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">BizFile</a> or entrust this matter to a professional incorporation <a href="http://www.one-visa.com/" style="color: #096380; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">company</a>.</div>
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Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-58593265722776794882016-08-10T11:09:00.000+05:002016-08-10T11:09:14.373+05:00Starting a business in Singapore<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25rem; line-height: 1.875rem;">Information on starting a business in Singapore, including a list of Singapore government agencies who can help employers.</span></h1>
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Why choose Singapore</h2>
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Singapore is an ideal location for global businesses to site their headquarters. Strong trade and investment makes Singapore the most competitive Asian country and the world’s easiest place to do business.</div>
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By situating your international HQ here, your company benefits from:</div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.4995rem; text-align: justify;">Singapore’s network of over 50 comprehensive Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.4995rem; text-align: justify;">Singapore’s many free trade agreements and the Investment Guarantee Agreements.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.4995rem; text-align: justify;">Protection for your ideas and innovations thanks to Singapore's strict enforcement of its strong intellectual property laws.</li>
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Registering your business</h2>
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You can easily register your business, including foreign branch offices, online at<a href="http://www.bizfile.gov.sg/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #006eab; font-weight: 600; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Bizfile</a> by the <a href="http://www.acra.gov.sg/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #006eab; font-weight: 600; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority</a>.</div>
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Foreign businesses that wish to set up a representative office in Singapore may approach these government agencies:</div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.4995rem; text-align: justify;">Banking, finance and insurance - <a href="http://www.mas.gov.sg/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #006eab; font-weight: 600; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Monetary Authority of Singapore</a>.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.4995rem; text-align: justify;">Legal - <a href="https://www.mlaw.gov.sg/eservices/lsra/lsra-home/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #006eab; font-weight: 600; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Legal Services Regulatory Authority</a>.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.4995rem; text-align: justify;">All other industries - <a href="http://www.iesingapore.gov.sg/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #006eab; font-weight: 600; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">International Enterprise Singapore</a>.</li>
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<a href="http://www.smeportal.sg/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #006eab; font-weight: 600; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">SMEPortal.sg</a> provides a useful summary.</div>
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Finding premises</h2>
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Singapore provides a wide choice of premises for businesses. Whether situated in the heart of the civic district or in a suburban estate, housed in modern luxury or a flatted factory, businesses are assured of premium facilities and infrastructure.</div>
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View the <a href="http://www.edb.gov.sg/content/edb/en/why-singapore/ready-to-invest/setting-up/business-location.html" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #006eab; font-weight: 600; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">list of business parks and specialised industrial parks</a> by the Economic Development Board.</div>
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Recruiting manpower</h2>
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Singapore attracts businesses with its strong pool of local and international talent. Employees are easy to find through the many online recruitment portals and head-hunting agencies. You can find out more about our labour market, as well as information on hiring and training at <a href="http://www.smeportal.sg/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #006eab; font-weight: 600; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">SMEPortal.sg</a>. You may also want to explore<a href="http://www.edb.gov.sg/content/edb/en/why-singapore/ready-to-invest/setting-up/recruitment.html" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #006eab; font-weight: 600; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">training programmes</a> the <abbr class="glossarizer_replaced" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: help;" title="Economic Development Board">EDB</abbr> offers in partnership with many corporations.</div>
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You can find out more about <a href="http://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #006eab; font-weight: 600; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;">work passes</a>.</div>
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Assistance from government agencies</h2>
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Singapore is famed for a smooth-running bureaucracy, which sees inter-agency co-operation working seamlessly to help businesses grow.</div>
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You can contact the following government agencies for help in growing your business in Singapore:</div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.4995rem; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.edb.gov.sg/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #006eab; font-weight: 600; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Economic Development Board</a> (EDB): the EDB provides comprehensive investor support and ensures a first-rate pro-business environment in Singapore.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.4995rem; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.spring.gov.sg/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #006eab; font-weight: 600; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board</a> (SPRING): SPRING, an agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, is the enterprise development agency for growing innovative companies. It also helps small and medium enterprises sector become more competitive. The agency aids enterprises in financing, capabilities and management development, technology and innovation, and access to markets. SPRING is also the national standards and accreditation body.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.4995rem; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.acra.gov.sg/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #006eab; font-weight: 600; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority</a> (<abbr class="glossarizer_replaced" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: help;" title="Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority">ACRA</abbr>): ACRA oversees the registration and regulation of business entities and public accountants, and also provides information on new business structures, compliance requirements, and corporate governance practices.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.4995rem; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.smeportal.sg/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #006eab; font-weight: 600; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">SMEPortal.sg</a>: the EnterpriseOne portal is a one-stop site for enterprises looking to start, sustain and grow their businesses. It features links to government information and services, as well as industry help and how-to guides.</li>
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Laws and regulations</h2>
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To view the full list of statutes, visit <a href="http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #006eab; font-weight: 600; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Singapore Statutes Online</a>.</div>
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EntrePass</h2>
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If you would like to start a business in Singapore, you can apply for an <a href="http://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/entrepass" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #006eab; font-weight: 600; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;">EntrePass</a>, a work pass for foreign entrepreneurs.</div>
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Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-58638531185623374702016-04-12T22:38:00.000+05:002016-04-12T22:38:38.504+05:00Turkey strikes Islamic State targets in Syria after shelling hits border town<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">ISTANBUL:</strong><span style="line-height: 24px;"> The Turkish army hit Islamic State targets in northern Syria in response to cross-border rocket fire that hit a border town in southeastern Turkey for the second day in a row, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said.</span></div>
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The military was responding to attacks on Kilis, near the Syrian border, Davutoglu said.</div>
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The town is home to an estimated 110,000 Syrian refugees and is frequently hit by artillery from across the border, a region controlled by the Islamic State militant group.</div>
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"Yesterday and today, rockets belonging to Daesh terrorist organisation landed inside Kilis, wounding 21 citizens," Davutoglu said in the speech to his ruling AK Party in parliament.</div>
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"Our armed forces, within rules of engagement, responded immediately and hit Daesh targets," he said, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State.</div>
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In March, two people, including a young child, were killed by rocket fire in Kilis.</div>
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Mayor Hasan Kaya told Reuters that one shell on Tuesday struck road works while the other landed inside an empty lot. Some of the wounded were municipal workers, he said.</div>
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The Turkish armed forces often respond to such attacks by firing at targets in Syria. Turkey is an outspoken critic of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has supported opposition fighters in the five-year-old war.</div>
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Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97419080194446558.post-11028944741608209652016-04-12T22:32:00.000+05:002016-04-12T22:38:56.059+05:00Office firebombed after Malaysian politician calls Zakir Naik 'satan'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: inherit;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">KUALA LUMPUR: </strong><span style="line-height: 24px;">A petrol bomb was thrown on Tuesday at the office of a senior politician in Malaysia’s opposition-ruled Penang state, after he described a visiting fiery Islamic preacher Zakir Naik as “Satan”.</span></strong></div>
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State officials said no one was injured and no damage caused in the early-morning attack after the firebomb landed on the centre’s metal shutters.</div>
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State Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy said the attack may have been prompted by his Facebook post over the weekend about Zakir Naik. “It could possibly be related to my comment on Zakir as Satan,” he told AFP.</div>
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Ramasamy accused Zakir, an Indian national, of giving speeches designed to promote hatred of other faiths. His posting was not directed against Islam or Muslims but against “this particular person”, he said in a statment.</div>
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“I regret the use of the word ‘Satan’ which has caused uneasiness and unhappiness among Muslims in Malaysia,” Ramasamy said, adding that the word was later deleted.</div>
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Malaysia generally practises a moderate brand of Islam among its majority Malay community, but conservative views have gained increasing traction in recent years. Minorities — mainly ethnic Indians and Chinese — complain of what they see as Islamisation.</div>
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Religious tensions escalated in 2010 after three churches were attacked with firebombs, causing major damage to one, as Muslims pledged to prevent Christians from using the word “Allah”. Zakir, 51, is an Islamic preacher on comparative religion.</div>
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Ramasamy, who is also the Penang Hindu Endowment Board chairman, had spoken out against a planned programme by Zakir’s son, also an Islamic preacher, in Penang state on April 15.</div>
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On Sunday police banned Zakir from giving a lecture at a university in the southern state of Malacca following complaints from minority groups. He had planned to speak on “Similarities between Hinduism and Islam”.</div>
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National police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said in a tweet on Monday that Zakir was barred to ensure public order. The aim was to protect “public order and religious sensitivities in Malaysia”, he wrote.</div>
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Issues related to race, religion and language are considered sensitive in Malaysia, which witnessed deadly riots mainly between ethnic Malays and Chinese in 1969</div>
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Syed K. Ali Bukharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05060985513405748451noreply@blogger.com0