HE COMES from a country that is attracting companies from across the world, but China-born Stanley Han is taking his first business steps in Singapore.
Mr Han, who co-founded a local online publishing start-up five years ago, is an example of the sort of entrepreneur Singapore is seeking.
Such self-made men are needed here to sharpen the local boys for competition on the world stage, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday.
PM Lee further stressed that Singapore must keep its business environment open to foreign talent, as the country needs a 'critical mass' for innovation and enterprise.
'To establish Singapore as an entrepreneurial hub, people with the talent, passion and commitment to build their own businesses must be attracted to come here, start businesses here and grow big while remaining rooted here,' he told a conference organised by the Action Community for Entrepreneurship.
'Local entrepreneurs will also benefit because they will be exposed to global competition early, and so will be more prepared to take on the world.'
PM Lee recounted a comparison made by a businessman between Australia and New Zealand.
Australia has more companies and entrepreneurs, resulting in keener competition. This, in turn, has made Australian firms leaner and stronger.
Singapore, noted PM Lee, has a similar population to New Zealand. So, even as 'indigenous talent' is nurtured, he said, foreigners are needed to augment the pool of risk-taking entrepreneurs.
He said the Government was playing its part to make the enterprise scene more vibrant by cutting red tape, improving access to financing and cultivating an entrepreneurial culture among the young.
While noting that several home-grown companies have expanded abroad successfully, he said firms must band together, in the way those in Taiwan and South Korea have formed alliances, for their overseas ventures to thrive.
PM Lee also called on the public sector to embrace the entrepreneurial culture by innovating constantly and experimenting with new ways to deliver public services.
Mr Han, 27, started Personal E-Motion five years ago with two partners while still an undergraduate at the National University of Singapore.
The 12-man start-up sells an Internet publishing platform called KooBits that claims to be easy enough for primary school kids to use to create interactive electronic books.
The firm is on its way to its first year of profits after breaking even last year. It counts many primary schools here as customers.
Mr Han reckoned that had he stayed in China, his parents, who are in public service, would probably have dissuaded him from the risks of entrepreneurship.
As for reaching schools in the country of his birth, Mr Han said he would be flying there later this month to set up an office.
