Need to open a Pub in Singapore

[prashanna]

Done his NS and given up SG citizenship then on apply for EP and he go a Raw Deal
His EP was rejected and MOM questioned his decision on giving up SG citizenship and applying for EP although he has serve his NS duties. He was requested to explained in full details reasons of giving up citizenship.

I don't know about my case, but this one is certainly questionable from MOM's point of view... They might think that he gave up his citizenship just to avoid the re-service and the CPF contributions....

[Mad Scientist]

You are wrong on this as this is a proven route with 100 % approval rate. I know as keep track on this closely.
It is even written in the ICA guideline

[prashanna]

You are wrong on this as this is a proven route with 100 % approval rate. I know as keep track on this closely.
It is even written in the ICA guideline

Oh.. I had no idea about this matter... It's really surprising still....

[JR8]

You sound like a flock of seagulls to me man. Heavens knows what scheme you are going to be following next, it's that random.

Writing to the Prime Minister, good idea, not!! What on earth were you thinking!?

How did you go from not being able to afford to fly to SG, and then 2 weeks later having to start a $350k pub and be on a $7k+ salary. It all appears so whimsical that I don't see this going anywhere to be honest...

Sounds dramatic and unbelievable right? I know.. It does to me too.. The email was like almost 2 weeks back.. My wife had spoken to the PM.. He happens to lead AMK GRC which is my wife's address..

And 3 days back, this guy appeared out of nowhere and told me he wanted to invest in Singapore. We hadn't been in touch for almost 7 months.. He knows I worked in Singapore before which is why he contacted me.. But now, he is saying he hasn't made up his mind yet coz he does not want to go through the trouble of all the paper works.. Still trying to figure out a way since it could be my only chance. Hopefully I land the deal..
And about the flight tickets.. I wasn't lying... If I had enough for it, I would have already flown to Singapore to see my wife and kid.

Ok fair enough. Yes as you say 'pretty unbelievable'.... but, good luck anyway.

[ecureilx]

Well I find it very odd in the first place, that a guy that had permission from MOM to get married to a Singapore citizen, is given the go ahead, they marry and have a child. Contributing to the population of Singapore >>
It sends a very bad signal out to all Singapore citizens and foreigners too. Which is against Singapore's ethics of looking after family, and recruiting the right kind of Singaporean.

Before pulling the alarm bells, me says, while the OP claims to have worked here etc. etc. etc .. there is something missing .. or makes me feel so ..

The people sitting in MOM and ICA are not stone-cold-heart Stevens .. and they don't derive happiness in seeing a happy family broken up.

And the days of Graduates encouraged to breed, and non-grads not recommended .. are long long looooong gone .. Some of the old timers can clear that ..

Back to the subject area: Yes, operating a bar doesnt' entitle you to an Entre-Pass .. but there are ways to overcome that .. You can incorporate a company, and make the holding company manage the business, and the Entre-Pass is via the holding company

Not sure how it works, but any company secretary can advice the proper recourse ..

All bets are off, if your investor is not clear on what he wants .. he can still engage a lawyer, who can work through their counterpart back where-ever he is, to get the power of attorney et al ..

Can be done.. and has been done .. and know enough who have done ..

[sundaymorningstaple]

Back to the subject area: Yes, operating a bar doesnt' entitle you to an Entre-Pass .. but there are ways to overcome that .. You can incorporate a company, and make the holding company manage the business, and the Entre-Pass is via the holding company

Not sure how it works, but any company secretary can advice the proper recourse ..

All bets are off, if your investor is not clear on what he wants .. he can still engage a lawyer, who can work through their counterpart back where-ever he is, to get the power of attorney et al ..

Can be done.. and has been done .. and know enough who have done ..

Are these "know enough who have done"s since the EntrePass criteria was tightened up with regard to the hiring of locals, etc. etc. or was it under the "Old" guidelines prior to 2010? Curious.

[ecureilx]

Are these "know enough who have done"s since the EntrePass criteria was tightened up with regard to the hiring of locals, etc. etc. or was it under the "Old" guidelines prior to 2010? Curious.

Pre-2010 ..

One of those "in" the system .. or a company secretary can provide proper legal advice ...

I don't believe that the doors are all shut off .. after all, a fair few of the bar operators are expats here, on EP ..

[ksl]

Many of the, bars, food & restaurants are expats, it doesn't fall under hawker centre, so there is little chance you are taking jobs away from Singaporeans, I would rather approach and debate with authorities than give up becuase I read something negative. Though no doubt the policy does serve a purpose.

Lets face it all tourists want is original food, not a Singaporean attempt at foreign foods. There is nothing at all original with Western foods cooked by Singaporeans.

I also know lots of foreigners in the hawker centre business too, it doesn't stop them from cooking their original food, providing they take a Singapore manager/partner. There is also the ice cream business and Italians here....So it's all about how you interpret and approach the bureaucracy. I'm pretty sure if you can offer employment they are not going to turn you away.

So even if he was to create a Nepalese restaurant with a Singaporean manager/partner in an authentic manner it is likely it wouldn't be refused, especially in an area of attracting tourism. How you emphasise the business plan, to fit in with Singapore tourist plans are relevant, and guidance from the tourist board maybe helpful.

Networking between these departments concerned to kick start something new, will have more of a chance than, applying directly. Singapore guanxi is useful and relevant in business!

All bureaucracies have policies and SOP, which appear to be inflexible, though you will find within the system people look at things on a case by case scenario and look at the opportunities and cost. WIN WIN always in Singapore for Singapore. So why take losers like the UK!

[ecureilx]

Many of the, bars, food & restaurants are expats, it doesn't fall under hawker centre, so there is little chance you are taking jobs away from Singaporeans.

Unlike a poster who said he wants to start a business here, but don't want locals, as locals are lazy, and he only will engage indians (no kidding, somebody did write that .. and expected the words to endear him to the natives

As I said, the presentation makes the difference .. and hence my question to the OP if his "manager" is a deer-in-headlight case or knows what he is doing ..

If I had a manager, he wouldn't need me asking such questions here. ..

[prashanna]

Unlike a poster who said he wants to start a business here, but don't want locals, as locals are lazy, and he only will engage indians (no kidding, somebody did write that .. Smile and expected the words to endear him to the natives Wink

Can't imagine someone writing such comments...

As I said, the presentation makes the difference .. and hence my question to the OP if his "manager" is a deer-in-headlight case or knows what he is doing ..

If I had a manager, he wouldn't need me asking such questions here. ..

I only want to increase my knowledge on the matter as it is something new for me.. The guy (my ex manager) has been working in this industry for around 15-20 years...

[ecureilx]

I only want to increase my knowledge on the matter as it is something new for me.. The guy (my ex manager) has been working in this industry for around 15-20 years...

There is a difference between having worked, and having experience is setting up and licensing ..

And let me clarify: you are asking questions, for curiousity sake ?? or did I miss something ?? Pardon my words ..

[prashanna]

There is a difference between having worked, and having experience is setting up and licensing ..

True.. He has setup and helped set up a few bars... One I know of was in Sentosa...

And let me clarify: you are asking questions, for curiousity sake ?? or did I miss something ?? Pardon my words ..

As I said before, I need to gain knowledge on the matter since it's incorporating a company in Singapore is very new for me.. If i know more, I feel that it will be easier for both of us to work together in setting up the whole thing as quickly as possible..

[Mad Scientist]

first step go to www.acra.gov.sg

Then on look for company secretary to incorporate the company and ask all the question about the business you want to set up and the EP requirement etc
I have posted a couple of post earlier on the things you need to look and study. Go there

[ecureilx]

True.. He has setup and helped set up a few bars... One I know of was in Sentosa...

Small world .. is it the one with the name AXXXX ???

As I said before, I need to gain knowledge on the matter since it's incorporating a company in Singapore is very new for me.. If i know more, I feel that it will be easier for both of us to work together in setting up the whole thing as quickly as possible..

As I said before, and as MS says, company secretaries are there, to do the legal work .. and you becoming a legal eagle doesn't help .. as the company secretaries know how to fill the right words in the right place ..

[prashanna]

Small world .. is it the one with the name AXXXX ???

Not really.. The guy's name is Jos**** Paul... Not sure if you know him but he used to run a bar at Tanjong beach... Can't recall the name of the bar...

and you becoming a legal eagle doesn't help .. as the company secretaries know how to fill the right words in the right place ..

The guy is still undecided, as I mentioned a few posts back... More knowledge only helps me in landing the deal with him... And the problem is that he is only communicating with me.. When I offered him to talk to my Ex-manager, he refused to..
It's a headache.. But I guess it's part of business...