SAMWOH Corporation has weathered many economic downturns since it was formed in the early 1970s by three lorry drivers, and so the construction company is upbeat that it will emerge from this current one unscathed.

HERE is a two-sentence crash course for newcomers to the business of piling.

WITH the economic signs starting to point upwards, the gloom and doom that has dominated this year is finally passing, bringing a sense of relief to most SMEs. But the question remains: are Singapore SMEs are ready for the upturn?

AS young boys, Don Tan and his two brothers did their most important learning at some very unearthly hours, and not by cramming textbooks.

THIS year's Enterprise 50 Awards winners are a truly unique and extraordinary group of companies.

TODAY'S business world is not about how big you are, but how smart you are. And one way for small and medium sized businesses (SMB) to move from a lagging to leading position is to make their supply chain smarter.

SUSTAINABILITY has become a catchphrase, applied to anything from cars to economics to agriculture and in so many contexts, that its meaning has become muddled and diffused.

'BETTER food, better people, better life'.

THE economy is stirring but not yet robust so Singapore-based companies are encouraged to not let up on improving their export competencies as well as pursuing new markets, the better to prepare them for an upturn.

AS a young boy tending to his father's mechanical repair shop, Xin Ming Hua managing director Elvin Tan used to watch his father soil his hands fiddling with heavy generators in the humid weather to make a living.

WE are witnessing a fundamental trend in the learning needs and development goals and priorities of successful entrepreneurs and SME leaders.

THE drive to stay ahead of competitors in all aspects is deeply embedded in the corporate culture of Union Energy Corporation (UE).

IT is no secret that behind every successful enterprise lies a unique set of capabilities - be it in process and product innovation, design, branding or leadership development.

THE tour of Kenyon Pte Ltd's office and workshop in Loyang is quite predictable until managing director Tan Yong Keng, also the guide, takes an unexpected turn into a quiet passage at the back of the building.

MARINE transportation company Consolidated Pipe Carriers (CPC) expects at least a 10 per cent increase in revenue next year on the back of strong demand from parts of Australasia and South America, a senior executive told BT.

WHAT do a water-purifying agent, an anti-bacterial soap and an anti-ageing cream have in common?

WHILE the shipping industry has suffered from the drop in global demand, at least one player is seeing the upside in the downturn.

FIRMS vary in the orientation they adopt towards developing an organisational purpose and vision, and the decisions and actions for running a business.

BINTER & Co general manager Marcus Lim wants tyres to be like shoes. 'People look at it as a commodity item but I want it to be like shoes, in a fashion way.

FAMILY-OWNED businesses have been hit by the economic downturn like many others. But while they have suffered along with everyone else, they are able to leverage an inherent competitive advantage to ensure they survive and prosper despite the poor business and financial climate.

ESTABLISHED in 2002, Greenpac provides environmentally-friendly packaging solutions, partnering key suppliers to customise solutions according to the needs of each client.

WHEN business conditions change as dramatically as they have in the past year, CEOs need to be able to rely on their best leaders to adapt quickly.

WHEN other businesses are busy steering themselves out of the recent financial crisis, integrated offshore support solutions provider Ezra Holdings is already geared up, aggressive and ready to take advantage of the upturn.

SMALL and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have played a vital role in Singapore's economic development, accounting for 99 per cent of all the business establishments, 47 per cent of the value added and 62 per cent of the workforce.