Safe as houses, from Singapore to Qatar

Singapore

REAL-LIFE emergencies are rare in Singapore, but that is no barrier to business for a billion-dollar security firm here, says its boss.

State-owned Certis Cisco is instead tapping 60 years of experience, backed up by new technology, to offer a bespoke suite of security services - more than just warm bodies in blue - both in the Republic and abroad.

First a police unit, then a Home Affairs statutory board, Certis Cisco became a wholly-owned subsidiary of national investment firm Temasek Holdings in 2005. Beyond its base here, Australia and Hong Kong are core markets, alongside countries such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Founding group chief executive Paul Chong said: "Today, Certis is more than just a security company. In fact, we've coined a new phrase. We …