Both Sides Now
I have a new neighbour. The workstation linked to mine was the designated seat for the big boss when he visits Singapore. Now it is given to this reporter who was just transferred from London, a brit. I was lucky, but not so lucky.
"So D, what are you working on? big story?" He asked.
"Nothing exciting. Just this big LNG plant a few guys want to build in Indonesia. Biggest in Asia ever."
Then...
"So D, you working on anything?"
"Nothing. Just updating my contact list?"
Then....
"hey D, what's going on?"
"NOTHING!!!!!!!"
Sigh.....
During the day, we were both on the phone facing each other interviewing someone.
He: "So how often do you club?"
Me: "Why is PPP - a concept that has started in the UK in 1992 only starts to take shape here in Asia, especially when the region is so in need of infrastructural development?"
He: You club three times a week? Wow. Where do you go usually?
Me: More cost efficient? Have the governments been layering the projects with so much fats such that the private companies have a better chance of achieving a higher cost efficiency by taking over these projects?
He: You think Ministry of Sound has a chance to suceed in Singapore, when it failed to do so in Bangkok?
Me: Legalising something doesn't mean that something will take off. Look at Pension Funds in the UK. The government legalised it, has it really taken off? So what if these governments set up the legal framework for such projects? Why would PPP type projects take off in Asia? What would give it the momentum?
He: Is that couch really 30k? That is an expensive couch? Only in the VIP room?
Me: Such financings are usually long term 20 to 25 years, in line with the offtake agreements. Asia is flushed with liquidity right now, yes, but would banks be willing to go beyond their credit thresholds? Would there be any takers for such long-term risk?
He: how much do you spend a week on drinks?
We both put down the phone, ended our interviews. We looked at each other and smiled.
Don't ask me anything. I begged silently.
"Big story, you're working on?" He asked. (Maybe I should beg openly next time.)
(Walau! Can you not ask? You get to work on more interesting stories like clubbing in Singapore. I get to do only financial stories. I don't know which is a bigger story. Can you please be a bit more neighbourly?)
"So D, what are you working on? big story?" He asked.
"Nothing exciting. Just this big LNG plant a few guys want to build in Indonesia. Biggest in Asia ever."
Then...
"So D, you working on anything?"
"Nothing. Just updating my contact list?"
Then....
"hey D, what's going on?"
"NOTHING!!!!!!!"
Sigh.....
During the day, we were both on the phone facing each other interviewing someone.
He: "So how often do you club?"
Me: "Why is PPP - a concept that has started in the UK in 1992 only starts to take shape here in Asia, especially when the region is so in need of infrastructural development?"
He: You club three times a week? Wow. Where do you go usually?
Me: More cost efficient? Have the governments been layering the projects with so much fats such that the private companies have a better chance of achieving a higher cost efficiency by taking over these projects?
He: You think Ministry of Sound has a chance to suceed in Singapore, when it failed to do so in Bangkok?
Me: Legalising something doesn't mean that something will take off. Look at Pension Funds in the UK. The government legalised it, has it really taken off? So what if these governments set up the legal framework for such projects? Why would PPP type projects take off in Asia? What would give it the momentum?
He: Is that couch really 30k? That is an expensive couch? Only in the VIP room?
Me: Such financings are usually long term 20 to 25 years, in line with the offtake agreements. Asia is flushed with liquidity right now, yes, but would banks be willing to go beyond their credit thresholds? Would there be any takers for such long-term risk?
He: how much do you spend a week on drinks?
We both put down the phone, ended our interviews. We looked at each other and smiled.
Don't ask me anything. I begged silently.
"Big story, you're working on?" He asked. (Maybe I should beg openly next time.)
(Walau! Can you not ask? You get to work on more interesting stories like clubbing in Singapore. I get to do only financial stories. I don't know which is a bigger story. Can you please be a bit more neighbourly?)
posted by eternal bough at 10:18 PM
3 Comments:
PPP might take off in certain parts of Asia if and when the regulatory environment is liberalized. Uhh.. sorry, i'm way out of this for too long liaoz.
Look at what happened to Dabhol and Laibin B.
sorry for your annoying neighbor. it probably helps if he's cute. :P
I like your neighbour. He's friendly.
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