TEMASEK Model and it's relevance to Sri Lanka

http://www.temasek.com.sg/

Recently MS manifesto revealed that when he comes to power in January 8, state owned ventures will be governed like Tamasek model in Singapore.
Temasek is a government owned fund which holds equities of strategically owned ventures like transportation, energy, etc. Currently it has a portfolio of more than $ 200 billion Within Singapore as well as in Asia. This fund has grown up to this level over the years since 1974. This is managed by professionally qualified independent team. I think ventures like Singapore airline also a major holding of above fund.


Recently MR replied to this and  said that he is not relying on Singapore models instead his own model (Compare Singapore airline management with Sri Lankan air line management and get an idea about his home grown model) However his regime also follows a similar model by investing in strategically important ventures like Banks( COMB, HNB, DFCC,NDB), Litro gas and some stake in LGL, Recently TFC deal etc .  Present government executes this model largely using the EPF/ETF fund which actually working peoples money and not government's money ( A real home grown model ! )

However it is important that the government has the direct or indirect control over strategic venture like telecommunication, transportation, power and energy etc.

I would like to hear the opinion of forum members about the  relevance of Temasek model to Sri Lanka;

Interesting topic, pity no one has given opinion. I dont have enough knowledge to contribute.

These days stock discussions get lukewarm attention due to election so as the CSE activities. We can discuss this topic may be after the elections.

To me TEMASEK is a wonderful model.

But, in Sri Lanka, in my view, the problem is not the model we have; it's the people who run the model.

Let's say we create a Temasek here. Then, who will run the show in it?

Yes, Specially it's a good  model to harvest the benefit of Asia's rapid growth in next few decades.
It will be also an opportunity to direct the capital to under invested areas like power and energy, private universities, health care etc.

Over the years Temasek fund in Singapore has grown exceeding  US $ 200  billions, which is many times the annual GDP of Sri Lanka.
But, How do we find a sizable initial capital ? May be an international bond issue of 1-2 billion US $

The Temasek model is not appropriate to SL. It is already present via SLIC which owns substantial stakes in many corporations.

Large funds like SLIC and EPF can be used to re-start state corporations but without foreign capital these businesses will find it hard to get off the ground.

For it to work, we have to have other functioning components too here.
With undue politicizing the scheme makes the people who oversee / run it become unaccountable.

rainmaker wrote:The Temasek model is not appropriate to SL. It is already present via SLIC which owns substantial stakes in many corporations.

Large funds like SLIC and EPF can be used to re-start state corporations but without foreign capital these businesses will find it hard to get off the ground.

EPF and SLIC funds does not belong to the government. EPF is private sector workers money and SLIC is policy holders money. Government has no mandate to play with those  funds as they wish ( I mean in a well governed government) . Recently rating agents put negative remarks as SLIC involved in such ventures like Litro Gas etc ... without following relevant criteria. That's why I told though our president condemns Singapore modeles but he him self following the same in back doors- That ill mannered method is not appropriate but proper genuine Temasek model may be very well appropriate for Sri Lanka.