Wong Jeh Shyan

Wong Jeh Shyan (Chinese: 黃哲賢; pinyin: Húang Zhéxián; Hakka (客家 Kèjiā), born November 17, 1964 in Ipoh, Malaysia) is the CEO of the influential CommerceNet Singapore [cite web|url=http://www.cnsg.com.sg|publisher=CommerceNet Singapore Ltd. Singapore|title=CNSG|date=2007|accessdate=2007-08-09] and the co-founder and CEO of Ecommerce Gateway Pte. Ltd., [cite web|url=http://www.ecgateway.net|publisher=Ecommerce Gateway Pvt. Ltd. Karachi|title=Corporate|date=2001|accessdate=2007-08-09] an active venture investment company investing in strategic sectors, notably in Karachi and regionally. His company is best known as it was awarded the contract to project manage IDEAS defence show [cite web|url=http://www.ideaspakistan.gov.pk|publisher=IDEAS 2007|title=IDEAS|date=2007|accessdate=2007-08-09] in Pakistan.

Wong serves as a partner in Shyan Associates, Consulting Partner in CNSG Consulting Group, and is believed to have indirect interest in several venture capital firms including CNSG Capital, Alphamatrix VC and Betamatrix. He is considered a leading figure in both the technology, investment and design industries. He is also well known for mentoring successful entrepreneurs, usually scions from established business families. He sits on the Board of Advisor (CS & IT) in Institute of Business and Technology (Biztek) [cite web|url=http://www.biztek.edu.pk/board_adv_csit.php|publisher=Biztek, Karachi|title=Biztek|date=2007|accessdate=2007-08-09] Karachi. Most of his known businesses are privately held by his proxies.

Family Background

Wong is a third-generation Chinese Malaysian: his Hakka grandfather, Wong Men (born 1901-November 1988), emigrated from the Chingyuan county of Guangdong province to the Straits Settlements via Singapore in 1912 before settling down in tin mining heartland of Kinta district. The eldest of five siblings, Wong was born in Ipoh and grew up in the village of Ampang Baru, a modest wooden house unit number 200. His father Wong Yon Loong (born 1941) a proponent of mainstream Chinese education and had served as headmaster in various primary schools in Kinta district. His mother, Goh Swee Kim (born 1936 - 1 December 1999) was also a notable educationist having been headmistress at various village primary schools. Despite being Chinese educationists, they elect to send Wong to a Methodist school for an English education - which was changed to Malay stream national education.

Wong graduated with two bachelor degrees from National University of Singapore, where he furthered his studies after completing his high school in Han Jiang, Penang. Wong gained his higher secondary education in Anderson School, Ipoh after leaving Seri Putera (Sri Kepayang) Secondary School in Fair Park, Ipoh as well as Ho Seng Ong Methodist primary school in Canning Garden, Ipoh. Wong was respected for his openess, friendliness and ease of moving across cultural, religion and ethnic lines, reflected through his friends who came from different ethnic background. In primary school his close friends include Roslan Mat Jalil and also a very close Sikh, Jasbir Singh. With Jasbir Singh he continued until both left school after completing Form 6 in Anderson School, Ipoh

Pakistan Ventures

Wong's history in business has contributed greatly to the mythos of Ipoh entrepreneur, where he was born and gained his early education. His first foray into Pakistan market is the purchase of US Publisher Pvt. Ltd. [cite web|url=http://www.jamals.com/aboutus.htm|publisher=US Publisher Pvt. Ltd. Karachi|title=USP|date=2007|accessdate=2007-08-09] of the famed Jamal's Yellow Pages. Mr. Wong had been credited to have turned the company around and made it into one of the most profitable and largest directory publishing arm in Pakistan. He is known to use Karachi as his main base to launch into Middle East, apart from Bahrain.

Together with Ecommerce Gateway co-founder Dr. Khursheed Nizam [cite web|url=http://www.ecgateway.net|publisher=Ecommerce Gateway Pvt. Ltd. Karachi|title=Corporate|date=2001|accessdate=2007-08-09] , Wong helped jump start and developed the infancy M.I.C.E. industry in Pakistan in the early 2000s. New to CommerceNet then, Wong was among the first to see the commercial potential of Pakistan's M.I.C.E. industry. He lobbied his business associates and network, getting his acquaintances and network together, financed and led numerous trade delegations to Pakistan [cite web|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_12-8-2005_pg5_9|publisher=Daily Times|title=Singaporean Businessmen Interested in Investment|date=2005|accessdate=2008-02-20] [cite web|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-22241987_ITM|publisher=AsiaPulse News|title=Singaporean Traders Invited to Invest in Sindh, Pakistan|date=24 Jan 2003|accessdate=2008-02-20] from 2001 to 2007.

Among the key projects attributed to Wong is the ITCN Asia series (names after Infocomm Technologies CommerceNet Asia) in Karachi, first held in March 2001. The project is know to have gained considerable support from the Governor of Sindh then, H.E. Muhammad Mian Soomro [cite web|url=http://www.senate.gov.pk/ShowMemberDetail.asp?ChairmanTag=C|publisher=Pakistan Government|title=Senate Chairman|date=2007|accessdate=2007-09-06] and subsequently H.E. Dr. Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan, [cite web|url=http://www.governorsindh.gov.pk/pressrelease/news.asp?id=1509|publisher=Sindh Government|title=Governor House|date=2006|accessdate=2008-02-15] the succeeding Governor; and the then Sindh Finance Minister, Senator Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh [cite web|url=http://www.privatisation.gov.pk/Minister-porfile.htm|publisher=Pakistan Government|title=Senator Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh|date=2003|accessdate=2007-10-17] , as a catalyst for investment into Karachi. The project was international in scope, and widely publicised in the media [cite web|url=http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/apcity/unpan014293.htm|publisher=United Nations|title=Governance Asia Pacific Watch|date=August 2002|accessdate=2007-10-17] with the support and attendance of former President Pervez Musharraf then.

A strong proponent of promoting trade among Muslim countries, Wong finally established a physical MuslimBIG [cite web|url=http://www.muslimsbig.com/article.asp?tmpid=1&lid=1#2|publisher=MuslimBIG|title=MuslimBIG|date=2007|accessdate=2007-08-09] trade series after several failed online attempts including MuslimBizHub and ePortal Exchange. He is known for his close relationship with Islamic Chamber of Commerce [cite web|url=http://www.oicun.org/articles/32/1/Islamic-Chamber-of-Commerce-and-Industry-ICCI/1.html|publisher=ICC|title=Islamic Chamber of Commerce|date=2005|accessdate=2008-07-12] and with the previous secretary general H.E. Aqeel Ahmad Al-Jassem.

Another high profile project is the master planning of the new 250 acres Dadabhoy University [cite web|url=http://www.dihe.edu.pk|publisher=Dadabhoy University|title=DIHE|date=2007|accessdate=2007-08-09] Campus in Hawkesbay commissioned by Dadabhoy Foundation. The new campus is expected to house 28,000 undergraduates when fully developed. He is also a known proponent of contemporary social housing development, which he proposed as part of the university township as a measure to solve the housing problems in Karachi.

Malaysia Ventures

As an environmentalist, Wong pushed the investment and venture funding community around him towards investment into community water filtration systems, waste recovery and recycling projects. He is known to have initiated feasibilities into mass top soil rehabilitation projects. His 'fanaticism' towards environmental projects had also made him disregard and often alienated him and from other arising opportunities.

He is well known for his brand of mixing friendship with business, preferring to do something he passionately believes in, for free. That unsustainable approached to business gained him tremendous criticism among his investment community peers but were clearly demonstrated in his friendship with founders of Kinta Switchgear, KRR International and MTrans, where he helped the company into regional urban transit markets, particularly in Middle-East and South Asia entirely out of camaraderie spirit. The same applies with his friendship in the early days of TK Cosmic Group, Ipoh, which he later invested; and also with Bufori Motor Car company [cite web|url=http://www.bufori.com|publisher=Bufori Motor Cars|title=Bufori Motor Cars|date=2008|accessdate=2008-02-15] in Kepong, Malaysia.

His steep learning curve is derived from his early Malaysian ventures that had ended up in failures. That include the early days of dotcoms when he invested heavily in www.ipoh.com under Ipohcom and Ipohcom Technologies. Critics had labeled him having too much emotional attachment to his hometown that clouded his otherwise cutting edge investment judgment, which was very typical of his early ventures.

He is also known to finance his proxies in the development of high-end clustered boutique bungalows. He is linked as a strategic adviser to one of Ipoh's top famed pastry corporation - Yee Hup of Gunong Rapat.

Singapore Ventures

Wong is well known for starting the E-Global [cite web|url=http://www.aurigintech.com/030903_E-Global_Awards_Galanite_NR_.pdf|publisher=Aurigintech|title=E-Global Awards|date=3 Sep 2003|accessdate=2008-02-20] series, an award recognising intellectual ideas of aspiring and rising young individuals in Singapore. His multi-lateral approach towards partnering saw him collaborating with AMPRO, a leading Malay Muslim professional business organisation; Junior Chamber International, City JC Singapore; Innovators and Entrepreneur Association of Singapore (IdEAS) and other organisations coming together to launch the E-Global Awards.

He is known to partner with Mr. Inderjit Singh [cite web|url=http://www.parliament.gov.sg/AboutUs/Org-MP-MP-Prof-InderjitSingh.htm|publisher=Singapore Parliament|title=Inderjit Singh|date=2006|accessdate=2008-02-18] and two other Pakistani acquaintances, one of them being Dr. Khursheed Nizam to hold Ecommerce Gateway as a private investment holding company for strategic Pakistan business ventures. He later moved into private equity investment in 2004 after seeing the devastating environmental destruction brought by Tsunami which greatly depressed him. His early acquisitions are all environmental related companies, much in line with his environmentalist tendencies.

His ventures in Singapore are varied. As a prolific entrepreneur, he was a partner in desktop publishing firm, Fu Manchu Designs (1991-93); pioneered the field of digital imaging and archiving where he authored the business plan and co-founded CD Imaging (1991-95), now known as Fotohub; was a founding partner in Rongsak & Shyan, a leading architecture visualising company (1994-96) before setting up his own architecture practice of Shyan Associates in end-1996. He was known to head CommerceTrust Limited founded by Dr. Toh See Kiat, [cite web|url=http://captel.ntu.edu.sg/tohseekiat.htm|publisher=Nanyang Technological University|title=Toh See Kiat|date=2007|accessdate=2008-02-18] a former member of parliament in Singapore.

Wong took over the helm of CommerceNet Singapore in March 2000 as the Chief Executive Officer at the end of dotcom era. He reengineered CommerceNet Singapore into a new 'CNSG' branding, famed for taking on higher risks and unproven technology ventures. This had made a strong following among newer companies reeling from the failures of dotcoms.

He also co-founded the prestigious CNSG Consulting Group with two of his close associates. The group takes on some of the higher value and more controversial projects mostly within ASEAN region. The consulting group often acts in tandem with the corps of CommerceNet's Consulting Partners, is known to be an aggressive financial platform to 'project manage' leveraged buy-out, corporate raiding and reverse take-over, pulling off some of the most sensitive merger and acquisitions in ASEAN. Wong is well known for his forte in rallying together high net worth and professional resources. He is sought for his ability to mobilise very large amount of funding within very short time frame in adverse market conditions.

Other Asean Ventures

Wong's Pan-ASEAN ventures are mostly centred in Bangkok, Phnom Penh with projects in Jakarta setting the pace. While his known ventures are mostly related to environmental design, waste recycling and material science, he is better known for his innovative approach to project financing. His venture portfolio companies are working with promoter of Bogor Cyber Park [cite web|url=http://www.kotabogor.go.id/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3205&Itemid=670|publisher=Bogor City Government|title=Bogor Cyber Park|date=2008|accessdate=2007-08-09] in Indonesia. Although only playing a minor role in these ventures, he however left his fingerprints planning the innovative financial road-maps of these ventures.

He financed high risk Cambodian projects through the first venture capital company in the kingdom. He is one of the main strategist behind regional based REIT-play whereby independent real estate developments in the region were clusterred into high yield vehicle.

Mauritius Ventures

Wong's participation in Mauritius include conceptualising and master planning the Solares Integrated Resort Scheme [cite web|url=http://www.maurinet.com/residency.html|publisher=Mauritius IRS Scheme|title=IRS Scheme|date=2007|accessdate=2007-09-05] (IRS) at Flic-en-Flac [cite web|url=http://www.orange.mu/kinews/a-lile-maurice/business/196984/les-villas-de-luxe-gagnent-du-terrain.html|publisher=Mauritius Orange|title=Solares IRS Luxurious Villas|date=2008|accessdate=2008-04-08] , a high profile and the largest Integrated Resort Scheme in Mauritius. Solares IRS is better known as the first truly planned township in Mauritius and a true destination resort, among the first IRS approved by the government of Navinchandra Ramgoolam.

His other controversial projects are the highly publicised Mauritius Monorail [cite web|url=http://www.mauritiustimes.com/260506sungee.htm|publisher=Mauritius Times|title=Media Discussions|date=2005|accessdate=2007-08-09] lobby that he helped raise the initial finance and support. His project had made headlines in the local media and fanned vocal debates [cite web|url=http://www.mauritiustimes.com/260506sungee.htm|publisher=Mauritius Times|title=Criticism of MTrans Monorail: The Rich must be defended!|date=2006|accessdate=2006-05-26] by both proponent and opponent of the idea. In his scheme of things, the promotion of MTrans Technology Berhad's monorail (now Scomi Rail) [cite web|url=http://www.scomigroup.com.my/core/rail_intro.asp/|publisher=Scomi|title=MTrans Monorail|date=2008|accessdate=2008-07-13] [cite web|url=http://www.monorails.org/tmspages/TPMM.html|publisher=Monorail.org|title=ALWEG - Scomi Rail|date=2008|accessdate=2008-07-13] as a viable alternative to Mauritius' pollution-prone buses and old diesel cars. Wong's nature as an environmentalist had him seeing red the state of Mauritius increasingly grid-locked traffic congestion. He has lobbied MTrans to use Mauritius as a base to serve African region. He is often seen with MTrans founder Mr. David Chew Keat Soon, who continue to control MTrans International Limited of Hong Kong. He is also known to be financing a detailed study if Madagascar can be an alternative showcase to modern transport solution in Africa as alternative to Mauritius, having traveled to Antananarivo and had met President Marc Ravalomanana there in late 2007.

Bahrain and Middle East Ventures

Wong co-founded Middle-east Transit Corporation (METRANS), together with his old friend Sheikh Saud bin Salman Al-Khalifa. The Bahrain-based company extends its arm over the entire Middle-east. The company had arranged for the facilitation of Monorail proposal into the City of Medina in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, working with MTrans Monorail of Malaysia. He had also financed MTrans Monorail's pathfinders to explore the feasibility of Monorail Urban Transit into cities of Aman (Jordan), Istanbul and Ankara (Turkey), Karachi (Pakistan) as well as Cairo (Egypt).

Wong had a close relationship with the late Mr. Haitham O. Himut [cite web|url=http://www.xing.com/profile/Haitham_Himut/|publisher=XING|title=Haitham Himut|date=2007|accessdate=2007-10-17] who founded Strategic Enterprise Corporation (SECORP) [cite web|url=http://www.secorp-sa.com/|publisher=SECORP|title=Strategic Enterprise Corporation|date=2007|accessdate=2007-10-17] of Saudi Arabia. The late Mr. Haitham was also a shareholder in METRANS and was also involved in the original iTeknocity of Bahrain. Wong initially represented SECORP in Singapore until 2006 and extended his support for SECORP via the influential CNSG Consulting Group. Their notable support include preparing venture strategies for Sudan projects which include the controversial NGIP Programmes within the proposed Nubia Free Zone. SECORP is also a major consideration in attracting Wong to Indonesia working on a version of Bogor Cyber Park proposal taking up two of the seven plots in Phase I.

While most of his ventures in Saudi Arabia, including exhibitions (e.g. ITCN Saudi Arabia- Dammam) [cite web|url=http://www.aljazeerah.info/News%20archives/2003%20News%20archives/October/12%20n/ITCN%20Saudi%20Arabia%20to%20Highlight%20Pakistans%20IT%20Potential.htm|publisher=Aljazeerah.info|title=ITCN Saudi Arabia to Highlight Pakistan’s IT Potential|date=2003 December|accessdate=2008-07-12] [cite web|url=http://www.privatisation.gov.pk/Handout/HO-AR-03/December-03/HO-08122003%20Hafeez%20Shaikh%20to%20Open%20ITCN%20Saudi%20Arabia%202003%20at%20Daharan%20on%20Dec.7Handout.htm|publisher=Gov of Pakistan|title=Hafeez Shaikh to Open ITCN Saudi Arabia 2003 at Daharan on Dec.7|date=2003-12-06|accessdate=2008-07-12] , are all located to the Eastern Province, he is said to have shown considerable interest in 'Asir province and around the Red Sea for higher value added technology and urban projects.

Books and Articles

Wong had authored a series of highly controversial articles, mostly in relationship with exploratory urban planning issues where high density of people staying together. Among the published articles include:i) Next Generation Megacities;ii) Mauritius Linear City: Framework for 4 million population; iii) Beneath the Business Plans; and iv) Sustainable Desert Urban Habitat.

Affiliations and Awards

Wong was conferred his honorary doctorate [cite web|url=http://www.dihe.org/main/?q=node/129|publisher=Dadabhoy University|title=DIHE|date=2007|accessdate=2007-08-09] in 2007.

He is also a corporate member of Royal Institute of British Architects and an associate of American Institute of Architects.

He was nominated and appointed the Chairman of International Architects Salon from 2003-2006. He was also a member of the jury for International Tianjin Music Hall Design Competition.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.cnsg.com.sg/ CNSG's web site]
* [http://www.linkedin.com/in/jehshyanwong Profile]
* [http://commercenetasia.blogspot.com/ CommerceNet Blog]