09/08/2025
Good morning. Today, as Singapore celebrates SG60, we acknowledge that great leadership and the collective efforts of its people have shaped the nation we know today.
KST International was formed in 2014 and is entering its 12th year. From the start, we understood that a single Singaporean market would not be enough for our business model, which is why the word “International” figures prominently in our name.
We have ventured beyond Singapore to Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Vietnam—seeking not only trading opportunities but enduring partnerships and a longer-term presence.
We have faced our share of disappointment and lessons learned, such as distributors with divergent views and limited communication with our team, the political turmoil in Myanmar, resource constraints from HQ in uncertain markets like Cambodia, timing mismatches in Malaysia, and distributors showing varying level of interest year on year.
In 2024, we made the strategic decision to focus our expansion on Vietnam. The reason was concrete: we found someone who shared our ambition, and we moved quickly—trustively and with purpose—rather than relying solely on calculations.
KST recognises that past overseas efforts did not bear fruit, but we remain committed to learning and to investing in this project, because it is the only path to a sustainable long-term model.
KST ceased operations in Malaysia in 2025. This is not a retreat, but a realisation that resources, timing, and other factors are critical components of a successful venture.
It has taken much for KST to stand on its own in Singapore, and overseas expansion remains our never-give-up pursuit.
As we enter our 12th year, I offer warm wishes to KST. The notions of “failure,” “giving up,” or “wrong choices” do not resonate with us; if they did, we would not be where we are today.
Forward KST, Majulah Singapura.
Happy SG60.
