The Indonesian economy continues to do well, attracting Singapore investors to look southwards. Yet there was a cloud over the otherwise convivial bilateral retreat held last week between Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The haze resulting from fires in the...
ASEAN is working towards the establishment of an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, with a single market and production base. ASEAN firms stand to benefit from freer access to other ASEAN countries and greater economies of scale. But the development of the AEC is...
This informal meeting aims to share Asian views on the US rebalancing to Asia with visitors from the Center for a New American Security (CNAS).The Obama administration first announced its renewed policy focus on Asia in 2011, but the region has seen new political and...
Signs are that questions of culture are returning to Singapore, albeit differently. The Government is continuing and growing programmes for the arts, sports and heritage, and each of their intrinsic worth must be recognised. But these are also important components of a larger picture about what...
Japanese interest in South and Southeast Asia is surging for both economic and political reasons. Yet, while welcome by many in the region, the reasons for this renewed focus must be considered. There are also new factors that the Japanese must look at and adapt...
Debate has returned, for both the Government and citizens, about what it means to be Singaporean. The issues do not relate only to culture and the arts, but have broader implications for the political and economic paradigms in Singapore as well. What spurs this resurgence of a...
With elections due by June, Malaysia is preparing to go to the polls. Observers are keen to see how the Najib government will fare, with a large slide in support for the ruling coalition expected. At the same time, Malaysia and Singapore are set to...