Recent international media reports on Myanmar have been dominated by news on the unfolding crisis in the Rakhine state and have been critical of The Lady’s inadequate responses on the Rohingya refugees. But this detracts from the overall narrative of a Myanmar that has committed...
Countries around the world are facing an ageing population – including the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). ASEAN countries do have a growing young working population, but the proportion of older citizens is also increasing, driven by better medical care and...
Slowing growth, rising unemployment, and increased inequality have fuelled a rise in populist anti-globalisation sentiment, especially in Western countries – as demonstrated by Brexit and last year’s US Presidential Election. As ASEAN celebrates its golden jubilee, more attention needs to be paid to the people...
Although the political climate in the United States, Britain, and other mature economies has turned against economic integration, ASEAN and its FTA partners are continuing to push for closer trade links in the Asia-Pacific via the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The ASEAN-led RCEP is...
What can the palm oil industry do to “green” its supply chain? What are some of the obstacles to greater sustainability? The SIIA travels to Riau to see what one palm oil company is doing to ensure its products are sustainable, and how independent smallholders...
Singapore prides itself as being a multicultural nation. But issues of race and religion remain sensitive topics. On 12 September, we held a Global Citizens Singapore session on "Diversity and Inclusion: The Role of Social Harmony in National Security" at the McCann Worldgroup premises in...
The Qatar diplomatic crisis has sparked a debate in Singapore on the appropriate behaviour of small states. On 31 August, we held an evening talk with Professor Danny Quah, Vice Dean (Academic Affairs) and Li Ka Shing Professor in Economics at the Lee Kuan Yew...
At the recently concluded 30th ASEAN Summit, ASEAN leaders reaffirmed the need to increase intra-regional trade and investment. The grouping’s move to strengthen its trade and investment linkages comes at a time when many fear that there is a growing inward-looking mood in several of...
Dubbed South-east Asia’s last frontier market, Myanmar has been one of ASEAN’s most high-profile destinations for investors since the country’s opening. There are concerns about the pace of reform in Myanmar, but according to preliminary results from a survey conducted by the Singapore Institute of...
On 21 July, Singapore launched the first Belt and Road Multi-Cultural Studies Centre as a joint initiative between the London School of Business and Finance (LSBF) and the Overseas Education College (OEC) of China’s Xiamen University. This move is a timely one, given the increasing...