Asia’s financial community has a long way to go to tackle climate change but there are signs that this is evolving. Asian investors are developing an appetite for products such as low-carbon indices. Others are becoming more sophisticated, exhibiting a strong demand in areas such...
A broad consensus on what defines “green” is fundamental to driving the green finance agenda. Yet, far from a collective agreement, there exists a disparate number of green standards and interpretations worldwide. According to a 2016 Carrots & Sticks study, there are almost 400 sustainability...
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...
There is massive potential to “green” the financial sector but implementing it remains hazy for many. For one, what defines green finance continues to be debated while significant progress requires a collaborative effort. Still, small steps must be taken and there is interest to leverage existing...
The National League for Democracy (NLD) government is half-way through its term. Myanmar stands at a critical juncture where the government needs to start delivering on its election promises and bring about tangible change to the country. Otherwise, Aung San Suu Kyi and her party...
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...
The Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) is deeply saddened at the passing of Mr. Magnus Bocker, CEO of the Singapore Exchange (SGX) from 2009 to 2015. As a corporate member, SGX has been very supportive towards SIIA, notably when Mr. Bocker was at the...
Has commitment to the Paris Agreement been weakened or strengthened by US President Donald Trump's decision to pull America out of the deal? What does the US withdrawal actually mean in technical terms, considering that the US can only formally leave in 2020? We held a...
Green Finance has gained significant momentum worldwide. Key financial centres around the world such as London, Switzerland, Paris, China, and Hong Kong have taken steps to integrate green aspects into their financial systems. While Singapore – an international financial hub– is not at the vanguard of...