A year ago, Singapore’s role in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) appeared tenuous at best. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s absence from the May 2017 BRI Summit fuelled speculation that the city-state would be bypassed in China’s grand strategy. However, PM Lee’s visit to China...
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...
Myanmar’s political transition has ushered in a period of change and adjustment over this past year. With the release of the revised investment law and rules, there is a sense of optimism that the government is taking active steps to promote foreign investments and business...
The world’s expectations of Myanmar have swung wildly in recent years. Hopes were sky-high following the National League of Democracy’s (NLD) victory at the 2015 elections, led by Ms Aung San Suu Kyi. But now, these have given way to a somewhat more downcast outlook. Some projects...
US President Donald Trump’s recent announcement that America will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord signals Washington’s unwillingness to take the lead in fighting climate change. With a new power vacuum in the global effort against climate change, it is an opportune moment for ASEAN...
As ASEAN celebrates its jubilee anniversary, the grouping is aiming to put people at the core of its policy making, transitioning away from a top down approach. This is timely. Events like last year’s Brexit vote and Donald Trump’s election victory underscore the worldwide anti-globalisation sentiment,...
The financial sector is a critical driver for economic reform efforts, laying the groundwork for future development and growth. Financial institutions can channel capital into productive investment projects, encouraging the mobilisation of savings by providing attractive instruments and saving vehicles. However, Myanmar’s weak financial sector...
Since 2000, the Millennium Development Goals have provided a global framework for improving the lives of millions of impoverished women, men and children. The 2015 deadline for their realisation is approaching. Just as we press as hard as possible to achieve them, we must also...