"As businesses and supply chains transform, it is necessary for ASEAN to prepare for the inevitable digitization of the regional economy." - Chen Chen Lee, SIIA director of policy programmes, Nikkei Asian Review commentary Full article: Southeast Asia must guard against digital domination risks [First published in Nikkei...
November 2018 | As the new Pakatan Harapan (PH) government settles in, many expect a shift from electioneering to setting policies and priorities for the Malaysian economy and political reforms. The Budget 2019, delivered recently, can be seen in this light. Prime Minister Dr Mahathir...
With a rising middle class and a rapidly growing population of internet users, ASEAN states are poised to reap the windfalls of the coming digital age. To explore the opportunities and challenges of the digital economy for the region, the SIIA hosted a two-day workshop,...
E-commerce and “smart cities” initiatives in ASEAN are increasingly being co-developed by both Chinese and ASEAN players as part of the larger “digital silk road”. What are the implications for ASEAN? A recent case study in Thailand reveals a two-fold answer: ASEAN must align national...
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is about more than physical infrastructure. Beyond the fanfare about ports and railways, the BRI has a technological counterpart with far-reaching consequences for Southeast Asia – the “digital silk road”. While traditional infrastructure has been in the spotlight, the digital...
As the ASEAN chair for 2018, one of Singapore’s priorities is promoting the region’s growing digital economy. The figures are promising. South-east Asia’s digital economy holds strong potential, and is expected to exceed US$200 billion by 2025. Digital technologies present ASEAN member states with the...
By Simon Tay and Cheryl Tan City-state seeks cooperation boost despite differences over Trump, China and Myanmar refugees Singapore is settling into its one-year rotating chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at a time when the region's economic growth is outperforming the world. But the...
At the 31st ASEAN Summit, the grouping officially handed over the ASEAN chairmanship to Singapore, the chair for 2018. Singapore is taking over the chairmanship at a time when there is growing anti-globalisation and anti-trade sentiment around the world. In this context, Singapore has made...
By Chen Chen Lee and Shangari Kiruppalini Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is scheduled to meet United States President Donald Trump during his visit to America from Oct 21-26. This will be Mr Lee’s second visit to Washington DC in just over a year. It was only...
Last week, on 5 Oct 2017, we held our 10th ASEAN and Asia Forum (AAF) at The Ritz-Carlton, Millennia Singapore on the theme “A Future Ready ASEAN: People & Growth In An Uncertain World”. The Forum was attended by over 300 industry experts, corporate leaders...