Edmund Malesky discusses Singapore’s economic future at IPS-SBF forum

Edmund Malesky, professor of political economy and director of the Duke Center for International Development, recently joined a panel of experts at the Pre-Conference Forum of the inaugural IPS-SBF Conference “Global-City Singapore: SG60 and Beyond” to explore the key global, regional, and national economic and business trends impacting Singapore-based firms.  

Hosted by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) at the National University of Singapore and the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), the forum’s opening session, titled "Singapore Business and its Response to Key Trends: Research Findings," shared results from a major seven-country ASEAN research project examining trends in automation, digitalization, sustainability, and regional integration.

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Malesky discussed challenges to business efforts to green their operations, as well as the automation and digitalization of key business functions. “It was wonderful to share data on these activities from a large-scale survey and to receive immediate feedback and extensions directly from the leading representatives in the business community,” he said about the session.

Joining Malesky as panelists were Soo Yeon Kim, associate professor at the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, editor of Pacific Affairs and the Korea Foundation Chair at the University of British Columbia, and Lennon Tan, president of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation and Group Chairman of ADERA Global. Faizal Yahya, senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, moderated the panel. 

Held in Singapore, the conference brought together top-level representatives from industry, government and business sectors to analyze and deliberate on the interaction of mega-trends that are currently reshaping the global economy.

As Singapore marks its 60th year of independence, the conference aimed to engage in bold thinking on Singapore’s economic competitiveness in a shifting global landscape and reflect on the level of public policy support needed for Singapore businesses to thrive.

Additional conference speakers included Indermit Gill, chief economist and senior vice president for development economics at the World Bank Group; Muhamad Chatib Basri, chairman of PT Bank Mandiri Tbk and PT XL-Axiata Tbk; Bob Sternfels, global managing partner at McKinsey & Company; Tan Su Shan, chief executive officer at DBS Group; Ravi Menon, ambassador for climate action and senior adviser to the National Climate Change Secretariat at the Prime Minister's Office; and John Denton, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce.

The conference was supported by the Economic Development Board, Enterprise Singapore, Ministry of Trade and Industry, and National University of Singapore.

Photo Credits: Jacky Ho, for IPS-SBF Conference Global-City Singapore: SG60 and Beyond