It is that time of year again when leaders from all over the region congregate and discuss key issues facing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). While the official opening of the 33rd ASEAN Summit is scheduled for tomorrow, the summit has been underway since 11 November. However, action and excitement are expected to grow tomorrow with the arrival of some big names such as Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia.

World leaders will push for the rapid completion of a massive, China-backed trade deal that excludes the United States (US) at a summit this week, in a rebuke to rising protectionism and Donald Trump's "America First" agenda.China, Japan, India and other Asia-Pacific countries could announce a broad agreement on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which covers half the world's population, on the sidelines of the annual gathering.Not only is the US absen

An index published recently by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) showed that rents for Singapore’s central area had risen by three percent in the three months leading up to 30 September, the biggest jump since 2014. Data from the URA showed that demand had continued to grow faster than supply for the fourth consecutive quarter, resulting in a fifth straight quarter of rental growth.

By most global indicators, Singapore would probably surpass many advanced nations. For example, Singapore is considered one of the least corrupt countries in the world, it has the lowest tax rates and has the third highest per-capita gross domestic product (GDP) in the world in terms of Purchasing Power Parity. By all means – economically at least – Singapore is considered one of the most open countries. However, that openness is largely limited to the economy.

Project Ubin named after an island located northeast of the Singapore mainland is a multi-phased initiative by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to explore the usage of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) commonly known as blockchain technology for the clearing and settlement of payments and securities.The latest phase of the project saw an announcement by MAS and the Singapore Exchange (SGX) last August for a collaboration to develop Delivery versus Payment (DvP) capabilities for the

Singapore is the most competitive economy in the region, placing second overall in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Index behind the United States (US). Singapore is seen as an exemplary economy as the report showcased the importance of openness for competitiveness amid escalating tensions and backlash against globalisation.

Last week, international non-profit groups Development Finance International (DFI) and Oxfam published a report ranking governments around the world based on their efforts in tackling the gap between the rich and the poor. Noteworthy from that report as far as ASEAN is concerned was the extremely low rating Singapore obtained.

The Singapore government has hailed small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) as being the driving force behind its economy, saying they make up 99 percent of all enterprises in the country and employ 65 percent of the country’s workforce.

Malaysia saw a change of government for the first time in May this year after the 14th general election. Soon after that election, in June, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad remarked that the election results might have an impact on Singapore, where the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) has been in power since 1959.

Singapore’s Education Minister Ong Ye Kung recently revealed that the government there intends to bring in foreign talent in areas critical to Industry 4.0. Ong said that meanwhile, the country will work on rebalancing its education system to meet future demand.